Karmetria Dunham Burton is the senior director of Global Supplier Diversity for McDonald’s Corporation. In this role, she is responsible for developing and executing a global Supplier Diversity program and enhancing the processes to assist McDonald’s in achieving its vision of being an industry leader in making minority and women-owned businesses (MWBEs) a natural and integral part of its business operations. Karmetria has extensive experience in strategic sourcing in various national and international corporate settings, including Delta Air Lines, Xerox, AT&T, and Union Pacific Railroad.

A rising star in her field, Karmetria was the 2005 recipient of the Trailblazer Award presented by the Black Business Professionals and Entrepreneurs organization. It was recognized as the Who’s Who of Black Atlanta in 2010. In 2012 and 2013, Dr. Burton was honored as one of the Top 25 Women Impacting Diversity by Diversity Inc. Magazine. A well-respected authority in supplier diversity, she is a contributing writer for MBE Magazine, which focuses on minority business development. Also, in 2013, she was honored by Kentucky State University with the Thoroughbred Award. In 2014, the Atlanta Daily World Magazine noted her as a Woman of Excellence. Her work and passion have gained her notoriety in several publications: Black Enterprise, AMOI, and Diversity Inc. In 2015, she was awarded the Influence HER Award and was featured in the June issue of Black Enterprise Magazine for her work at Delta Air Lines in supplier diversity. She was also named one of the Top 25 Women of Atlanta. She has an honorary doctorate from Global Oved Dei Seminary and University. In 2016, she was awarded the Women of Vision Award by the Atlanta Business League and awarded, for the third time in a row, a 2016 Woman Impacting Diversity. Also, Karmetria was named the 2022 and 2023 Top Supplier Diversity Professionals by Diversity Inc. Magazine and was awarded Woman of Power by the Black Chamber of Commerce in 2023.

Karmetria holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Southern University-Baton Rouge, La., and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska. She also has a doctorate in business from Argosy University. Dr. Burton has instructed business, procurement, and related courses at Kennesaw State University and Shorter College, Strayer University, Georgia State University, and Monroe Community College in Rochester, N.Y. Dr. Burton is a sought-after speaker of women’s organizations, youth empowerment groups, and entrepreneur forums. A native of Houston, Texas, Karmetria is married Horace A. Burton and resided in Atlanta. Her philosophy is: “Show up!”