The founder of Michigan-based Bartech, a staffing and managed services provider, John W. Barfield, died Jan. 2 at his home in Ann Arbor, just shy of his 91^st birthday.

Barfield, a pioneer of corporate America’s minority supplier development programs, formed companies that were contractors to the major automakers and other industrial giants. He launched John Barfield & Associates in 1977, with a staff of six Washtenaw Community College students who updated engineering documents at GM’s Willow Run facility in Ypsilanti, Mich. By 1984, Barfield expanded the company and renamed it The Bartech Group, finding success in the engineering and technical staffing industry.

Barfield’s honors and awards include the A.G. Gaston Lifetime Achievement Award from Black Enterprise magazine, the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion’s Humanitarian of the Year Award, and the Tree of Life Award, the highest honor of the Jewish National Fund in America.

His wife of 70 years, Betty Barfield, preceded him in death in 2017. He is survived by his six children: Jon (Vivian) Barfield, Angela Barfield, Aaron Barfield, Bonnie (Jeff) Jones, Lisa Barfield and David (Kiana) Barfield. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and his loyal cat, Cuatro.

Impellam Group plc in 2015 acquire Bartech Holding Corp. and its subsidiaries from private equity firm Sverica Capital Management LLC for $120 million.