Meet our CEO: How Nicole Morales and First Choice Are Reshaping Supplier Diversity in the Screening Industry
Nicole Morales likes to joke that nobody grows up hoping to become CEO of a background screening company.
“Who says that? You want to be a pilot, model, singer, or maybe a firefighter,” says Nicole.
Her own childhood had little to do with records or compliance or any of the employee screening industry jargon. So, it’s slightly amusing that, years later, that’s exactly where Nicole finds herself as Chief Executive Officer of First Choice Background Screening.
Slightly amusing, yes, but certainly not surprising. As a first-generation American, Nicole harnesses her curiosity for the world, unmatched work ethic, and deep intelligence to meet challenges head on. When the opportunity to lead a background check company arose, she took it, becoming one of the few women- and minority-owned businesses in the screening industry.
Now, she champions for other women- and minority-owned businesses and advocates for broader inclusion throughout the background check community.
There’s no pre-written story for minority or women leaders in the screening industry. But if there were, Nicole might have torn it up anyway.
Defining the American Spirit
Nicole’s trailblazing journey begins with her family. For Nicole’s family, being American is an achievement and an earned title. Nicole’s sense of patriotism fuels her grit and determination but comes with a layered perspective of seeing the country through an immigrant’s lens.
“We’re proud to be American, but also proud that we’ve been able to become American. It is a privilege to be able to continue to support other businesses that have those struggles, whether it’s religion, ethnicity, heritage – you name it,” Nicole says.
From Computers to Change-Making
Nicole excelled academically, earning a degree in computer engineering and science. Yet she observed unsettling odds while contemplating her career prospects: mostly white and male hiring committees, a tech culture that didn’t quite embrace her stories, her ethnicity, her drive.
But instead of viewing those differences as liabilities, Nicole saw an opportunity to share her authentic self to a new audience and business sector.
“I bring a distinct value and mindset. I’m not bringing less because I’m a woman and from an immigrant family. I’m bringing more. I’m bringing a different mindset, a whole different world.”
Nicole realized the best business case she could make was to be herself, so she stepped forward.
Shaping First Choice: A Mission of Diversity
Under Nicole’s leadership, First Choice prioritized its commitment to diversity. Why? Because partnering with women- and minority-owned businesses is good business. Women-owned businesses now make up 42% of all businesses in the U.S., contributing $1.9 trillion annually to the economy.
“First Choice from the get-go has always been women-majority and minority-owned.” Nicole says.
Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) certifications require the business to be at least 51% owned and actively managed by one or more women, who must be U.S. citizens or legal residents and control daily operations and long-term decision-making.
Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification requires at least 51% ownership, operation, and control by individuals from recognized minority groups, such as African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, or Native American.
These certifications help such businesses access government contracts, corporate supplier diversity programs, and other opportunities.
“Using a minority business like First Choice and others can help your company grow and have a positive social impact at same time” says Nicole.
Once certified, businesses can compete for contracts reserved (or “set aside”) for diverse suppliers, participate in mentorship and development programs, and join directories used by large buyers seeking to fulfill supplier diversity goals. Engaging a women- or minority-owned screening firm helps promote economic development, create jobs, and advance equity.
While there are some recent attempts to curb or re-examine programs that support diversity, equity, and inclusion, the core federal programs for women- and minority-owned businesses are still standing in 2025.
Meeting Modern Screening Challenges
Background screening is not static. The industry faces constant evolution including legislative shifts, changing compliance requirements, technological disruption, and increasing pressure for speed and accuracy. Nicole recognizes that agility, accuracy, and adaptability are now competitive imperatives.
It takes a company with diverse people, thoughts, backgrounds, languages, business acumen, and life experiences to truly meet the needs of a non-homogenous client base. These organizations often lead with greater empathy and adaptability. One of the clearest benefits of partnering with women- and minority-owned businesses is the natural reduction of barriers between different types of workforces.
Here are some competitive advantages First Choice and other women- and minority-owned businesses deliver to clients.
Higher Flexibility in Responses
Women- and minority-owned suppliers are known for pragmatic flexibility and open-minded problem solving. “First Choice embraces new ideas and welcomes challenges. We thrive on creating solutions for unique situations,” says Nicole. This open attitude makes it easier for client organizations to address shifting priorities and find solutions even when needs are unique or urgent.
Greater Communication Skills
Many women- and minority-owned businesses build teams with multilingual skills and cross-cultural communication as a core value. “Because we are diverse ourselves, we’re more understanding of diversity with our clients and customers,” says Nicole. Being able to communicate fluently and appropriately with a well-rounded workforce enhances both employee engagement and client satisfaction.
Stronger Cultural Acceptance and Adaptation
What truly differentiates these businesses is how they use unique life experiences to solve problems creatively. “We get along with, communicate, [and] connect with all different types of people and demographics. It makes that barrier much easier to navigate, no matter your gender, ethnicity, where you are from or live,” she says. These organizations view differences as strengths, drawing on varied perspectives to adapt, innovate, and build lasting business relationships.
Credibility, Innovation, and Quality
Certification means these firms have gone through rigorous verification, demonstrating reliability, financial responsibility, and adherence to industry standards. This enhanced credibility in the eyes of both government and corporate partners increases trust all around.
How Diversity Amplifies Opportunities
One of the things Nicole is most proud of as CEO of First Choice is watching how working with women- and minority-owned businesses expands the competitive and creative field within the screening industry. This intentional mindset to strengthen the supplier network with other innovative, socially aware, and diverse providers produces both immediate and long-lasting benefits.
According to Nicole, here are a few ways partnering with a women- and minority-owned businesses opens doors to new possibilities.
Drive Diverse Supplier Network
When businesses prioritize diversity in their selection of suppliers, the impact exponentially increases. “A diverse supplier is more likely to use other diverse suppliers,” Nicole points out, describing a positive “trickling effect” throughout the business community. This chain of partnerships amplifies the reach and resilience that can benefit everyone in the supply chain.
Agility, Speed, Creativity
Large, rigid conglomerate providers often rely on set processes and pre-determined business paths. As a client you become a number on a spreadsheet. In contrast, women- and minority-owned businesses are typically more nimble, drawing on a web of resources who respond creatively and quickly to client needs. “Your problem solving comes from many different metrics and perspectives and you’re not asking the client to fit into your linear track. You are creating paths based on experience and need, and you’re merging those things together,” says Nicole.
Building Social Impact
By working with diverse suppliers, businesses contribute to a wider web of social impact where each partnership uplifts others. “When we use diverse suppliers, we’re not always using the big company; we’re giving a shot to the homegrown businesses, the local guys, the disadvantaged, the LGBTQIA+ community, or whatever the case is,” says Nicole. “There is a real positive social effect that ripples from being conscious of who you’re doing business with.”
These connections lift up the entire business ecosystem, allowing all participants, not just major players, to achieve new market gains together. When a business chooses a diverse supplier, it invests in a supply chain that’s more flexible, more empathetic, and more equipped to respond to complexity with creativity and humanity.
Empathy, Opportunity, and Social Change
For Nicole, business isn’t just about dollars and cents. She’s a proud feminist and humanitarian and is deeply aware of how representation shapes real outcomes.
She desires to increase the number of women in the screening industry, especially those in leadership roles. And she strives to increase pay for women in all industries, believing this will lead more women to invest in careers rather than viewing roles as just jobs.
“If someone on our staff is struggling – maybe a single mom – my initial reaction isn’t to compel her to fix it on her own. I want to understand what’s happening, why, and see if there is a way to help her build a career instead of exiting or reducing her role in the workforce.” Nicole believes every win in her company ripples into the next one across the industry.
Why Partner With First Choice?
Today, First Choice serves over 1,100 clients nationwide, including small businesses and Fortune 500 giants. The promise isn’t just compliance or speed; it’s partnership. Whether clients need multilingual expertise for Spanish-speaking applicants or nimble adaptation to changing regulations, the First Choice team delivers with heart.
If supplier diversity brings opportunities, First Choice transforms them into real, measurable results. First Choice’s core beliefs are written into every workflow, every handshake, every effort to look past “how it’s always been done” in the screening industry.
First Choice Background Screening stands out because it offers clients:
- Custom, responsive solutions; never one-size-fits-all service
- Supplier networks that amplify impact and broaden reach
- Transparency and trust at every touchpoint, not just contract-award time
- Real-world expertise, including EEOC and FCRA compliance, drug testing, fingerprinting, and non-traditional screening
- A team motivated by legacy, ambition, and community
Visit First Choice Background Screening to see firsthand how supplier diversity pays off for people, business, and society.
In every transition, every bold conversation, and every success story, Nicole Morales makes it clear: diversity is more than a checkbox. It’s the difference between business-as-usual and business-as-possible in the screening industry.
Ready for a demo or to discuss a custom screening program? Connect with First Choice Background Screening today. Your strongest, safest teams are just a conversation away.About the Author
Tricia O’Connor is a content marketing strategist and writer with expertise in background screening, health tech, and employment law. She helps regulated organizations turn complex stories into powerful market growth. Connect on LinkedIn for more writing and insights.
About First Choice Background Screening
First Choice Background Screening is a leader in background and drug screening for over 1,100 clients nationwide, from startups to Fortune 500 companies in highly regulated industries. Based in Broward County, Florida since 1996, First Choice is a certified Woman and Minority Owned business and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. Trusted for fast turnaround, accuracy, and excellent service, First Choice empowers businesses to build confident, compliant teams.