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Baker Tilly Appoints Shane Lloyd as Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging

November 18, 2021 (updated November 18, 2021) Published by BusinessWire

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Leading advisory CPA firm Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) appoints Shane Lloyd as head of diversity, inclusion and belonging, reporting to CEO Alan Whitman. He is the first executive in this dedicated role for Baker Tilly where its diversity, inclusion and belonging strategy is embedded into all aspects of its business.

Lloyd was first introduced to Baker Tilly as a lead consultant at Cook Ross, an organizational development firm hired by Baker Tilly to assess its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy and plan.

“Shane has tremendous ability to lead with both intellect and empathy, while setting the bar high for how we can keep getting better as an organization,” said Baker Tilly CEO Alan Whitman. “Personally, I felt challenged and inspired by the perspectives he brought.”

Following Cook Ross, Lloyd joined Amazon to advance their DEI efforts first within its Worldwide Consumer organization as the inclusion and engagement lead, and then as the Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion learning leader. He has experience working in higher education at Brown and Yale Universities and in public health.

“I was drawn to Baker Tilly’s commitment to building the competencies and skills necessary to drive meaningful change,” Lloyd said. “Diversity and inclusion work means taking a methodical look at systems, and it also means going off script, valuing calculated disruption and taking risks. Baker Tilly embraces all of that.”

Lloyd holds a bachelor’s degree in behavioral neuroscience from Northeastern University and a master’s degree in public health from Brown University. Lloyd serves as the vice chair for the Maryland Montgomery County Racial Equity and Social Justice Advisory Committee and holds advisory roles in several non-profit organizations.

About Baker Tilly US, LLP (bakertilly.com)

Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) is a leading advisory CPA firm, providing clients with a genuine coast-to-coast and global advantage in major regions of the U.S. and in many of the world’s leading financial centers – New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. Baker Tilly is an independent member of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 148 territories, with 36,000 professionals and a combined worldwide revenue of $4.0 billion. Visit bakertilly.com or join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Contacts

Nicole Berkeland

nicole.berkeland@bakertilly.com

Baker Tilly Media Relations

press@bakertilly.com 612 876 4891

Most Americans - 58 Percent - Want Businesses to Engage in Social and Political Issues OutBuro lgbtq professional entreprenuer networking online community gay lesbian transgender queer bisexual nonbinary

Most Americans (58%) Want Businesses to Engage in Social and Political Issues

November 16, 2021 (updated November 16, 2021) Published by BusinessWire

One in Four Gen Z Consumers Will Stop Buying from Brands That Do Not Take a Stance on an Important Issue

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#consumerbehavior–American consumers are experiencing a second year of unprecedented change, giving 2020 solid competition for an emerging set of challenges for U.S. businesses. Political polarization, COVID-19, race relations, immigration, LGBTQ+ rights and climate change have been top of mind for consumers this year–leading to shifts in consumer expectations of businesses.

“Most Americans want brands to engage in social and political issues,” says David Wellisch, Collage Group CEO and Co-Founder. “The numbers are even more striking when we look by specific issues. For example, 85% of Americans want brands to play a role in ending the COVID-19 pandemic and alleviating its impact. And, then there’s the stick—we see younger Americans, bicultural Hispanics, and Black Americans are much more willing to penalize brands for non-action on issues they see as important.”

These are just a few of the many datapoints on shifts in American consumer behaviors since 2020 released publicly this week by diverse consumer insights company, Collage Group. In the report, America Now: How We Have Changed Since 2020, researchers, led by Chief Product Officer David Evans, Senior Director of Product & Content Bryan Miller, PhD, and Director of Product & Content Jack Mackinnon, unveil changes to diverse consumer attitudes at a key juncture in American history. The results come from a survey fielded in September 2021 of 3,785 Americans, representing Americans across race, ethnicity, generation, sexuality and gender.

Key insights illuminated in the research include:

1. Most Americans (58%) Want Brands to Engage in Social and Political Issues

Stopping COVID-19, improving race relations and halting climate change are the top three social and political issues consumers want brands to support.
The majority (85%) of Americans want brands to play a role in ending the COVID-19 pandemic and alleviating its impact.
The majority (59%) of Americans believe corporations bear the responsibility of fighting climate change – not individuals.
The majority (55%) of consumers across all generations acknowledge the urgency of taking action on climate change.

2. Race and Ethnicity is the #1 Way Multicultural Americans Self-Identify, Regardless of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, or Sexuality

Race and Hispanic ethnicity are the most common self-descriptors for multicultural Americans, ranking higher than personality, age/life stage, country of origin, being American, sexuality, gender and more.
Multicultural Americans report an increased interest in buying from brands that support people of their racial and ethnic background—an ~11% increase on average in 2021 comes on top of a 2020 baseline of ~52% of consumers.

3. Empathetic Gen Z Support Black and LGBTQ+ Americans Much More Than Older Generations (+15%)

The majority of Gen Z consumers wants brands to support women (56%) and Black Americans (55%).
Inaction is risky for brands with younger consumers, as 26% of Gen Z would stop using or buying a brand if it did not take a stance on an important issue.

4. COVID-19 Worries Remain for Two-Thirds of Americans, and Their Concern Is Tied Primarily to Economic Factors (64%)

Nearly two-thirds of Americans are still concerned about COVID-19, with Asian Americans feeling the most concern at 72%, up 4% since 2020.
Most Americans (64%) are concerned they may not have enough money to keep up with monthly expenses; Hispanic Americans are the most concerned with 3 in 4 (74%) citing the concern.

5. Many Multicultural Americans Have Reprioritized What Matters Most to Them vs. One Year Ago

Multicultural Americans say being happy and healthy (41%), saving money (33%) and supporting family and community (27%) are now their top priorities.
The majority (54%) of Hispanic Americans say being healthy and happy is much more important to them today than it was one year ago.

“Engaging authentically with an increasingly diverse America can be hard, and missteps are easy,” says David Wellisch. “But our research illustrates that not engaging is not an option, especially during challenging times. This is consumer expectation.”

Collage Group will be presenting a sub-set of the research in an upcoming webinar open to all reporters, and marketing and insights professionals on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

About Collage Group

For more than 10 years, Collage Group has developed consumer insights across race/ethnicity, generation, sexual identity and gender with a focus on high-growth consumer segments. Members of the Collage Group cultural intelligence platforms–Multicultural, Generations and LGBTQ+ & Gender–have access to 10+ years of consumer insights and 300+ studies with new data unveiled weekly. Learn more.

Contacts

Mollie Turner, mturner@collagegroup.com

Nissan Americas Names New Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

November 3, 2021 (updated November 3, 2021) Published by BusinessWire

Chandra Vasser, a 17-year Nissan veteran, named to newly-created role

NASHVILLE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nissan has named Chandra Vasser to the new position of vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, for its Americas region.

In this newly created role, Vasser will drive Nissan’s strategy to expand diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) across business functions in the Americas region, while developing partnerships and plans to share the company’s DEI commitment with employees, customers and the community.

“Taking actions to strengthen our focus on diversity, equity and inclusion is a critical part of the culture change that we’ve committed to with our Nissan NEXT transformation,” said Jérémie Papin, chairperson, Nissan Americas. “Chandra brings great experience to the role and will drive how we value equity and inclusion with all of our stakeholders, including employees, customers, dealers and suppliers.”

Vasser most recently was a director of finance for several sales and marketing functions in Nissan’s U.S. business operations. She joined Nissan in 2004 and worked in positions of increasing responsibility in the finance and purchasing functions.

Among her roles, she currently is a member of Nissan’s Diversity Advisory Council, and she previously worked as director of purchasing for several functional areas, which included leadership of supplier diversity. Under her leadership, Nissan was recognized as the “2016 Corporation of the Year” by the TriState Minority Supplier Development Council (TSMSDC).

Vasser earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Tennessee State University, and an MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. She recently completed the McKinsey Academy’s Black Executive Leadership Program.

For more information about our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit nissanusa.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube.

Contacts

Media Contact
Ashli Bobo

Nissan Corporate Communications

ashli.bobo@nissan-usa.com

New Partnership Offers Scholarships to Improve Access to Careers in Finance

November 3, 2021 (updated November 3, 2021) Published by BusinessWire

To help more students from underrepresented schools launch careers in the financial services industry, SIFMA and Knopman Marks Financial Training have partnered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to support SIE Exam preparation.

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#DEI–The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), the trade association for broker-dealers, investment banks and asset managers operating in the U.S. and global capital markets, and Knopman Marks Financial Training, a leader in FINRA exam preparation, have announced a partnership to help students from diverse backgrounds pursue a career in finance by offering scholarships.

These firms recognize that companies that prioritize diversity and inclusion foster greater innovation and outperform financially.

To help build equity through education, Knopman Marks will offer scholarships to SIFMA Invest! students interested in training for the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam, the mandatory first step to all securities licensing.

SIFMA Invest!, a program and online platform, offers students enrolled at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) opportunities to pursue a career in financial services.

“SIFMA is committed to expanding our outreach to students as they consider careers in the financial services industry. As SIFMA Invest! continues to provide educational opportunities to America’s HBCUs and MSIs, our partnership with Knopman Marks will help students have access to training material as they look to take and pass the FINRA Securities Industry Essentials exam. We are excited to announce this partnership,” said Cheryl Crispen, SIFMA EVP of Communications and Marketing.

The program also helps connect students with the existing efforts of The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the organization that regulates member brokerage firms and exchange markets, to supply pre-paid vouchers to cover the cost of the SIE exam for students.

“We’re excited to partner with SIFMA and FINRA to help these students reach their career goals,” said Brian Marks, President of Knopman Marks Financial Training. “We look forward to making our SIE scholarships available to help open up access to a career in finance to those who otherwise would not have that opportunity.”

The Knopman Marks Scholarship offers training to prepare students to take the SIE Exam, a foundational exam for a career in financial planning or securities. Passing the SIE Exam will enable those in disadvantaged socio-economic or educational circumstances to stand out to employers in the financial services industry.

The SIFMA Invest! Platform offers students an opportunity to learn more about the financial services industry as a career choice. They can connect with SIFMA members, obtain resume assistance, and access mentors and networking opportunities.

The SIE Exam does not require sponsorship and provides an edge in the race to secure a competitive internship, analyst position, or another registered position at a financial firm. Candidates who train with Knopman Marks consistently score the highest pass rates in the industry. In a typical year, 98% of candidates studying with Knopman Marks for the SIE Exam pass on their first try.

“We’re dedicated to creating a more diverse and inclusive financial services industry,” says Marcia Larson, Head of Partnerships at Knopman Marks. “We’re excited to share our team’s expertise with candidates seeking to break into the industry.”

About SIFMA Invest!

The SIFMA Invest! program and virtual platform offers students enrolled at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) a myriad of educational, industry research and career development opportunities for those interested in pursuing a career in financial services. SIFMA Invest! Provides students with new and fresh educational resources; opportunities to study for and take the FINRA Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam; chances to connect with SIFMA member firms and obtain resume assistance; and access to mentors and networking opportunities with financial services professionals through virtual events, webinars and student forums.

About Knopman Marks Financial Training

With the best exam results in the industry, Knopman Marks Financial Training is the leader in FINRA test prep. We have helped thousands of candidates pass their licensing exams on the first attempt, and our pass rates are consistently above the industry average. That’s why the biggest Wall Street firms trust us to train their new analysts and associates. Our expert instructors have led programs on five continents and prepared more than 100,000 students for various FINRA and other licensing examinations. Visit www.knopman.com to learn more about how Knopman Marks inspires financial professionals to thrive by preparing them for their exams—and their careers.

Contacts

Those seeking to apply to the SIFMA Invest! program can contact students@sifma.org.

To learn about participating in a Knopman Marks SIE Scholarship partnership program, please contact partnerships@knopman.com.

For SIFMA press inquiries, please contact Lindsay Gilbride at lgilbride@sifma.org.

For Knopman Marks press inquiries, please contact Sydney Berman; (917) 594-4835 x1008; sydney@fullyvested.com

Coalition of Tech Companies and Academic Experts Launch Unprecedented Report to Transform Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Outcomes within Tech Industry

October 29, 2021 (updated October 29, 2021) Published by BusinessWire

Over 30 CEOs and Leaders from Leading Tech Companies Pledge to Take Action and Drive Change

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today a coalition of 29 leading diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) experts from academia and the tech industry released a new report, Action to Catalyze Tech (ACT), which calls on tech companies to commit to bold, collective action by open-sourcing DEI best practices, encouraging collaboration on systemic solutions, and increasing accountability to drive change.

Convened by the Aspen Institute, the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), PwC, and Snap Inc., a cross-industry working group partnered for over a year to aggregate relevant, research-based actions that businesses can take to help radically improve DEI outcomes. The ACT Report compiles this research in one place and provides a blueprint and tools for companies at all stages — from startups to mature organizations — to implement to drive internal and sector-wide change. The full report is available here: https://actreport.com/.

Over 30 CEOs and executives from leading technology organizations, including Airbnb, Apple, Dropbox, Etsy, Google, LinkedIn, Twitter, Salesforce, Spotify, and Uber, have committed to being founding signatories of the ACT Report, pledging to hold themselves and their companies accountable to accelerate progress toward achieving DEI success. Together, these founding signatories represent more than 500,000 tech employees.

As part of the pledge, company signatories commit to developing company-specific strategies for pursuing or enhancing activity around the report’s four recommendations, which include:

Model and incentivize inclusive leadership, including by recognizing DEI as a business imperative.
Operationalize DEI throughout the business by applying a framework to address how to spend money (supplier diversity), design and build products (product inclusion), and think about talent.
Share DEI demographic data with a new industry partner, the Tech Equity Accountability Mechanism, incubated by the Aspen Institute, with the goal of creating industry-wide standards for reporting such data.
Transform future pathways into tech for underrepresented talent, including by helping solve the acute lack of computer science teachers from underrepresented backgrounds.

“The tech industry remains dominated by white men,” said Vivian Schiller, Executive Director of Aspen Digital, a program of the Aspen Institute. “Justice for underrepresented communities requires sustained commitment, transparency, and accountability from leadership, and that’s what we strive toward with Catalyze Tech. We are glad that so many tech companies are committing to implement recommendations made in this report, and eager to support the sector on the path to true equity.”

“Increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion is more than a numbers game. True change occurs when company leaders remove the systemic biases and barriers to fostering inclusive organizational cultures,” said Lucy Sanders, CEO and Founder, NCWIT. “It is imperative that we continue to call upon tech companies to take action, and contribute to making the tech industry a more accurate reflection of a broad society.”

“So often the tech industry moves fast and shoots for the stars — yet when it comes to diversity and inclusion, the industry’s progress has been agonizingly slow. It is long past time for urgency and accountability, and the ACT Report sets out a tangible roadmap for companies of all sizes,” said Oona King, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Snap Inc. and the Chair of the Catalyze Tech Working Group. “Collective action is key, and needs everyone in business — from CEOs to interns — to be inspired to act.”

“Diversity, equity and inclusion must be treated with the same prioritization, investment and rigor as other C-Suite priorities — it demands collaboration, accountability and transparency to help accelerate systemic and sustainable change,” said Shannon Schuyler, Chief Purpose & Inclusion Officer at PwC US. “The commitments laid out in the ACT report strive to do just that, from the talent we hire, to the suppliers we work with, to the products we create — inspiring a culture of belonging should be felt through every corner of an organization if we are to drive change at scale.”

The full list of companies that have signed on to commit to the report’s recommendations at launch are: Airbnb; Apple; Ariel Investments; Cisco; DoorDash; Dropbox; Etsy; Google; Headspace Health; Justworks; LinkedIn; Maven; Netflix; Nextdoor; PwC; Ro; Salesforce; Snap; Spotify; Twitter; Uber; Vimeo; Warby Parker; and Wipro; along with PledgeLA and the companies that form the Alliance for Global Inclusion: Applied Materials, Dell, Intel, Micron Technology, Nasdaq, and NTT Data.

On November 3, Catalyze Tech will convene the first annual DEI Innovation Summit, which will bring together CEOs and leaders from signatory companies, DEI experts, and advocates to discuss cross-industry alignment, and how to put the report’s recommendations into action. The Summit, held virtually, will begin at 9:00 a.m. PT, and it will be available to watch for free here.

Learn more about this effort at ACTReport.com.

About Catalyze Tech

Catalyze Tech is a new initiative to align the tech industry around collective action for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), based on the belief that outcomes cannot be transformed by any one leader or company alone. They are an industry-wide challenge that must be tackled by working together.

The coalition’s founding recommendations, released in its Action to Catalyze Tech (ACT) Report, were developed over the course of a year by a cross-industry working group of academics, DEI experts, think tanks, and tech companies, with the goal of bringing companies together to define industry standards for DEI and determine and commit to the collective action needed to solve systemic inequity in tech.

The working group that developed the report included experts and academics from AnitaB.org; Aspen Digital, a program of the Aspen Institute; Bennington College; Brookings Institution; Computing Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions, University of Texas at El Paso; Constellations Center for Equity in Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology; Coqual; CSforAll; Expanding Diversity and Gender Equity in Tech (EDGE in Tech)™ Initiative at the University of California; Google; Harvard Business School; IncluSTEM; Kapor Center; LA-Tech.org; Management Leadership for Tomorrow; National Center for Women & Information Technology; Powered By Decisions, LLC; PwC; QSIDE Institute; Reboot Representation; Scholastic Education Solutions; Snap Inc.; University of Massachusetts Amherst; and the Women and Public Policy Program at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Contacts

Press:

press@snap.com

New Diverse Business Program From MassMutual to Impact 175 Businesses Over Next Five Years

October 29, 2021 (updated October 29, 2021) Published by BusinessWire

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#massmutual–On the heels of announcing a $150 million commitment to utilizing underrepresented diverse businesses in its procurement process, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) today announced a new diverse business program in partnership with Dartmouth College and Stanford University aimed to help diverse businesses thrive and grow. The program will impact 175 businesses over the next five years through comprehensive education, business planning and mentorship.

“This new diverse business program is one more example of MassMutual’s commitment to making an impact and contributing towards systemic change,” said Regina Heyward, head of supplier diversity with MassMutual. “Bringing together national leaders in diversity, academia and financial services, we are striving to deliver a holistic approach to help today’s most pressing issues facing underrepresented diverse businesses.”

The diverse business program’s framework is comprised of financial, collaboration and educational elements which will rely upon and strengthen relationships with key diverse constituencies. Program participants will receive financial and executive level education to enhance their business acumen. The program will be delivered through the Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business Diversity Business Programs and the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, a research and education collaboration between Stanford University Graduate School of Business and the Latino Business Action Network.

“For four decades, the Tuck Diversity Business Programs have delivered high-impact business education for entrepreneurs through executive education programs online and on the Dartmouth campus in Hanover, NH, and through outreach programs in all 50 states,” said Emmanuel Ajavon, associate director of business leadership programs at Tuck. “We are proud to collaborate with MassMutual to continue in this rich tradition as we work with a new generation of diverse entrepreneurs.”

“The diverse business program is a tangible extension of MassMutual’s ‘Live Mutual’ philosophy, allowing us to bring our purpose to life in specific, measurable ways,” added Heyward. “It enables us to directly invest in change and help people secure their future and protect the ones they love.”

About MassMutual

MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. Founded in 1851, the company has been continually guided by one consistent purpose: we help people secure their future and protect the ones they love. With a focus on delivering long-term value, MassMutual offers a wide range of protection, accumulation, wealth management and retirement products and services. For more information, visit www.massmutual.com.

Contacts

Paula Tremblay

ptremblay@massmutual.com

Kimberly Evans Named Northern Trust’s Head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion and Social Impact

October 29, 2021 (updated October 29, 2021) Published by BusinessWire

Evans Brings Decades of Business, Inclusion and Community Experience to the Role

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Northern Trust has named Kimberly Evans as Head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion and Social Impact, effective December 1, 2021. Evans succeeds Connie Lindsey, Northern Trust’s Corporate Social Responsibility and Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion leader.

“Kim brings to this role deep industry knowledge, a commitment to the highest standards of business ethics, and a long record of inclusive leadership and community service,” Northern Trust Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael O’Grady said. “She will continue Connie’s great work to incorporate environmental, social, and governance considerations into how we operate as a business, investors, and people to generate long-term value for our stakeholders.”

Evans is an Executive Vice President and currently serves as the North America Head of Private Capital Administration. Prior to her current role, Evans led the Governmental, Sovereign Wealth, and Taft Hartley/Union pension and treasury business in the US, Central and South America. In addition to her business responsibilities, Evans serves as President of the Women In Leadership Business Resource Council within Northern Trust.

Evans was also named a “2021 Leader That Can” from Schools That Can; featured as one of the 50 Leading Women in the 2020 Hedge Fund Journal; is a Chicago United 2019 Business Leader of Color honoree; and a Leading Women’s Executive Alumni. She was recognized as a Leader in Philanthropy by the University of Chicago and currently serves on the board of the Chicago Public Education Fund.

“At Northern Trust, we view sustainability through a broad lens as we seek to make a positive impact in everything we do—including how we foster an inclusive culture, serve our clients, and invest in our communities,” said Evans. “I look forward to partnering with our businesses and employees across the globe, leveraging our enduring principles of service, expertise and integrity, to drive meaningful change.”

Northern Trust has been recognized by numerous accolades, including Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE Magazine, Best Private Bank in the U.S. by the Financial Times Group, 100 Most Sustainable Companies in America by Barron’s, the Gender Equality Index Member by Bloomberg, and the Best Employers for Diversity by Forbes.

About Northern Trust

Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking to corporations, institutions, affluent families and individuals. Founded in Chicago in 1889, Northern Trust has a global presence with offices in 22 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., and across 23 locations in Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. As of June 30, 2021, Northern Trust had assets under custody/administration of US$15.7 trillion, and assets under management of US$1.5 trillion. For more than 130 years, Northern Trust has earned distinction as an industry leader for exceptional service, financial expertise, integrity and innovation. Please visit our website or follow us on Twitter.

Northern Trust Corporation, Head Office: 50 South La Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603 U.S.A., incorporated with limited liability in the U.S. Please read our global and regulatory information.

Contacts

Doug Holt

(312) 557-1571

DH124@ntrs.com

http://www.northerntrust.com

Jennifer Brown Consulting Selected as Amerisure Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant

October 29, 2021 (updated October 29, 2021) Published by Cision

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Oct. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Amerisure is pleased to work with Jennifer Brown Consulting (JBC) to grow and enhance the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

JBC is a women-owned, LGBT-certified consulting firm with more than 16 years of experience working with companies across industries, including Fortune 1,000 organizations, nonprofits and startups. Their key focus areas include DEI assessments and strategies; seminar workshops and keynotes; employee resource group summits and buildouts; and coaching.

The relationship with Amerisure will include a diversity, equity and inclusion assessment, an employee inclusion and culture survey, and the development of an ongoing DEI scorecard to elevate opportunities.

“We are proud of the steps we’ve taken since launching our diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and the partnership with Jennifer Brown Consulting will enable us to take our DEI roadmap to the next level,” said Erin Buddie, vice president of human resources at Amerisure. “We are excited to work together with the experts at JBC to build upon our strategy and enhance our efforts and capabilities.”

Embracing diversity, equity and inclusion is strongly correlated with an organization’s profitability and overall value in the marketplace. Companies that support DEI are more likely to attract top talent, improve customer relationships and decision-making, and increase employee satisfaction, according to Mckinsey & Company.

“Our primary focus is making sure that everyone feels welcomed, valued, respected, and heard,” said Jennifer Brown, founder and CEO of Jennifer Brown Consulting. “Our team draws upon a broad array of diversity dimensions, professional experiences, and deep commitment to assist our clients in building workplaces of belonging where all of us can thrive.”

About Jennifer Brown Consulting (JBC)
JBC is a strategic leadership and diversity consulting firm headquartered in New York City. The firm believes in unleashing the power of human potential, embracing diversity, and helping people — and organizations — to thrive. JBC has a global presence, operating everywhere from North America to Southeast Asia. They’ve helped numerous organizations, including Toyota, Starbucks, Microsoft, and Bank of America, continuously drive positive organizational change in today’s rapidly shifting business landscape.

About Amerisure Insurance
Amerisure is a leading provider of commercial property and casualty insurance solutions for U.S.-based construction, manufacturing and healthcare businesses. Licensed in all fifty states and available through an exclusive network of elite independent agents, the company upholds an “A” (Excellent) financial strength rating, industry-leading service scores, and multiple awards for innovation. Amerisure has been in business for more than 100 years and is consistently named among the best places to work in the industry and throughout the nation. To learn more, visit http://www.Amerisure.com.

Media Contact

Marilyn Banes, Amerisure, 2484267914, mbanes@amerisure.com

SOURCE Amerisure

Sheppard Mullin Appoints Lois Durant Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer

October 27, 2021 (updated October 27, 2021) Published by BusinessWire

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is pleased to announce that Lois Durant has been named its first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (CDIO). Durant has served as Sheppard Mullin’s Director of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) and Talent Management Strategy for the last three-and-a-half years where she has been responsible for managing the firm’s internal and external D&I efforts as well as the development and implementation of various talent management initiatives.

“Lois’ demonstrated passion, creative drive, and ability to lead others to become more inclusive with our programs and initiatives have catapulted our D&I efforts forward as a firm,” said Luca Salvi, chairman of Sheppard Mullin. “We are thrilled to see her leadership continue in this new role as CDIO.”

As Director of D&I and Talent Management Strategy, Durant was instrumental in instituting new and progressive professional development, talent retention and D&I programs, including establishing D&I Office Working Groups, expanding the firm’s affinity group program, creating comprehensive training academies for junior and mid-level associates, leading the associate mentoring program, and creating enhanced evaluation processes. In this new role, Durant will continue to work alongside firm leadership and the Chair of Diversity and Inclusion Rena Andoh to support the retention and promotion of diverse talent throughout the firm.

Lois Durant, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, commented, “Sheppard Mullin supports and cultivates an inclusive working environment where attorneys and staff of all backgrounds have an equal opportunity to fulfill their personal and professional goals. Creating and implementing programs and policies that support and retain diverse talent speaks to the core of our firm culture. I am particularly excited to step into this new role and to further innovate and challenge ourselves, our clients, and communities to do better.”

Under Durant’s leadership, the firm has earned numerous awards for its D&I initiatives, including Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s prestigious Thomas Sager Award. Firm client Starbucks Coffee Company presented the firm with its Law & Corporate Affairs 2018 Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion Award, which recognizes one law firm annually that “demonstrates true leadership in diversity and inclusion.”

Durant has worked across all functional areas of talent management and has spent most of her career working at large law firms. Before joining Sheppard Mullin in 2018, she was a key member of White & Case’s Global Senior People Leadership Team and led the talent management efforts of all litigation practice groups, advising practice group leaders on talent-related matters. Prior to White & Case, Lois was Kaye Scholer’s Manager of Professional Development and Retention and worked closely with the D&I Committee to create and implement the firm’s D&I action plan. In 2020, Crain’s New York Business recognized Durant as a Notable Woman in Talent Resources. Durant earned her M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and her B.A. from Fordham University.

About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

Sheppard Mullin is a full-service AmLaw 50 firm with more than 1,000 attorneys in 15 offices located in the United States, Europe and Asia. Since 1927, industry-leading companies have turned to Sheppard Mullin to handle corporate and technology matters, high-stakes litigation and complex financial transactions. In the U.S., the firm’s clients include almost half of the Fortune 100. For more information, please visit www.sheppardmullin.com.

Contacts

JOHN J. BUCHANAN
(415) 774-3181
jbuchanan@sheppardmullin.com

KARA EYER
(312) 499-0533
keyer@sheppardmullin.com

Black Business Owners, Celebrities, Influencers, and Leaders Gather with Visa at CEO’s Making Waves for Black Women in Business, Helping Corporations Fulfill Commitment to Equality and Inclusion

October 12, 2021 (updated October 12, 2021) Published by BusinessWire

Two-Day Conference Provides Vital Resources for Black Women in Business

OAKLAND, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–On October 26th and 27th, CEO’s Making Waves for Black Women In Business: Growth, Impact, & Community will kick off a two-day conference by welcoming Black women-owned businesses, industry leaders, and corporations in addressing the need for systemic change in leadership, gender, and race equality in a variety of different industries.

The two-day event will feature discussions from black business owners such as influencer Necole Kane – CEO/Founder of XONecole and Whitney Harper (Brand Manager/Creative Director for Rapper Sweetie) and (Host) Sports Broadcaster Rosalyn Gold-Onwude, along with many other amazing business professionals in different sectors who will share their insights on relevant topics and resources aimed at enhancing the approaches of Black professionals and CEO’s. By strengthening woman-owned companies within the Black community, CEO’s Making Waves will work on closing the 90% wealth gap faced by Black women in business today.

“This is a much-needed event to support the Black women in our communities starting in California with the large tech companies,” says Myeshia Jefferson, founder of Beauty Makes Cents LLC, a company dedicated to increasing entrepreneurial education through events, training, hands-on support, and empowerment.

Jefferson continues, “CEO’s Making Waves will help attendees tap into resources they may not know are available. Many black-owned businesses don’t need a handout, we need a hand up. As a Black entrepreneur, I understand firsthand the struggle of navigating the business world, and the challenges that Black women in business face to get access to the right people and positions that can open doors. Sometimes, we need more hands-on support to guide us to the next level. Many of the large organizations have the means and the resources to help.”

Aiming to connect start-ups and small business owners to companies with resources and mentors available for Black entrepreneurs, the event will act as a foundation for future growth and opportunities. Featuring an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, discussion panels, fireside chats, mentorship sessions, and workshops, CEO’s Making Waves will touch on a wide range of topics, such as entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, the future of e-commerce, the entertainment industry, sports, wellness, women empowerment, and recruiting.

“This year will have virtual celebrity appearances from Akon, Niecy Nash, Tamar Braxton, and more; but next year we will host the event in-person where we can include interactive activities such as dancing, live music, and a yacht experience! We see this as a great opportunity for black women entrepreneurs to connect, network, and grow,” says Jefferson.

CEO’s Making Waves 2021 participants will also have the chance to win mentorships from top industry leaders through an exclusive guest contest. Organizations can make this an opportunity to build trust and loyalty, while more Black women gain access and support.

Registration is open to all. Remaining space is filling up quickly, so get your tickets soon! Visit CEO’s Making Waves to secure your tickets and learn more.

About CEO’s Making Waves for Black Women In Business

CEO’s Making Waves for Black Women in Business was created in effort to get corporations to walk the talk of addressing the need for systemic change in leadership, gender equality, and race equality by supporting women-owned businesses and professionals. We aim to economically empower 1,000 Black women in California by 2022 with an end goal of closing the racial wealth gap with the help of our future partners.