The Diversity Forum’s very own Board of Advisors Chairman, Joe Machicote, will serve as keynote speaker for our next event!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010
7:30 - 10:30 am
Hilton Charlotte Executive Park
(5624 Westpark Drive, Charlotte, NC 28217)

COST: $25.00/person (breakfast Included)

We have been paying attention to past event surveys and in response to the popular demand for a session focused on best practices; we have put together "Diversity and Inclusion Practices to Sustain Employee Engagement."

As the VP of Talent Management & HR Services at Lance, Inc., Joe champions the development of the employee life cycle and best practices for leading and managing people – including diversity and inclusion process, loyalty and engagement, HR analytics, change management, employee resource center, talent acquisition, training and development, and reward and recognition strategies for over 5,000 employees in North America. If anyone can provide the "how-to’s"…it is this gentleman.

A recognized D&I leader in Charlotte, we don’t expect for tickets to be around for long…

To Register - Click Below:

 

 

3rd Event Provides Perspective…

We were honored to have Frank Newport, Ph.D., Editor in Chief at the Gallup Poll present at The Diversity Forum’s 3rd event. He was educating, engaging, and entertaining! As one of the most respected pollsters in the country, we were able to learn a few statistics about the current mindset of Americans and what is important in our country...

• 95% of Americans would vote a well-qualified Catholic person as President; whereas only 88% would vote for a woman, 55% for a homosexual, and 45% for an atheist
• Blacks (53%) and Whites (55%) agree that the most important problem facing the country is the economy (surprise!)
• Asians (31%), Hispanics (23%), Whites (20%), and Blacks (24%) almost equally consider themselves politically liberal
• 82% of Whites & Hispanics feel that a qualified African American has the same chance of getting a job as a white person; while only 49% of Blacks see that statement as truth (a 30-point gap has persisted for over 45 years in this area!)

The differences in perspective continue, but now that we have the information - the more important takeaway is for us to identify solutions...potential ways we can decrease the gap!

We also had an outstanding panel that brought the discussion about diversity home to Charlotte:

• Joe Machicote (moderator), VP, Talent Management & HR Services at Lance, Inc.
• Steve Larson, SVP, Senior Organizational Development/Diversity Consultant at Wells Fargo Corporation
• Vincent Berkeley, Chief Diversity Officer at Compass Group
• Paulette Ashlin, President of Ashlin Associates, LLC

We appreciate the continued support of our sponsors and you...our guests! Next event to be held in July…

Don't forget to become a member of our Facebook group:

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Sincerely,

Michelle Fish, Founder

Another Success - The Diversity Forum's 2nd Event

An event where networking, education, and inspiration collided...The Diversity Forum was pleased to host it's 2nd event on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at the Marriott SouthPark.  Guests were treated to a powerful presentation by Kevin Henry, Chief Human Resources Officer at Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated.  He provided us with a few staggering facts...

• About 86 million people are born each year (10,000 born each hour)
• 56% of the world's population lives in Asia
• 5% of the world's population lives in North America
• People of color will make up 52.3% of the US population by 2050
• 874 million people speak Mandarin Chinese, 366 million people speak Hindi, 341 million people speak English, and 322 million people speak Spanish
• The greatest international migration in human history is happening NOW

One word comes to mind...WOW!  Diversity is a force that cannot be ignored; the responsibility is ours to ensure that our workplaces, communities, and thoughts are of an inclusive nature.  We all must make a cognizant effort - everyday - to recognize and appreciate the differences in those around us as it only makes us a stronger society.

Following the keynote address, Kelly Hughes, an associate with the law firm of Ogletree Deakins, informed attendees of what can happen when employer's don't value diversity - specifically as it relates to disability, religion, and sexual orientation discrimination.  Copies of the presentation can be obtained by emailing mcromartie@thediversityforum.org.

Also, The 1st Annual 2009 Diversity Award Winners were announced:

• Trailblazer (company) Award:  TIAA-CREF, represented by Renee Alexander Sherrod, VP of Diversity & Community Relations  
• Champion (individual) Award: Eric Watson, VP of Diversity & Inclusion at Food Lion, LLC

We greatly appreciate the support we have received and look forward to future events! Together we can change the world...

View Actual Event Footage & Photos:

October 14, 2009

Eastonsweb Multimedia - Diversity Award Video Vignettes

Facebook

Online Album

May 20, 2009

News Channel 14
Eastonsweb Multimedia

Sincerely,

Michelle Fish
Founder, The Diversity Forum