America’s “Best-of-the-Best” Companies for Diversity Named by National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and Its Partners in National Business Inclusion Consortium
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#BOTB16–The National
Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the business voice of
the LGBT community, in collaboration with its partners in the National
Business Inclusion Consortium (NBIC), has named the inaugural Best-of-the-Best
list of corporations in America committed to diversity and inclusion
across all community sectors.
“The Best-of-the-Best designation is the top corporate honor bestowed
for commitments to America’s diverse employees and business owners,
which includes LGBT, people of color, women, and people with
disabilities. This designation is not easily earned, making it all the
more prized,” said NGLCC Co-Founder and President Justin Nelson. “By
recognizing these industry leaders and the policymakers who collaborate
with them as the Best-of-the-Best, we are creating a better future for
all diverse communities in business. Together we reaffirm our common,
ongoing mission to improve business inclusion among Fortune 500
corporations and government agencies nationwide.”
Only companies achieving industry leading results across all diverse
segments are eligible to receive the prestigious Best-of-the-Best
designation from the NBIC, a coalition of national diverse business
organizations spearheaded by NGLCC and including Women’s Business
Enterprise National Council, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Pan
Asian American Chamber of Commerce, National Black Justice Coalition,
U.S. Business Leadership Network and WEConnect International. NGLCC
formed the National Business Inclusion Consortium in 2011, and its
members represent a total of over $8 trillion in annual consumer
spending power and significant contributions to the marketplace and
workplace.
Criteria required to be named a Best-of-the-Best corporation includes
the completion of a detailed survey of an organization’s inclusive
programs, which may involve Supplier Diversity initiatives, Employee
Resource Groups (ERGs) and workplace engagement opportunities, and
diverse marketplace and community engagements. Additionally, a detailed
report of policies and achievements in the diversity and inclusion
space–along with recognition or ratings such as the Human Rights
Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, the U.S. Business Leadership
Network’s Disability Equality Index, or Diversity Inc.’s Top 50— is
weighted and reviewed by a committee of NBIC leaders.
The 2016 Corporations Designated as Best-of-the-Best are:
2016 NBIC Diversity Corporation of the Year:
JPMorgan Chase
& Co.
2016 NBIC Program or Initiative of the Year:
TIAA Contingent
Worker Diversity Program
2016 NBIC Best-of-the-Best Top 30 Corporations for Inclusion:
American
Airlines
AT&T
Bank of America
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Capital
One
Chevron
Comcast|NBCUniversal
Corning
Cummins
CVS
Health
Fidelity Investments
Freddie Mac
General Motors
JPMorgan
Chase & Co.
Kellogg
KPMG
Marriott International
Merck
Morgan
Stanley
Nationwide
New York Life Insurance Company
Northrop
Grumman
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
PNC Financial
Services Group
Prudential
Sodexo
TD Bank Group
TIAA
UPS
Wells
Fargo
The announcement of those honored with the Best-of-the-Best designation
was made at the inaugural Best-of-the-Best Awards Gala held at The
National Portrait Gallery at The Smithsonian American Art Museum on
April 26th, 2016. Bank of America, a Best-of-the-Best
corporation, was the evening’s presenting sponsor. Honorees in the
public sector that evening included The Honorable Nancy Pelosi,
House Democratic Leader and The Honorable Tony Coelho, former
U.S. Congressman and primary sponsor of Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA). Washington Post columnist & MSNBC contributor Jonathan
Capehart served as Master of Ceremonies; Ali Stroker, the
first actress in a wheelchair to star on a Broadway stage, sang the
National Anthem. Actress, performer, and activist Lynda Carter spoke
about her commitment to equal rights.
“When a company’s competitors see them listed as a Best-of-the-Best
company, they will immediately move to raise their own bar of diversity
& inclusion. Being the Best-of-the-Best means pushing one another to
keep innovating the ways we do business to be more inclusive and
successful than ever,” says NGLCC Co-Founder and CEO Chance Mitchell.
“Each year that we get back together to celebrate the Best-of-the-Best
we will undoubtedly see more and more companies achieve unprecedented
excellence in support of their diverse employees and suppliers.
Diversity is good for competition; and that’s good for business.”
ABOUT NGLCC:
The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is the business voice of
the LGBT community and is the largest global not-for-profit advocacy
organization specifically dedicated to expanding economic opportunities
and advancements for LGBT people. NGLCC is the exclusive certification
body for LGBT-owned businesses. www.nglcc.org
Contacts
National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
Jonathan
Lovitz, 954-695-5896
Vice President of External Affairs
jlovitz@nglcc.org
