LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
Josh Schimmels
The Los Angeles Business Journal was proud to host our annual Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Symposium & Awards on March 29th at the JW Marriott Los Angeles at LA Live. During the event, our morning of panel conversations featured industry experts discussing the many ways our Community of Business can advance diversity in the workplace while simultaneously creating an environment that enables equity and inclusion to thrive.
Panels included:
THE COST OF INEQUITY
KeAndra D. Cylear-Dodds, Executive Officer, Equity and Race, LA Metro
Kymberly Garrett, Chief People & Diversity Officer, Children’s Bureau
Megan O’Neill, Founding Partner and Chair of Litigation, DTO Law
Moderator: Laura Mitchel, District Senior Manager, Wells Fargo Bank
BUILDING A DIVERSE & MULTI-GENERATIONAL WORKFORCE
Tanya Greene, Partner, McGuireWoods
Leticia Kimble, Partner, Raines Feldman
Dr. Mashi Rahmani, CEO, MMChr
Robert Sausedo, President & CEO, Community Build, Inc.
Moderator: Lois Shelton, CSUN Professor of Management, CSUN
WHAT’S REALLY WORKING: JOURNEY TO SUCCESS
Andrés De La Peza, Director of Strategy, Partner Relations, Woodcraft Rangers
Rose Madriaga, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Pacific West, Optum
Laura Mitchel, District Senior Manager, Wells Fargo Bank
Quentin Strode, President and CEO, NEW Community Investments
Moderator: Karen Fairey, Marketing Communications Manager &
Senior Public Involvement Specialist, HNTB Corp.
After the thought-provoking panels concluded, the afternoon luncheon followed, honoring diversity, inclusion, and equity champions in the Los Angeles region for their ongoing efforts to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace and business leadership while simultaneously creating an equitable environment.
It was truly a privilege to shine the spotlight on these terrific leaders and organizations within the Los Angeles business community and unveil our honorees for this year’s awards. This special section contains profiles of all the honorees and finalists, alongside articles and features about best practices and the tremendous benefits of diversity, inclusion and equity programs and efforts in the workplace.
Many thanks to our sponsors, including Diamond Sponsors HNTB and Wells Fargo, and Platinum Sponsors CSUN, NEW Community Investments and Optum, who helped make this event possible. And once again, congratulations to the honorees – Los Angeles based professionals and organizations who “lead by example,” successfully blending effective business vision with a passionate commitment to positively making a difference, furthering diversity, inclusion and equity both in the world of business and in the communities they serve.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL 2023
DIVERSITY, EQUITY + INCLUSION HONOREES
CEO OF THE YEAR (LARGE COMPANY)
Jenna Knudsen
CO Architects
CEO OF THE YEAR (GROWING COMPANY)
Melanie Stricklan
Slingshot Aerospace
DEI EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR (ENTERPRISE)
Medell Briggs-Malonson
UCLA Health
DEI EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR (GROWING)
Niona Rich
Vaco
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD (LARGE COMPANY)
Fernando Flores
Gensler
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD (MID-SIZED COMPANY)
Melanie Mawema
Barnes & Thornburg
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD (GROWING COMPANY)
Chamberlain Duru
Burns & McDonnell
DEI COMPANY OF THE YEAR (ENTERPRISE)
DEI COMPANY OF THE YEAR (LARGE)
DEI COMPANY OF THE YEAR (MID-SIZED)
WELLS FARGO DEI SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
DEI NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE)
DEI NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR (MID-SIZED OR GROWING)
DEI TEAM OF THE YEAR
For the list of Finalists:
click here
INSIDE THE SUPPLEMENT
Profile of a Proactive Diversity Leader
As director of administration for the West Region Offices of Barnes & Thornburg, Melanie Mawema is responsible for….Read More
A Successful DEI Journey to Authenticity and Belonging
The journey for Children’s Bureau of Southern California’s diversity, equity, and inclusion formally began five years ago….Read More
Younger Generations Demand DEI in the Law
The impact of millennials, individuals born 1981 to 1996—and their values and preferences on work culture—has been undeniable…Read More
Cross-Country Latino Prosperity Tour Announced
Following President Biden’s State of Union address in February, SBA administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman traveled to Tucson, Arizona to announce plans for the upcoming Biden-Harris Administration Latino Prosperity Tour…Read More
Companies with Greater Gender Diversity Deliver Better Overall Employee Experiences
Companies with practices that support greater gender diversity are rated more effective by their employees across a range of topics than those that do not…Read More
HR Leaders Must Establish Consequential Accountability to Achieve Diverse Leadership Benches
To achieve and sustain diversity among leadership benches, HR organizations must adopt consequential accountability, which meaningfully impacts behavior and outcomes…Read More
What Accounting Firms Need to Do if They are Serious About Diversity
Black accounting professionals face indignities and disrespect from both colleagues and clients, according to a recent study…Read More
Black Lawyers and Students Drive Diversity in Associate Ranks at U.S. Law Firm
NALP recently released its annual Report on Diversity at U.S. Law Firms. The report, based on information from the 2022-2023 NALP Directory of Legal Employers (NDLE), shows that…Read More
Most Americans See Latinos as Biggest Boost to U.S. Economy
Seven out of 10 Americans attribute the country’s economic growth to Latino population growth, reflecting that U.S. Hispanics have the highest workforce contribution rate (65.6 percent) and have started the most small businesses out of any other population group over the last decade…Read More
US Employees Want Greater Focus on DEI
Late last year it was reported that more than 2,000 CEOs in the U.S have now signed a pledge to act on supporting a more…Read More
Gender Diversity Report Finds Female M&A Dealmakers Excelled in Pandemic
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. last year announced the publication of the Gender Diversity & Dealmaking 2022 report…Read More
Inclusion is the Key to Curb the Female Employee Exodus
Throughout the pandemic, women quit their jobs at significantly higher rates than men, largely exacerbated by the levels of burnout in women across the workforce….Read More
Support for Diversity in Space-Related Programs
Universities Space Research Association (USRA) has launched a unique part- nership between the U.S. Space Force and the Air Force Research Laboratory to advance scientific…Read More
FDA Takes Key Steps to Increase Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Clinical Trials
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued a new draft guidance to industry for developing plans to enroll more participants from underrepresented racial and ethnic populations in the U.S. into clinical trials….Read More
