CEO OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
GIOVANNA BRASFIELD
CEO
Brasfield & Associates LLC
Dr. Giovanna Brasfield stands as a beacon of honor for her remarkable contributions to creating positive change in communities throughout the US. Her leadership and impactful endeavors are poised to reach new heights in the coming years. Driven by a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, she passionately advocates for the amplification of marginalized voices within the construction sector. Presently, Dr. Brasfield volunteers her time to make a community impact by holding the distinguished position of Chair of the RAND Foundation’s Center to Advance Racial Equity Policy (CAREP) leading the steering committee in inclusive, multi-sector policy concepts that focus on diverse cross-sections of the population. Dr. Brasfield’s efforts also play a pivotal role in shaping community impact initiatives within construction at a national level. She has recently concluded her tenure as the chair of the DE&I Steering Committee for Associated General Contractors of California.
APOLLO EMEKA
Founder / CEO
Apollo Strategy Group Inc.
Dr. Apollo Emeka is an executive leadership coach and strategic consultant whose vision is to create a world where everyone reaches their full potential for good. In line with that vision, Apollo encourages his clients to leverage their full selves and embrace diverse perspectives to achieve ambitious goals. Since 2017, Apollo Strategy Group, Dr. Emeka’s Pasadena-based startup, has delivered high-impact leadership coaching and enterprise consulting services with an emphasis on authenticity, intention, courage, and inclusion. While many companies have a “strategy for diversity‚” Dr. Emeka and his team help companies and leaders use diversity as a strategy. Dr. Emeka believes that just as employee engagement or budgeting can’t be an extracurricular activity for a successful business, neither can diversity. It must be entrenched into the culture of businesses. To date, Dr. Emeka and his team have created over $500 million in value for 100+ high-performing leaders and businesses.
TOMMY OLIVER
CEO & Founder
Confluential Films
An award-winning, multi-hyphenate filmmaker and creator, Tommy Oliver is driven by his mission to elevate underrepresented voices both through his own filmmaking and financial investments. Oliver has made a profound impact on the film and television industry as the founder and CEO of Confluential Films, along with his wife Codie Elaine Oliver, who serves as partner and co-chair. Confluential is an award-winning, Black-owned and Black-founded, film, television, and documentary production company and financier that is devoted to championing authentic and culturally specific stories.
Through Confluential, Oliver is dedicated to financing projects by creators of color. In his recent fundraising strides, with the support of Goldman Sachs, Oliver raised between
$100 million and $150 million production fund for Black filmmakers. Last year, three of the films Oliver produced were part of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Oliver also serves as co-founder and chairman of Black Love, Inc.
SARA TERHEGGEN
CEO & Founder
The NBD Group, Inc.
Dr. Sara Terheggen is a top business advisor. She has worked on over $115 billion in corporate transactions for some of the largest companies and private equity and venture capital funds in the world, and has been recognized for her professional expertise and leadership, making her one of the most decorated corporate advisors of her time.
In 2018, Dr. Terheggen founded her own legal and business solutions professional corporation, The NBD Group, Inc. NBD has experienced year-over-year growth. After more than a decade as a corporate advisor in top law firms, and most recently as an equity partner, she wanted to disrupt the industry by bringing to bear a new paradigm. As a woman-founded and owned firm, she wanted to create a new type of business and legal solutions corporation to establish policies and governance that help women and minorities rise instead of cycle out.
DE+I EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR (ENTERPRISE COMPANY) FINALISTS
SHANNON BRADLEY
Chief Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer
Keck Medicine of USC
Shannon Bradley, MBA, was hired as Keck Medicine of USC’s first chief diversity and inclusion officer in September 2022. Bradley comes from a strong background in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and in the year and a half she has been in her inaugural position at Keck Medicine, she has already made incredible strides in promoting an inclusive work environment for staff, patients, and the community. For example, she revised Keck Medicine’s DEI initiative to be more comprehensive through the creation of four new Keck Medicine DEI pillars: Health Equity; Employees; Supplier Diversity; and Community.
Bradley revamped the health system’s Diversity & Inclusion Executive Steering Committee by adding several new members with different areas of expertise to make the committee more robust and able to better support the four pillars. She also revamped DEI involvement and material for New Hire Orientation for new employees.
ALEXANDRA BURREL
Associate Vice President; Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
University of La Verne
Dr. Alexandra Burrel currently serves as the associate vice president and chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer at the University of La Verne. For the past 17 years, her professional career has been focused on diversity and inclusion, student development, recruiting, institutional event planning, and administration while working with institutions of higher education.
Dr. Burrel is dedicated to meeting the needs of her students and clients while continuing to work daily to add to the success and development of herself and others. She has led the development on collaborative programming and fostered safe spaces for the community to build on their DE&I efforts. In 2019, she wrote a book titled, “Exploring the Experiences of Black and Latina Female Students at a Predominantly White Institution and Their Perceptions of Campus Climate.” In 2022, she joined faculty members in creating and implementing a model for anti-racism training in higher education.
Dave McIntosh, PhD is an experienced professional with more than fifteen years of experience leading diversity, equity, and inclusion. He joined the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in August of 2021 as the inaugural vice dean for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
In his career, Dr. McIntosh has led many mission and accreditation critical functions focused on diversity, inclusion, climate, community engagement and pipeline programs. His work has focused on creating equitable environments for all people by evaluating the climate, measuring the presence of diversity, building education and professional development opportunities, and assessing the policies, programs, practices, procedures, and structures of organizations to ensure equitable outcomes. His team launched the annual JEDI Trailblazer Award in 2022, which is presented to those who embody leadership and excellence in advancing ideals of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
VERA B. STEWART
Senior Vice President; Diversity & Inclusion Consultant,
Women and Underrepresented Talent
Bank of America
Vera Stewart helps lead Bank of America’s company-wide diversity and inclusion efforts with a focus on career growth opportunities for Black and African American talent. Based in Los Angeles, Stewart’s dedicated D&I leadership over the years has helped create a more diverse workplace environment for the company both in Los Angeles and nationwide – where 50% are people of color and 50% of the bank’s workforce are women companywide, and the bank’s Los Angeles workforce is far outpacing these metrics for both minority and women employees.
Stewart began her career at Bank of America as a management trainee and held several leadership roles in Los Angeles before being asked to take her passion for D&I to a national scale. She is a driving force behind efforts to encourage and implement DE&I initiatives for female and multicultural employees.
DE+I EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR (LARGE COMPANY) FINALISTS
TRACEY KENNEDY
Partner
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Tracey Kennedy is not just a trailblazer in her chosen specialty of labor and employment law, she is also a trailblazer in the legal profession as a whole. She is the go-to Los Angeles trial attorney in Sheppard Mullin’s Labor and Employment practice group. Her 30 years of representing clients in discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination cases combined with an impressive win record (including trying-to-verdict three multi-million-dollar wage-and-hour cases) make her a particularly sought-after trial lawyer.
What truly sets Kennedy apart is her career-long commitment to improving diversity within her chosen profession. It is hard to overestimate how many younger lawyers in the industry she has helped over the years, both in a formal role as a partner advisor and mentor to firm associates, as well as informally. She consistently reaches out to diverse senior associates with the potential to make partners and provides them with guidance.
CRYSTAL LEONARD
Assessor, Autism Services
Easterseals Southern California
Crystal Leonard is a board-certified behavioral analyst who has been with Easterseals Southern California for 10 years. As a behavior analyst, she assesses and designs intervention therapies to address behavior in individuals with autism spectrum disorder, aiming to enhance their social, communicative, and adaptive skills. Throughout her career, Leon-ard has conducted diagnostic assessments for autism spectrum disorder and other cognitive tests for traumatic brain injuries, as well as treatment of mental health conditions, such as Munchausen’s Syndrome, borderline personality disorder, and other psychiatric disorders. Leonard draws from her deep experience working with families from diverse backgrounds. She has experience overseeing diagnostic assessments, direct therapy, and supervision for individuals from various socioeconomic groups, ethnicities, and mental health statuses. She provides a range of quality therapies along with support and education to families, caregivers, and community members.
DE+I EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR (MID-SIZED COMPANY) FINALISTS
DANIEL FERGUSON
Senior Vice President, Marketing & Comms
PBS SoCal
Daniel Ferguson has dedicated his professional journey to championing and validating strengths often overlooked in the realms of diversity, equity, and inclusion within corporate environments. During his tenures at DirectTV and AT&T, Ferguson initiated and orchestrated the development of comprehensive DEI internal corporate programs. These initiatives were crafted with a profound sense of respect, aiming to empower underserved employees and communities.
Ferguson’s unwavering commitment is evident in the tireless efforts he has exerted to ensure individuals with backgrounds akin to his own are not only acknowledged but also propelled forward in their careers. Through strategic and impactful measures, Ferguson has worked diligently to foster visibility and advancement for underrepresented individuals, contributing significantly to the broader objectives of diversity, equity and inclusion within the corporate sphere.
JANE HINTON
Partner
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
With European and global banking roots, Jane Hinton possesses keen insight into the complexities of real estate deals and the critical issues for their stakeholders. As a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP on the Capital Finance & Real Estate Team, Hinton maintains a nationwide 360-degree real estate practice.
Hinton is keen to support diversity at all levels, including gender diversity, and feels it is her responsibility to open additional seats at the table. As the office diversity & inclusion initiative leader and co-chair for the firm’s Los Angeles office, Hinton works to promote the firm’s educational programs on D&I, with the goal of fostering greater awareness, education and understanding of important issues on social justice, racial and gender equality, and promoting a culture of D&I. She also mentors junior lawyers across the firm and is the point of contact for the office’s Women’s Mentoring Circle.
DWAYNE ISAAC
Managing Director & Team Lead
Citi Global Wealth at Work
Dwayne Isaac is a managing director, private banker and the team lead for the Law Firm Group with Citi Global Wealth at Work based in Los Angeles. In this role, he is responsible for providing focused financial guidance for large LA-based law firms, their attorneys and clients.
Isaac has increased his involvement in the DE&I space within our organization and is the co-chair of the Citi Private Bank and Wealth at Work Diversity Operating Committee. In 2021 he launched the Citi Black Heritage Network – California Chapter where he is co-chair. He is also the business sponsor for the broader Black Heritage Net-work Sub-Committee for Citi Private Bank. He is involved in a number of other groups internally, including the California Leadership Council where he is a member of the talent committee focused on helping connect, highlight, and better leverage diverse talent within the various Citi businesses across California.
NICKEY WOODS
Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging;
Dean of Students for the JD program
USC Gould School of Law
Associate Dean Nickey Woods was appointed in June 2021 as the inaugural assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion at the USC Gould School of Law. She came to USC Gould from UCLA, where she served as a director of student affairs and as an assistant dean in the university’s Graduate Division.
As assistant dean, Woods launched the Diversity Fellows and DEI Ambassadors programs, giving law students an opportunity to gain leadership experience and put DEI principles into action throughout the Gould community. To gain the community’s trust, she scheduled regular DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging) presentations, trainings and workshops, including sessions on implicit bias, responding to microaggressions, bias and belonging, creating inclusive environments, cross-cultural lawyering, anti-racism and allyship. A year later, Woods was promoted to her current role.
DE+I EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR (GROWING COMPANY) FINALISTS
JASON COOK
Chief Program Officer
RaiseAChild
Jason Cook and his husband adopted seven children from the Los Angeles County foster care system and then fostered an additional two for a total of nine children. Cook was the first hire at RaiseAChild over 13 years ago because of his passion for helping all children and youth in foster care. Throughout his tenure at RaiseAChild, he has been an outstanding champion of all foster and adoptive parents, children, and family formations. Today, he masterfully manages a diverse staff of five RaiseAChild parent advocates supporting an active national database of over 93,000 current and prospective foster and adoptive parents.
As a proud member of the LGBTQ community and a father to a mixed-race family, Cook is a firm believer in diversity, equity and inclusion because he lives it every day. As RaiseAChild was founded in Los Angeles County, Cook works as a valuable ambassador of the organization.
DANILO KAWASAKI
VP / COO
Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management
Danilo Kawasaki is the co-founder, vice president and COO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management. He is a member of the Gerber Kawasaki Board of Directors and the Investment Selection Committee.
As an immigrant from San Paulo, Brazil, Kawasaki is living proof that the American Dream exists and has run his company accordingly. While finance is considered to be an industry dominated by white males of privilege. Kawasaki works hard to change the stigma. As chief operations officer at Gerber Kawasaki, Kawasaki works hard to position other immigrants and minorities in crucial leadership roles within the company. Likewise, as a financial advisory firm with no minimums, Kawasaki founded Gerber Kawasaki on the principle of giving anyone access to financial literacy. His diverse list of employees and clients denotes a vivid demonstration of the impact he has had on helping women and people of color take control of their finances.
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD (LARGE COMPANY) FINALISTS
LILLY ACUNA
Environmental Planner and Community Outreach Director
HNTB Corporation
Since receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in 1995 from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Lilly Acuna has been making an impact in communities around the globe. Currently, she serves as the SPARK LA program leader for HNTB Corporation in the firm’s Los Angeles headquarters and has worked with the program since 2018. Her job duties have included coordinating activities to facilitate employee engagement at HNTB and developing volunteer involvement and inclusion opportunities in LA.
Acuna has been involved as a volunteer twice with the United States Peace Corps. She was determined to invest in the world and generously shared her talent, empathy and kindness by working in Paraguay and Guatemala at a grassroots level. She served
as part of an 11-member volunteer team that built a 45-meter pedestrian suspension bridge over the Rio Trinidad in rural Panama.
KEN BILLUPS
Vice President for Economic Inclusion and Social Impact
AECOM
Ken Billups’ experience spans nearly two decades, beginning as a community leader and organizer, and then leading business development for an award-winning small/ local business as a supplier in the construction industry. He has been focusing on economic impact and diversity & inclusion through business diversity and workforce development. He has experience in both the public and private sectors, working on sports facilities, aviation, transportation, higher education, K-12, civic centers, as well as arts and cultural museums.
Billups is responsible for developing the strategy, execution, compliance, and engagement for business diversity and workforce development while managing the external affairs and education/youth engagement of the project. At AECOM, he focuses on leading the strategy and engagement around key inclusion and social equity pillars. He continues to create and drive AECOM’s equity, diversity and inclusion vision for our teams to continue delivering on our value proposition.
GABRIELA BALLESTEROS
Senior Branch Premier Banker
Wells Fargo
Gabriela Ballesteros is a professional banker with 14 years of financial banking experience, and a diversity equity and inclusion champion who helps foster a positive and inclusive work environment. She is an advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves and has great passion in helping her communities. Ballesteros believes leading with heart is vital and part of her core values to be the best leader she can be professionally and personally.
Ballesteros serves as a mentor to others in her role within the company and is admired and respected. Her success and commitment to her clients, her team and to promoting diversity at Wells Fargo. She is known for her ability to create an inclusive culture within her team, with customers and communities. She is a dynamic leader and her passion for engaging her team to participate in local non-profit events, fundraisers and activities is inspirational.
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD (MID-SIZED COMPANY) FINALISTS
JULIA L. BIRKEL
Partner
Hill, Farrer & Burrill LLP
Julia L. Birkel’s impressive 35-year career in litigation, particularly in trust and estate litigation, exemplifies her profound legal expertise. Her role as a partner at Hill, Farrer & Burrill has seen her navigate complex cases, including elder financial abuse and conservatorships. Beyond her legal acumen, Birkel has significantly contributed to the legal community. As chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee at her firm, she has been instrumental in promoting inclusive practices.
Birkel’s contribution to DE&I within her firm and the broader legal community is noteworthy. Birkel has been a driving force in fostering an inclusive work culture at Hill, Farrer & Burrill. Her initiatives have not only educated but also empowered colleagues to embrace diversity. Her role in presenting the “Excellence in Diversity” program demonstrates her commitment to breaking barriers in the trusts and estates legal sector.
JASON KIM
Counsel
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Jason Kim, litigation counsel at Hunton Andrews Kurth’s Los Angeles office, is helping global brands to navigate their most high-profile cybersecurity and privacy class actions in California.
As the Diversity & Inclusion Initiative co-chair for the firm’s Los Angeles office, Kim works to promote the firm’s educational programs on diversity and inclusion. These programs, which are available to all firm lawyers and staff, include engagement opportunities, with the goal of fostering greater awareness, education and understanding of important issues on social justice and racial and gender equality and promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion within the firm. As an associate who quickly rose in the ranks to be promoted to counsel through his hard work and willingness to take on complex matters, he also makes it a priority to mentor other associates around him, including minority associates, and especially those that are just starting out in law.
JULIA ROMANO
Partner
King & Spalding
Julia Romano is a high-performing and accomplished lawyer who has trial experience, with almost two dozen high-profile jury trials under her belt after just 16 years of practice. She is committed to helping engage other attorneys at the firm in pro bono matters. Her efforts on behalf of LGBTQ+ individuals on pro bono matters have been especially notable.
For example, Romano successfully obtained asylum for three trans women from El Salvador who had suffered violence at the hands of El Salvadorian police because of their transgender status. They then fled to Mexico only to be kidnapped by a human trafficker who attempted to sell them into sex slavery. They were able to escape and fled to the US in 2014, where they immediately sought asylum. Romano is now helping these women obtain permanent residency status, as well as legal name and gender changes.
NANCY YAFFE
Partner
Fox Rothschild
Nancy Yaffe is a respected partner at Fox Rothschild, a national law firm with more than 1000 attorneys across the country. Based in the firm’s Los Angeles office, she is a go-to attorney for businesses seeking labor and employment guidance in California. She provides clients critical advice regarding issues ranging from wage- and hour compliance to issues relating to harassment, discrimination and retaliation.
A recent member of firm’s Executive Committee, Yaffe makes it her mission to amplify issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the firm. Under her leadership, the firm named its first diversity and inclusion officer and started participating in Diversity Lab’s Inclusion Blueprint. The firm first attained Mansfield Certification during her term, and then again last year through participation in Diversity Lab’s Man- sfield Rule 6.0 program. Yaffe is also a tireless champion for women at the firm and in the broader legal community.
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD (GROWING COMPANY) FINALISTS
TERRI BATCH
President & CEO
Global LA
Terri L. Batch is president and chief executive officer of Global LA, a public-private partnership dedicated to promoting the breadth of Los Angeles’ diverse business climate around the world and highlighting opportunities for foreign investment and international collaboration within the region. Batch was the inaugural leader of the GDEI program established to promote export opportunities to historically underserved communities. These communities include minority-owned (Black/African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American), women-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, veteran-owned, and disabled-owned businesses. She collaborated with national strategic partners to develop programs and activities that assist businesses with expanding into international markets. In this role, Batch championed a GDEI trade mission to the African continent and provided expertise and guidance to numerous trade missions, trade events, and programs that expanded the depth and breadth of the outreach.
CYNDIE M. CHANG
Partner, Los Angeles Office
Duane Morris LLP
Cyndie M. Chang is a dynamic and inspirational leader at her law firm and in the legal industry. Her passion lies in diversity and women initiatives and community service. Chang has held significant leadership roles in organizations and nonprofits that advance diversity and professional development in the community. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, and the Committee of 100, a non-profit group of prominent Chinese Americans, which has just published its first report on The State of Chinese Americans and advocacy on behalf of victims of hate crimes and Asian racial profiling.
Chang has a strong reputation within the legal community for her work in advancing diverse women in the profession. She has spoken numerous times on this topic and has implemented programmatic changes to the organization including initiating the first ever full-day summit of practical-skills training for women.
TERRENCE FRANKLIN
Partner
Sacks, Glazier, Franklin & Lodise LLP
Terrence Franklin has over three decades of experience handling some of the most significant and complex trusts and estate disputes, and is regarded as one of the top litigators in the US by clients and colleagues. Franklin had been practicing trusts and estates litigation for nearly 25 years before he discovered that his legal career was the path to his mission in life – by sharing the story of his family’s escape from slavery. Franklin has retraced his journey to uncover his fourth great-grandfather’s will, and the unexpected will contest that threatened to keep his fourth great-grandmother Lucy and her children and grandchildren enslaved. When Franklin shares his story, he references the notion that he first heard paraphrased by fellow Harvard Law School alum Barack Obama, attributable to a minister and abolitionist in a sermon from 1853: “The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
ANGELA REDDOCK-WRIGHT
Employment & Title IX Mediator
Reddock Law/Signature Resolution
Angela Reddock-Wright is a leading employment and Title IX attorney mediator with her own firm and as part of the distinguished panel of neutrals with Signa- ture Resolution. She has practiced employment and labor law for nearly 30 years. After working as an employment litigator for 15 years, in 2011, she opened the Reddock Law Group and transitioned to becoming a full-time neutral.
Reddock-Wright is a well-regarded and sought-after DEI trainer for employers and individuals on issues of race, gender and other protected categories, in the workplace. She combines her training with her practice as a mediator, where she is retained to help resolve issues that go to the core of DEI in the workplace. She also hosts a weekly radio show on Tavis Smiley’s KBLA Talk 1580 entitled ‘Legal Lens with Angela Red- dock-Wright,’ designed to educate, engage and empower listeners (and her community) around issues of law.
DE+I COMPANY OF THE YEAR (ENTERPRISE) FINALISTS
AMGEN
Abiotechnology innovator since 1980, and head- quartered in Thousand Oaks, Amgen is one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies. With a mission to serve patients and a focus on unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses, Amgen is committed to discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics.
While bringing innovative medicines to people suffering from serious diseases is one way Amgen con- tributes to the greater good, the company is also doing its part to address societal challenges through good corporate citizenship as part of Amgen’s Environmen- tal, Social and Governance structure, which includes the four pillars of Healthy People, Healthy Society, Healthy Planet and Healthy Amgen. This framework addresses the interconnectivity of issues across the company’s business and helps Amgen integrate these activities more closely with its long-term strategy.
EASTERSEALS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) provides essential services and on-the-ground support to more than 18,000 people each year. With over 2,600 employees, 60+ service sites and hundreds of community partnership locations, ESSC provides adult and senior day services.
At ESSC, the diversity and inclusion commitment is taken seriously and it is reflected on how it practices its work, supports its staff, families and communities. The staff and participants come from all different backgrounds with a vast range of experience and expertise. Of the 2,600 staff members, 51% are His- panic or Latino, 20% are White, 14% are Asian, 10% are Black or African American and 6% identify as other. Meanwhile, 11.5% of associates identify as having a disability. The organization provides guid- ance to leaders and managers at all levels to help ensure they have the knowledge and skills they need to have respectful and authentic conversations with their team members.
DE+I COMPANY OF THE YEAR (LARGE) FINALISTS
MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF LOS ANGELES
Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA) has been a pioneer in men- tal health service, advocacy, innovation and training for nearly a century, working to ensure that people with mental health needs achieve meaningful, healthy lives in their communities. MHALA is among the largest and most comprehensive nonprofit mental health agencies in Los Angeles County.
Since joining the agency over six years ago, a key strategic goal of MHALA’s CEO has been to increase the representation of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals at all levels of leader- ship. Believing that it is not enough to have a diverse staff population, MHALA embraces the goal of representative leadership and a seat at the table in all aspects of decision making and input within the agency. Today, 70% of agency leaders (managers and above) are BIPOC.
Sheppard Mullin is a full-service AmLaw 50 firm with more than 1,000 attorneys in 16 offices located in the United States, Europe and Asia. Since 1927, industry-lead- ing companies have turned to Sheppard Mullin to handle corporate and technology matters, high-stakes litigation and complex financial transactions. In the US, the firm’s clients include nearly half of the Fortune 100.
Sheppard Mullin’s policies, practices and benefits have set the firm apart as a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion. As core values of the firm, DE&I are integrated in every aspect of the firm‘s business, and it recognizes their importance to its workplace, clients
and profession. Diverse partners (women/ LGBTQ+/of color) represent 36% of elected seats on the Executive Committee, 30% of the elected seats on the Compensation Committee, 76% of the office managing partners, and 44% of the practice group leaders.
DE+I COMPANY OF THE YEAR (MID-SIZED) FINALISTS
ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD & ROMO
Established over 40 years ago, AALRR has emerged as one of the most prominent law firms in California, distinguished by its commitment to clients. Its diverse team offers a seasoned perspective on the intricate legal issues in California, specializing in seven key practice areas. Each area is overseen by a practice group leader, ensuring a structured and focused approach in education, labor and employment, construction, complex litiga- tion, corporate, taxation and water law.
Since its establishment in 1979, AALRR has prioritized diversity as a foundational principle. Founding partners Paul Loya and James Romo, both Hispanic-Americans, pioneered the conviction that individuals with diverse perspectives, competencies and experiences contribute significant value to both the firm and its clients. This commit- ment persists as the firm actively cultivates an inclusive environment, emphasizing the recruitment, support and advancement of minority attorneys.
NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT
Norton Rose Fulbright provides the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. The firm has more than 3,000 lawyers and other legal staff based in Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Africa. Wher- ever its team members are, the firm strives to operate in accordance with its global business principles of quality, unity and integrity.
Advancing equity in the workplace and in its communities is critical to the firm. Now more than ever, Norton Rose Fulbright is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that is free from discrimination and injustice of any kind. Firm leaders are committed to the continued development and execution of plans of action to enact meaningful change at the firm and in our communities. Firm leaders believe it is their philosophical imperative to recruit, retain and advance diverse lawyers and business services personnel.
PERKINS&WILL
Perkins&Will, an interdisciplinary, research-based architecture and design firm, was founded in 1935 on the belief that design has the power to transform lives. The firm is committed to creating a better, beautiful, more equitable world through “Living Design,” an approach that integrates environmental, social and design consid- erations to advance ecological health and well-being. With an international team of more than 2,500 professionals, Perkins&Will has 30 studios worldwide, providing integrat- ed services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design and landscape architecture.
The Los Angeles studio is as diverse and distinctive as the community it serves, both local and beyond. Rooted in Los Angeles for over three decades, the team is committed to the continued cultivation of its built envi- ronment. Perkins&Will’s dedicated experts thrive on projects that contribute to the greater good and create a lasting, positive impact in the lives of the people they design for.
POLSINELLI
Polsinelli is an AmLaw 100 firm with 22 offices nationwide, providing value through practical legal counsel infused with business insight with a focus on health care, real estate, finance, intellectual prop- erty, litigation, labor and employment, tech- nology, private equity and corporate transac- tions. Three of the 22 offices (New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco) have a diverse attorney serving as office managing partner.
At Polsinelli, diversity, equity and inclusion are part of the firm’s DNA. Team mem- bers value different perspectives, backgrounds and experiences that bring fresh ideas to con- tinually accelerate the firm’s efforts and pro- mote a diverse and inclusive workplace. To these ends, the firm encourages attorneys and staff from every corner of the firm to engage in DEI. Taking a hardline approach to DEI has resulted in changing the compensation matrix, exploring new methods for mentoring and training, and rethinking how the firm recruits and retains diverse talent.
WELLS FARGO DEI SMALL BUSINESS COMPANY OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALISTS
ALBRIGHT, YEE & SCHMIT, APC
Albright, Yee, & Schmit, APC (AYS) is a prestigious multi-specialty law firm serving individuals, businesses & gov- ernmental entities throughout the United States. Founded more than 40 years ago, Albright, Yee & Schmit, APC, has become well-known for its high-level legal work and personalized service.
The president and founder of AYS, Clif- ton W. Albright, was twice appointed to the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business (ITAC 11) by former President Barack Obama, and then, again, reappointed by President Donald Trump in 2018. ITAC works closely with the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to enhance trade between the United States and other countries. In his role, Albright traveled to Washington, D.C. and other locations to meet with government officials and others involved in international trade and trade relations.
AVANTE CAPITAL PARTNERS
Founded in 2009, Avante Capital Partners is a majority women- and minority-owned private credit and structured equity fund.
The company invests in the form of uni- tranche debt, mezzanine debt and minority equity in high-quality, lower middle market businesses generating at least $3 million in cash flow. The mission at Avante Capital Partners is to create opportunities for others and to establish social responsibility.
Avante strives to support individuals, specifically women and people of color with strong educational backgrounds, unique experiences expanding their differentiated networks and diverse viewpoints to generate substantial value for their respective firms. Avante’s commitment to diversifying the industry is not just a statement, but a tangible reality. 84% of the firm is made up of women, minorities or individuals that identify as both. The company’s leadership has publicly and consistently expressed a commitment to DE&I. This commitment is reflected in the company’s mission and values.
BLACK LOVE
BLack Love is the premier 100% Black- owned partner for celebrating 360 degrees of Black love. The media company, founded by Codie and Tommy Oliver, is a hub for Black couples and singles to have transparent conversations around relation- ships, parenthood, dating and more, with an app, podcast network, documentaries and live events. Black Love, with an active and growing millennial community, garners a monthly social reach of more than 70 million. Its award-winning content includes the celebrated five-time NAACP-honored docuseries, Black Love, spanning six seasons, as well as the digital series Couch Conversa- tions, entering its fifth season.
Beyond its digital presence, Black Love annually hosts the Black Love Summit, an event that celebrates love, unity, empower- ment and joy within the Black community. This annual summit consistently champions diverse forms of Black love and has attracted a wide array of panelists and participants, including NBA star Russell Westbrook and his wife.
JJLA
Live event and entertainment agency JJLA distinguishes itself by offering comprehen- sive and customizable services that bring events to life. The company’s covers event management, production, digital services, design and fabrication, and experimental ventures. As a full-service agency, JJLA’s expertise spans the entire event spectrum, ensuring seamless execution and memorable experiences for clients and audiences alike.
JJLA stands as a trailblazer in fostering a culture where Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are not just words but integral components of its ethos. Its commitment to DE&I is evident in every facet of its operations. JJLA actively seeks diverse talent, ensuring representa-
tion across all levels of the organization. It prioritizes inclusion through regular DE&I training, open dialogues and initiatives that empower employees to share perspectives. Currently, 70% of JJLA’s team identifies as LGBTQIA+ and 50% are BIPOC, 90% of its senior leadership team is either LGBTQIA+ or BIPOC.
DE+I ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR
(LARGE OR MID-SIZED NONPROFIT) FINALISTS
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
The mission of the American Cancer Society is to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, and to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer. Diversity, equity and inclusion and reducing cancer disparities is an overarching goal of the American Cancer Society.
American Cancer Society believes it can’t reach its mission if it is not inclusive of every community touched by cancer, actively working towards ending cancer disparities. The organization acknowledges that there is still much work to be done, in partnership with communities that have been dispropor- tionately burdened by cancer and who expe- rience greater obstacles to cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and survival. This includes Black people and African Ameri- cans; Hispanic/Latino people; Asian Amer- icans, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders; Indigenous people and Alaska Natives; LGBTQ+ people; and people with disabilities.
CALIFORNIA CREDIT UNION
California Credit Union is a federally insured, state chartered credit union founded in 1933 with assets over $4.5 billion, nearly 200,000 members and 24 retail branches. Headquartered in Glendale, the credit union serves community members and businesses in the California counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura as well as school employees throughout the state.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is an important strategic initiative for California Credit Union as it works to effectively serve and represent its employee team, its mem- bers and its communities. California Credit Union is committed to taking thoughtful action to promote DE&I throughout the organization at every level as a powerful and essential tool to create an innovative work- place where differing viewpoints, life experi- ences, cultures, traditions and mindsets come together to create a meaningful work envi- ronment, extraordinary member experience and healthy, successful credit union.
OTIS COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
Otis College of Art and Design is a non-profit institution of higher education. Its mission is to educate a diverse community of students to become highly skilled, well-informed, and responsible professionals – empowering them to shape the world.
Otis College is among the most culturally diverse art and design colleges in the US, with 76% percent of its student population being people of color, including 34% Asian, 23% Hispanic, 6% Black/African American and 8% two or more races. Thirty percent are First Generation. More than 90% receive Financial Aid. Otis College has trained art- ists and designers who are in the vanguard of Southern California’s cultural and entre- preneurial life. The college’s commitment to DEI cuts across all constituent groups inclusive of faculty, staff and students, where it has leveraged DEI expectations in hiring and recruitment practices, curriculum devel- opment, as well as formalized training of staff and faculty.
UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE
The University of La Verne is a nonprofit comprehensive higher education institu- tion offering a wide range of liberal arts and professional programs incorporating the same core values it was founded on in 1891 – lifelong learning, ethical reasoning, civic and community engagement, and diversity and inclusivity. With more than 70 percent of students from underrepresented groups, the federally designated Minority- and Hispanic-serving institution is among the most diverse small private universities in the nation.
The Southern California-based university has five colleges and provides a distinctive and relevant educational experience to a diverse population of more than 5,500 tra- ditional-age, adult and graduate learners, preparing them for successful careers and lifelong learning. More than 90 percent of students receive some form of financial assis- tance. More than half of students identify as first-generation, or the first in their family to attend college.
DE+I ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR (GROWING NONPROFIT) FINALISTS
The Friendship Foundation’s mission is to: 1) bring happiness and companionship to children with special needs in a way that celebrates their uniqueness and individuality through participation in age-appropriate social, recreational and educational activities with their peers; 2) build leadership skills and foster the values of altruism, volunteerism, and sacrifice among student volunteers; 3) impart renewed strength, comfort and peace of mind to the parents of these special chil- dren; and 4) heighten the community’s aware- ness, sensitivity and sense of responsibility with regard to responding to these vital needs. Founded in 2007, the Friendship Foun- dation focused its sights on simultaneously impacting two populations in the South Bay community: children with special needs and students with a willingness and desire to vol- unteer. The organization wanted to model for the community a lifestyle of acceptance and unity, fueled by the energetic and dedicated philanthropic students.
he Los Angeles County Economic Devel-opment Corporation (LAEDC) is a mul-tifaceted nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering equitable economic growth in the Los Angeles region. With over 40 years of experience serving the diverse LA County region, LAEDC focuses on creating a sustain-able, resilient, and high-standard economy for all residents. LAEDC serves as a regional convener and deploys expert teams that partner with equity focused organizations to deliver tailored programs geared for BIPOC and women owned businesses. At LAEDC, DE&I are not just practices, they form the essence of the organization’s work culture and operational philosophy. LAEDC’s commitment to DE&I is deeply ingrained in its core values and is reflected in its diverse staff composition, where nearly all employees are BIPOC and women. This diversity enables the organization to engage effectively with communities that have his-torically faced economic marginalization and underinvestment.
SCANPH is a membership association, founded in 1985, that supports and advo- cates for those who develop and sustainably operate affordable housing. SCANPH is uniquely situated to identify, prioritize, strategize and lead policy efforts that are designed to create an environment condu- cive to affordable housing development. The organization is measured by its ability to serve low-income residents of the region by securing critical public subsidy funds for new affordable home development.
Since November 2020, SCAHPH staff supported hosting a web series on increas-
ing supplier diversity in affordable housing construction. Last year, Governor Newsom signed into law AB 2873, new legislation that seeks to address historic inequities and underrepresentation of disadvantaged con- tractors/businesses in the construction trades and affordable housing development industry. CSANPH staff collaborated with its northern California counterpart NPH to co-host an impactful webinar exploring AB 2873.
Because talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not, STEM Advantage mentors, prepares and inspires women and underserved communities for STEM careers providing economic and social mobility, while providing a vetted pipeline of diverse talent to businesses to fill their workforce needs. The organization’s vision is a diverse, equitable and inclusive skilled workforce. STEM Advantage strives to “level the playing field” by empowering talented students, who are mostly first-generation college students from low-income families, with access to networks, employment, and economic mobility that is overwhelmingly limited to students attending private or elite public universities. The organization designed a holistic program that benefits stu-dents (“STEM Advantage Scholars”), their families and communities resulting in a gen-erational impact with a clear and immediate path to address the gender and racial wealth gaps. The program extends beyond gradu-ation by supporting alumni with a network of corporate leaders and career development opportunities.
DE+I TEAM OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
AMS Fulfillment is a full service 3PL and order fulfill- ment partner. For over 20 years it has provided order fulfillment services to various brands, from apparel to cosmetics, home goods to electronics, dietary supplements, food & beverage, toys, books and more.
AMS’ JEDI Committee (JEDI stands for “Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion” is committed to fostering a workplace culture that upholds the principles of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. The team, and the organi- zation as a whole, believe that creating an environment where all employees feel valued, respected and empow- ered is not only essential for our business success but also integral to building a more just and equitable society. To achieve this, AMS developed a JEDI Policy, which incor- porates employee involvement at every level. The policy states that justice dismantles barriers to resources and opportunities in society so that individuals and communi- ties can live a full and dignified life.
Winston & Strawn LLP views DEI is more than numbers and statistics; it is a strategic goal and paramount core value that is formally incorporated into the firm’s strategic business plan, and is reflected in the firm’s Strategic DEI Action Plan, which outlines the con- crete and measurable action steps to achieving greater DEI.
Winston & Strawn’s DEI team, under the strategic leadership of Sylvia James, with John Tschirgi, Zakiyyah Connelly and Stephanie de la Rosa, has been pivotal in integrating DEI into every facet of the firm’s functioning. Their approach, encompassing hiring, retention, advance- ment, client engagement, communications, training and education, and supplier diversity, aligns with the firm’s Strategic Business Plan, reflecting Winston & Strawn’s commitment to DEI as a strategic goal and paramount core value. Their collective expertise, ranging from two to 22 years, forms the backbone of the firm’s efforts in creating an equitable workplace.
