Program Recognizes Champions of Diversity who are Truly Challenging the Status Quo
The African American Chamber Commerce of New Jersey and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce will co-host the third annual DE&I Trailblazer Awards Reception to recognize companies that are demonstrating tangible and measurable progress in diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I). The honorees in the key areas of access to capital, board diversity, corporate citizenship, DE&I influencer, supplier diversity, and workforce diversity will be revealed on Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. at Pines Manor in Edison.
"Supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion isn’t the same as actively advocating for it, or implementing measurable equity and inclusion goals across an entire organization," said John E. Harmon Sr., founder, president, and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey. "The inequities in our marketplace were intentionally created, and it will take intentional actions to dismantle them. If we are serious about driving meaningful change, we must push for a corporate culture of inclusivity – here in New Jersey and beyond. That’s the path to mutual success."
For the past two months, the two chambers have accrued an impressive array of nominees ranging from small to large businesses that represent a wide range of industries. All of them have inspiring and uplifting stories of how they moved diversity, equity and inclusion to the forefront of their business strategies, resulting in tangible benefits for their organizations.
The nominees include: American Water; AmeriHealth; BND Consulting; Center for Family Services; CGI Technologies and Solutions Inc.; Comcast; Electra Lines LLC; Elevate 360 LLC; Emergency Pest Control; Empower Construction LLC; Hackensack Meridian Health; Huntler LLC; Langan; LB Electric Co., LLC; New Jersey Community Capital; New Jersey Department of State; Quality Dental School of Technology, Inc.; Qunnections Management Group, LLC; South Jersey Industries; Virtua Health; and We Are Jersey.
“We will honor the companies that are walking the walk,” added Tom Bracken, president and CEO of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. “We are recognizing and celebrating the champions who are meeting the challenge and challenging the status quo.”
Serving as the event’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Denise Anderson, a health care executive and a member on the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey Board of Directors. She will deliver a speech entitled “Framing the Importance of DE&I.”
For more information and to register for the event, click here.
Members of the news media are welcome to attend the reception.
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About the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey
The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) performs an essential role in the economic viability of New Jersey. While providing a platform for New Jersey’s African American business leaders to speak with a collective voice, the AACCNJ advocates and promotes economic diversity fostering a climate of business growth through major initiatives centering on education and public policy. The AACCNJ is a proactive advocacy group with a 501(c)(3) tax exemption, as is the National Black Chamber of Commerce, with which the AACCNJ is affiliated. For more information, visit aaccnj.com
About the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce is a business advocacy association based in Trenton that lobbies key stakeholders for legislation and policies designed to make New Jersey a desirable state to operate a business and establish good-paying jobs. Chamber member companies receive exclusive invitations to events that offer valuable networking and educational opportunities. Additionally, the Chamber regularly disseminates legislative updates, industry insights, and employer-related news critical to conducting business in New Jersey. The organization unites local and regional chambers of commerce across the state to address significant business issues. The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Foundation is committed to equipping New Jersey’s future workforce with the essential skills required for success in both college and employment. For more information, visit njchamber.com