Nominees Announced for 8th Annual Excellence in Workplace Diversity Awards

August 20, 2012

COLUMBIA, SC – August 20, 2012 – Nominees have been announced for the8th Annual Excellence in Workplace Diversity Awards, recognizingbusinesses’ significant contributions to moving South Carolina forwardin diversity initiatives. Several criteria are considered in choosingcompanies for the Excellence in Workplace Diversity Awards, includingdiversity initiatives, effectiveness and applicability/replicability.
 
Congratulations to this year’s nominees:

  • Columbia Metropolitan Airport – West Columbia
  • Greenville Hospital System – Greenville
  • Lockheed Martin Aeronautics – Greenville         
  • Midlands Technical College – Columbia
  • Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC – Aiken
  • Smith Moore Leatherwood – Greenville
  • TD Bank – Greenville
  • U.S. Engine Valve – Westminster
  • Verizon Wireless – Greenville
  • WSI SRS – Aiken

The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce will recognize the state’s topcompanies (large, medium and small) in the field of diversity September13 at the 8th Annual South Carolina Excellence in Workplace DiversityAwards Dinner at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbia.
 
“Businesses that make diversity a priority in their workplacesunderstand that employers and employees are happier and more successfulwhen they implement sound diversity practices,” said Otis Rawl,president and CEO of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. “We lookforward to honoring these businesses that are doing their part to createpositive work environments for employees.”
 
The keynote speaker will be John Zubizarreta, Ph.D., professor ofEnglish and director of honors and faculty development at ColumbiaCollege. Zubizarreta will speak on Why Being Different Matters:Diversity and the Gift of Higher Education, featuring his own story as aCuban-American growing up in Harlem, New York and how a remarkablechain of experiences and extraordinary mentors led him to where he istoday.
 

About the SC Chamber
The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s first state chamberAccredited with Distinction by the U.S. Chamber, is South Carolina’slargest statewide broad-based business and industry trade associationrepresenting more than 18,000 businesses and more than one millionemployees, with 90 percent of membership comprised of small businesses.As the unified voice for business and industry, the Chamber is acatalyst for increasing wealth and enhancing the state’s globalcompetitiveness in order to improve the quality of life for all SouthCarolinians.