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As Chairman of the National Board of Directors for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Julian Bond has been an active participant in the movements for civil rights and economic justice. As an activist who has faced jail for his convictions, as a veteran of more than 20 years service in the Georgia General Assembly, a university professor and a writer, he has been on the cutting edge of social change since 1960, when he was still a student at Atlanta’s Morehouse College. A strong and vocal ally in the fight for equality, Bond is known for his tenacity and belief that LGBT rights are civil rights. He serves as Chairman of the Premier Auto Group PAG (Volvo, Land Rover, Aston-Martin, and Jaguar) Diversity Council and is on the Boards of People for the American Way, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Council for a Livable World, and the advisory board of the Harvard Business School Initiative on Social Enterprise, among others. He was a commentator on America's Black Forum, the oldest black-owned show in television syndication. He has narrated numerous documentaries, including the Academy Award winning "A Time For Justice" and the acclaimed series "Eyes On The Prize." The 2002 recipient of the prestigious National Freedom Award, Bond holds 25 honorary degrees, and is a Distinguished Professor at American University in Washington, DC, and a Professor in history at the University of Virginia. (Previous winners include Academy Award winning Cynthia Wade, tennis legend and LGBT activist Martina Navratilova, the Mautner Project, MTV Networks: LOGO Channel, and John Lawrence & Tyrone Gardner.)
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John D. Evans
John D. Evans is an internationally recognized expert in the telecommunications industry and a leader in technological innovation, including his advisory board/council positions on Internet 2, a consortium of 270 U.S. research universities and institutes. He has turned considerable amounts of his energy toward consulting and speaking on the future of the new technologies and their impact on media and society. He is currently Chairman and CEO of Evans Telecommunications Company, an investment, consulting, and operating company in the cable television and telecommunications industries. To the general public, however, he is perhaps best known as one of the co-founders of C-SPAN in 1977 and its Chairman in the early 1990s and remains active on the board of C-SPAN. Mr. Evans' growing interest in the application of technology to medical problems and social issues also has led him to an interest in AIDS and other issues facing society. In 1995, he was appointed by Robert C. Gallo, co-discoverer of the AIDS virus, to Dr. Gallo's Advisory Board for the Institute of Human Virology, a leading international scientific and clinical research center for AIDS located at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. In 2008, he was awarded the IHV’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his work in AIDS Vaccine development and public service.
In December 2001, he received the League of African American Women's annual award for his and the Waterford Project's contributions to fighting the Global AIDS pandemic. John currently serves as treasurer and board member of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), based in New York and operating in 24 countries. (Previous winners include Fred Hochberg, current chairman of the Import/Export Bank, Robert Hanson, President Levi Strauss of the Americas, Ross Klein, former president for Starwood Luxury Brands, Maggie Stumpp, Senior Managing Director for Prudential Financial)
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The NGLCC Chamber of the Year Award recognizes one outstanding LGBT chamber or business organization each year that continually stands out for their exceptional efforts and leadership within their community. Under the leadership of Executive Director Sam McClure and Board President Kathy Davis, Quorum has been a conduit for economic development not only in the Twin Cities GLBT and Allied community, but also the Midwest region and the entire chamber movement. Leading the way in economic empowerment, social activism and community engagement, Quorum’s mission states that the organization exists to foster leadership for economic activity and to develop a positive environment for LGBT and allied businesses, organizations, individuals and consumers in Minneapolis-St. Paul. (Previous winners include the Greater Seattle Business Association, the Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Greater San Diego Business Association, and Greater Phoenix Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.)
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PepsiCo
Since first joining the chamber, PepsiCo’s dynamic leadership and active involvement with the NGLCC has been strong and sustained. As an active supplier diversity partner that recruits and utilizes certified LGBT suppliers, PepsiCo has sought to engage representatives in all areas of the company to take active roles on both the NGLCC Procurement Council and Corporate Advisory Council. PepsiCo’s employee resource group, EQUAL, has enthusiastically supported the LGBT business community by collaborating with the NGLCC and our affiliate, the Chicago Area Chamber of Commerce, to sponsor a Supplier Diversity Initiative reception and make the connection event as well as faithfully attending NGLCC events across the country. Additionally, the2009 Corporation of the Year recently earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index for the sixth consecutive year. Furthermore, the unwavering dedication of PepsiCo to the LGBT community in the face of pressure from outside sources exemplifies the continued strength of PepsiCo’s commitment to the LGBT segment.
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Jackie La Joie, Merck
Brent Friedman, Merck
As team members, Associate Director of Supplier Diversity Jackie La Joie and Site Sourcing Manager Brent Friedman, GP, at Merck & Co. have consistently led the advocacy efforts on behalf of the LGBT business community. While this dedication is mirrored across the company, as evident by Merck & Co.’s fourth year obtaining a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, Jackie and Brent tirelessly promote the business case for LGBT supplier diversity within the pharmaceutical field and across all industries. Their inventiveness and sponsorship enabled the NGLCC to host its first supplier diversity event outside of the domestic United States in San Juan, Puerto Rico earlier this year. Increasing the reach of the NGLCC Supplier Diversity Initiative through conference sessions, teleconferences and media, and helping to diversify the population of certified LGBT Business Enterprises earned Jackie and Brent this esteemed award. (Previous winners include Irwin Drucker from IBM and Theresa Harrison from Ernst & Young)
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The NGLCC Pinnacle Award:
IBM
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