USBLN RECOGNIZES LEADERS IN DISABILITY INCLUSION WITH 2017 LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Washington, D.C., Aug. 25, 2017 -- On Wednesday, the US Business Leadership Network^® (USBLN®) presented top awards during the USBLN 20th Annual National Conference and Leadership Awards Dinner in Orlando, Florida. The Leadership Awards celebrate outstanding commitment and leading disability inclusion practices from individuals and organization across all industries.

The eleven 2017 USBLN Leadership Award winners are:

• The John D. Kemp Leadership Award – Steve Howe, U.S Chairman and America’s Managing Partner, EY
• Affiliate of the Year – DC Metro Business Leadership Network
• Supply Chain Advocate of the Year– Tim Ruddell, Manager, Supplier Diversity & Sustainable Procurement, KPMG
• Employee/Business Resource Group of the Year – Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Employer of the Year (Over 100,000 employees) – IBM
• Employer of the Year (Under 100,000 employees) – Florida Blue
• Global Disability Leadership Award – Justin Nelson and Chance Mitchell, Co-Founders, National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
• Marketplace Innovator of the Year, Disability Inclusive Advertising/Marketing – ESPN
• Marketplace Innovator of the Year, Disability Inclusive Product– Microsoft
• Supplier of the Year – Tic Toc
• Top Corporation for Disability-Owned Businesses – Comcast NBCUniversal

The John D. Kemp Leadership Award goes to Steve Howe, U.S Chairman and America’s Managing Partner, EY as an individual who has developed or influenced the development of significant company disability employment programs and/or services that resulted in measurable, tangible and positive outcomes that dramatically improved disability employment opportunities.

The Affiliate of the Year Leadership Award honors the DC Metro Business Leadership Network as having demonstrated exemplary efforts in promoting the vision, mission and spirit of the USBLN. The DC Metro BLN has helped the local DC area understand, utilize, and benefit from the valuable resources that people with disabilities present in the workplace, supply chain and marketplace.

The Advocate of the Year Leadership Award recognizes Tim Ruddell, Manager, Supplier Diversity & Sustainable Procurement, KPMG, as a procurement champion who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the utilization and growth of disability-owned businesses. Ruddell has also provided exceptional support for certified Disability-Owned Business Enterprises- DOBE®s, Veteran-Disability Owned Business Enterprises (V-DOBEs™) and Service-Disabled Veteran Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (SDV-DOBEs™).

The Employee/Business Resource Group of the Year Leadership Award recognizes Northrop Grumman Corporation as having exemplary programming and practices for its employee group that provides business value to the company and professional growth for its members

The Employer of the Year (Over 100,000 employees) is awarded to IBM and The Employer of the Year (Under 100,000 employees) is awarded to Florida Blue. These two companies are recognized for their exemplary policies, strategies and initiatives that have resulted in measurable results in the areas of disability inclusiveness in the workplace, marketplace and supply chain.

Global Disability Leadership Award honors Justin Nelson and Chance Mitchell, co-founders of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and recognizes their leadership in disability inclusion and for championing inclusion policies and practices for all diverse groups.  

The Marketplace Innovator of the Year Leadership Award, for the Disability Inclusive Advertising/Marketing category, goes to ESPN for their marketing initiatives that proactively includes people with disabilities.

The Marketplace Innovator of the Year Leadership Award, for the Disability Inclusive Product category, goes to Microsoft for developing inclusive products that are designed for use by every person.

The Supplier of the Year Leadership Award recognizes Tic Toc, a disability supplier that has provided excellent service and distinguished itself and its business through its business practices and serves as a role model for disability business inclusion in the supply chain.

About the US Business Leadership Network^® (USBLN^®)

USBLN (US Business Leadership Network) unites business around disability inclusion in the workplace, supply chain and marketplace. USBLN has more than 130 corporate partners spanning the technology, healthcare, financial, transportation, entertainment, and retail industries. USBLN serves as a collective voice of nearly 50 Business Leadership Network Affiliates across the United States, representing over 5,000 businesses. USBLN has various nationally recognized tools and programs, such as the Disability Equality Index and the leading disability-owned business enterprise (DOBE) certification program, to bridge inclusive companies with people and organizations within the disability community.

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Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f6a2dc5e-5222-4586-a295-29c4830ffbdd

Elaine Kubik
USBLN - US Business Leadership Network
6464558319
[email protected]