Disability:IN is pleased to recognize the eleven recipients of the 2021 Inclusion Awards. Announced last night, during the virtual Disability:IN Conference, the eleven award recipients were invited to take the virtual stage and provide remarks. The Inclusion Award winners are prestigious brands and individuals that are advancing disability inclusion in business.
This year, the Disability:IN Conference & Expo turned virtual due to COVID-19 concerns. This event, taking place July 13-16, brings an opportunity to bring even more business professionals together – over 3,000 from nearly 20 different countries from around the world.
“Disability:IN recognizes these companies and individuals as those at the forefront – leading the way in corporate disability inclusion and challenging those around them to do more,” said Jill Houghton, President and CEO, Disability:IN. “Each year the Inclusion Awards become more competitive, and we are excited to support the healthy competition to drive inclusion in business.”
See below for the Inclusion Award winners and award descriptions.
The 2021 Disability:IN Inclusion Award winners are recognized as visionary brands and individuals that are advancing disability inclusion. Disability:IN is pleased to recognize these award winners during the 2021 Disability:IN Annual Conference taking place July 12-15.
There are eleven Inclusion Award categories, recognizing leaders across the enterprise. See below for the 2021 Inclusion Award winners, the award descriptions, and links to the videos for each award winner.
2021 Top Corporation for Disability-Owned Businesses: Merck
The Top Corporation for Disability-Owned Business recognizes a corporation that has demonstrated outstanding inclusion of Disability:IN certified disability-owned businesses (including businesses owned by service-disabled veterans), and demonstrated commitment to disability business inclusion in their supply chain processes and corporate supplier diversity programs.
2021 John D. Kemp Leadership Award: Catherine P. Bessant, Bank of America
The John D. Kemp Inclusion Award recognizes 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.
View the video for Catherine P. Bessant at Bank of America
2021 ERG/BRG of the Year: Intel
The Employee/Business Resource Group of the Year recognizes a corporate employee resource group (ERG) or business resource group (BRG) as having exemplary programming and practices for its employee group that provides business value to the company and professional growth for its members
2021 NextGen Alum of the Year: Ike Tallerine, Accenture
The NextGen Alum of the Year recognizes an alumnus who has gone above and beyond after participating in Disability:IN’s NextGen Leader Initiatives. This alumnus has not only demonstrated corporate leadership, but has also paid it forward for future NextGen Leaders.
View the video for Ike Tallerine at Accenture
2021 Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year: Kimberly Marcus, AARP
The Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year recognizes a procurement champion who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the utilization and growth of disability-owned businesses, and 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™).
View the video for Kimberly Marcus at AARP
2021 Supplier of the Year: Certify My Company
The Supplier of the Year recognizes a certified Disability-Owned Business Enterprises- DOBE®s, Veteran-Disability Owned Business Enterprises (V-DOBEs™) or a Service-Disabled Veteran Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (SDV-DOBEs™) supplier that has provided excellent service and serves as a role model for disability business inclusion in the supply chain.
View the video for Certify My Company
2021 Marketplace Innovator of the Year, Advertising/Marketing Category: Comcast
Comcast is recognized as a visionary corporation for its work to tell the remarkable stories of people of all disabilities who are empowered by their inclusive technologies.
2021 Marketplace Innovator of the Year, Product Category: Google
The Marketplace Innovator of the Year, Product Category recognizes an innovative product(s) that is inclusively designed, to be used for people of all abilities.
2021 Employer of the Year: Salesforce
The Employer of the Year recognizes exemplary policies, strategies and initiatives that have resulted in measurable results in the areas of disability inclusiveness in the workplace, marketplace and supply chain.
2021 ERG/BRG Executive Sponsor of the Year: Alleace Gibbs, Northrop Grumman
The ERG/BRG Executive Sponsor of the Year Award recognizes an Executive Sponsor of a company’s disability ERG/BRG who has had a measurable impact on disability inclusion at the company and champions disability inclusion across the enterprise.
View the video for Alleace Gibbs at Northrop Grumman
2021 Affiliate of the Year: Disability:IN Wisconsin
The Affiliate of the Year honors a Disability:IN Affiliate that has demonstrated exemplary efforts in promoting the vision, mission and spirit of Disability:IN. This Affiliate helps their territory understand, utilize, and benefit from the valuable resources that people with disabilities present in the workplace, supply chain and marketplace.
View the video for Disability:IN Wisconsin
About Disability:IN®
Disability:IN is the leading nonprofit resource for business disability inclusion worldwide. Partnering with more than 220 corporations, Disability:IN expands opportunities for people with disabilities across enterprises. The organization and nearly 30 affiliates raise a collective voice of positive change for people with disabilities in business. Through its programs and services, Disability:IN empowers businesses to achieve disability inclusion and equality, with the goal of advancing inclusion to the point when the organization is no longer necessary.
