ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 5, 2014—The Big “I” Diversity Task Force is a recipient of a 2014 TOP 25 ERG & Diversity Council Honors Award –the only annual national award that recognizes, honors and celebrates the outstanding contributions and achievements of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), Business Resource Groups (BRGs) and Diversity Council groups.
“What impressed us about the Big ‘I’ Diversity Task Force is how well that they are fulfilling their mission with actions and initiatives that are broad reaching and demonstrating substantive impact,” says Philip Berry, Association of ERGs & Councils executive director. “We are excited to have them included among this year's distinguished Top 25 recipients.”
This is the sixth year for the ERG & Council Honors Award™ which was established in 2008 by the Association of ERGs & Councils and PRISM International, Inc. Other recipients include the U.S. Navy Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Boeing Company Shared Services Group Diversity & Inclusion Council and General Motors Employee Resource Groups’ Council.
“The Big ‘I’ Diversity Task Force is honored to receive a 2014 TOP 25 ERG & Diversity Council Honors Award,” says Juan Padron, Big “I” Diversity Task Force chairman and SafeGuard Insurance Agency owner in McAllen, Texas. “We are pleased to see our efforts recognized along with so many wonderful diversity initiatives from a variety of industries.”
The Association of ERGs & Councils will recognize, honor and celebrate the recipients at a dinner ceremony during the 2014 ERG & Council Conference in Alexandria, Va., on Oct. 15.
“Diversity could not be a more important topic for the independent agency system and the entire business community at large,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “Minorities, young people and women continue to be underrepresented in our industry. The Diversity Task Force, with its mission of fostering a profitable independent agency force that reflects, represents and capitalizes on the opportunities of the diverse U.S. population, is part of the solution.”
The Big “I” Diversity Task Force is a cooperative industry group comprised of Big “I” agents and brokers, members of groups representing Latin-American, African-American and Asian-American agents and 11 leading insurance companies.
Founded in 1896, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of American (IIABA or the Big “I”) is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of approximately a quarter of a million agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance—property, casualty, life and health—as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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