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RCGAction
The Monthly Newsletter
and Planning Calendar of the St. Louis RCGA
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Valerie
Patton to Lead St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative
Above:
Valerie E. Patton, appointed first director of St. Louis Business
Diversity Initiative
Valerie E. Patton, a corporate manager active in minority business
development and community affairs, has been appointed as the first
director of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative. The Initiative
is a multi-pronged effort organized a year ago by St. Louis area
businesses and civic organizations to strengthen workforce diversity
and relationships with minority-owned suppliers.
“Over the past year the groundwork has been laid to establish the
St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative as an information and networking
resource for member companies. Valerie Patton’s background in business
development and project management coupled with her leadership qualities
and active role in the community can help us take this effort to
the next level,” says Doug Yaeger, chairman, president and CEO of
The Laclede Group, and the current chairman of the Civic Progress
Racial Economic Progress Committee.
Patton was previously a St. Louis-based vice president for Bank
of America, where she developed and managed various national and
regional projects, including a supply chain partnership to increase
opportunities for businesses owned by minorities, women and people
with disabilities. Prior to that she was employed with Southwestern
Bell Corporation as an information systems specialist and later
as a product manager.
“This is the kind of business-driven partnership that can make a
real difference in expanding economic opportunities for minorities
in the St. Louis area. We look forward to working with the Initiative’s
new director and others in the community to achieve these goals,”
notes John Bachmann, chairman of the RCGA.
“The St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative deserves the support
of the entire business community. Working together, businesses can
help other businesses both grow and deliver on their diversity goals,”
says Robert McCoole, president of Alberici Corp., and chair of the
Business Diversity Committee of The Regional Business Council.
The St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative is sponsored by the
RCGA, Civic Progress, the St. Louis Minority Business Council, The
Regional Business Council, Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois,
FOCUS St. Louis, and St. Louis 2004. The Initiative now includes
112 member companies and organizations in the St. Louis area.
Activities by the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative over the
past year include:
- Publication
of a “best practices” guide to share tips from
one business to another on developing or expanding minority
inclusion efforts.
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Hosting of networking events for senior human resource
and purchasing executives from more than 50 area companies
to discuss issues and concerns regarding diversity.
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Establishment of the Minority Corporate Network (MCN),
which provides learning and social networking opportunities
for African-American professionals in the St. Louis area.
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