Diversity MBA Magazine - April 2008 - (Page 30) TOP 50 COMPANIES — 2–50 the world, Lowe’s operates 1,525 stores in the US and Canada. Lowe’s considers diversity a core value and has initiatives for human resources, community outreach, marketing, and suppliers. Its job-posting procedures, annual employee survey, employee publications, etc., are all designed to foster inclusion and equal opportunities. Over 2,700 managers have participated in diversity education and training workshops, and its leadership competency model stresses managing diversity and inclusion. Lowe’s community outreach includes partnerships with over 50 organizations such as Catalyst, National Urban League, NAACP, La Raza, Organization of Chinese Americans, and Japanese American Citizens League. It also has an aggressive multi-cultural marketing program that includes multi-media plans, creative, and in-store strategies designed to attract multi-cultural consumers and enhance their in-store experience. And, Lowe’s spent nearly $300 million with diversity suppliers on trade merchandise, procurement products/services, consulting, transportation, staffing, facilities maintenance, construction, advertising, and other services. Long John Silver’s, and A&W Restaurants. YBI’s philosophy is to develop a workforce diverse in style and background. It has extensive franchise and supplier diversity programs, and its community activities include working with organizations such as American Indian College Fund, League of United Latin American Citizens, MultiCultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance, NAACP, National Council of La Raza, National Urban League, Organization of Chinese Americans, and the Women’s Foodservice Forum. The company awards include the “Top 50 Employers for Minorities” and “Top 50 Employers for Women” by Fortune magazine, one of the “40 Best Companies for Diversity” and “30 Hottest Franchises for 2006” by Black Enterprise magazine, and one of the “Corporate 100 Companies Providing Opportunities for Hispanics” by Hispanic magazine. 38 Hilton Hotels Corp. Beverly Hills, CA 105,000 employees www.hilton.com Hilton is the leading global hospitality company, with over 2,900 hotels and 490,000 rooms in over 76 countries. Its brands include Hilton, Conrad, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden, Homewood Suites and Waldorf-Astoria. As a company, Hilton says it takes a particular pride in the diversity of its workforce. More than half are minorities and women, and minorities and women comprise almost half of its management positions. As an international company, Hilton provides diversity-training programs at all levels of hotel operations, from introduction of diversity at orientation to line level team members to general management-specific training. It also focuses on identifying top performers in the field and nurturing internal line level talent within the organization. The company also has a Supplier Diversity program and a history of supporting various causes and community-based organizations. 36 Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. Torrance, CA 35,632 employees www.toyota.com TMS is the US sales, distribution, and marketing unit for Toyota Motor’s Corp.’s Toyota, Lexus, and Scion brands. Diversity is one of its top 10 business initiatives, and its goal is to continue to foster diversity best practices in all aspects of the business, including employment, dealers, procurement, communications, advertising, and philanthropy. Toyota’s Diversity Advisory Board, formalized in 2002, consists of recognized leaders in the fields of diversity, public policy, economic development and community relations. Toyota focuses its minority recruitment at both college graduate and undergrad levels. It also uses an extensive network of professional partnerships to help identify qualified candidates. Some of these include the African American and Hispanic Business Society, Association of Latina Professionals in Finance and Accounting, INROADS, National Association of Black Accountants, and National Society of Black Engineers. In 2003, TMS announced it would recognize and support Toyota Business Partnering Groups as part of its commitment to diversity and inclusion. 39 Darden Restaurants Inc. Orlando, FL 170,000 employees (E) www.darden.com Darden is the world’s largest full-service restaurant company with close to $6.7 billion in sales. It owns and operates 1,700 restaurants including Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52. It considers diversity a core value; in fact, its CEO, Clarence Otis, is AfricanAmerican. Its six diversity commitments include growing an organization with all facets of diversity; achieving minority and female representation at all levels of the organization; fulfilling and exceeding the needs and expectations of customers and employees; increasing supplier diversity; leveraging community w w w. d ive r s it y mb a ma g a z in e. c o m 37 Yum Brands Inc Louisville, KY 48,160 employees www.yum.com YBI is the world’s largest system restaurant company with over 35,000 restaurants in 110 countries and territories. Its brands include KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, 30 http://www.hilton.com http://www.toyota.com http://www.darden.com http://www.yum.com http://www.diversitymbamagazine.com
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