Chicago United’s Bridge Awards Celebration Honors PwC, Introduces Two New Awards
Annual Celebration highlights “The Power of Inclusion” within the Chicago business community
CHICAGO, IL – November 7, 2022 – Chicago United will hold its annual Bridge Awards Celebration, recognizing excellence in corporate diversity, equity and inclusion, on Wednesday, November 16, 2022. Themed “The Power of Inclusion,” the Bridge Awards brings together Chicago’s most influential business and civic leaders to honor exemplary diversity within corporate governance and foster multiracial leadership across the talent pipeline of Corporate America. BMO is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2022 Bridge Awards Celebration.
Established in 2004, the Chicago Bridge Award represents an integral part of Chicago United’s advocacy work to advance multiracial leadership in corporate governance, executive level management and in minority business partnerships. This year, Chicago United proudly presents the 2022 Chicago Bridge Award to PwC, led by Laura Thonn, Chicago Office Managing Partner. PwC is an international consulting and digital agency focused on audit and assurance, tax and consulting services.
“The Bridge Award honors a Member Company that has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in achieving diversity and inclusion,” said Tiffany Hamel Johnson, Chicago United President and CEO. “PwC has shown clear evidence of workforce diversity and supplier diversity efforts, and actively participates in community initiatives across the city. PwC demonstrates our 2022 theme, ‘The Power of Inclusion’ by working collectively to build coalitions and engage inclusive dialogue across the organization, which creates true, lasting impact. That’s ‘The Power of Inclusion.’ ”
Additionally, Chicago United will present two new awards during the Celebration. The inaugural CU Impact Award will be presented to David Andalcio, Founder and CEO of Wynndalco Enterprises, LLC. Established in 2009, Wynndalco Enterprises is an Information Technology managed services firm offering a wide range of services including device management, logistics, project management, and staffing. The CU Impact Award was established to honor an impactful small- to medium-sized business or Minority Business Enterprise that is working towards inclusion and economic parity within their organization and in their community.
The second new award, the BLC President’s Award, honors a Chicago United Business Leader of Color who stands out in advancing Chicago United’s mission of inclusion in both their work and in their community. The inaugural BLC President’s Award will be presented to David Namkung, Founder and Managing Partner of Clarity Partners and a 2017 Chicago United Business Leader of Color. Namkung has over 25 years of experience serving a wide range of clients including Fortune 500 companies, public sector organizations and first stage start-ups.
“It is important to honor these small- to mid-sized businesses and Minority Business Enterprises who are working toward inclusion and economic parity,” Hamel Johnson continues. “Their impact is important because they are an important source of wealth creation and job creation in communities that are economically disadvantaged.”
The 2022 Bridge Awards Celebration will be held Wednesday, November 16, 2022. Sponsorships opportunities are available; for details, contact Gail Arrigo, Senior Vice President of Strategy & Operations, at garrigo@chicago-united.org or 312.977.3066.
About Chicago United
Chicago United is a corporate membership organization, advocate, and thought leader committed to advancing multiracial leadership in corporate governance, executive level management and in minority business partnerships. Our vision is to transform the Chicago region into the most inclusive business ecosystem in the nation. Founded in 1968, the organization engages the top publicly and privately held corporations in leading talent management and inclusive diversity practices. Chicago United’s signature programs include the Business Leaders of Color honor and publication, showcasing a diverse pool of corporate board of director candidates; the Minority Business Partnership Program featuring the Five Forward Initiative™, designed to invigorate job creation in communities of color by increasing the scale of Minority Business Enterprises in the Chicago region; Inside Inclusion featuring the Corporate Diversity Profile; and the Corporate Inclusion Institute (CII), the first-ever citywide business talent development program. Visit www.chicago-united.org.
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