Commission on Economic Inclusion Recognizes ‘Best-in-Class’ Member Companies; Releases Results of 2005 Employers Diversity Survey

Monday, May 15, 2006

The Commission on Economic Inclusion, a coalition of Northeast Ohio employers committed to making the region’s diversity a source of economic strength, today recognized four of its member companies as “Best in Class” for their progress in building and maintaining diverse organizations.

The organizations, honored at the Commission’s Annual Meeting, were selected based on results of the 2005 Greater Cleveland Employers Survey on Diversity, as well as follow-up inquiries. The Best-in-Class organizations are: KeyCorp for Board Diversity, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum for Senior Staff Diversity, Cleveland State University for Workforce Diversity, and FirstEnergy Corp. for Supplier Diversity.

“A growing number of Northeast Ohio companies have shown their commitment to diversity by joining the Commission,” said Commission co-chair Christopher M. Connor, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The Sherwin-Williams Company. “We are pleased to celebrate the efforts and achievements on behalf of diversity and inclusion made by these employers.”

In 2005, the Commission’s members grew from 71 to 82. It also created a Diversity Professionals Group, composed of senior diversity and human resources professionals from member organizations, in order to address organizational diversity issues and to share best practices in finding solutions. Another key priority in 2005 was to provide assistance to Commission members to help track and report their diversity spend.

“We are well beyond building awareness about the importance of economic inclusion. The next step is to take decisive action,” said Commission co-chair, Brian E. Hall, chairman and chief executive officer of Industrial Inventory Solutions LLC. “Our efforts are strongly supported by more than 80 CEOs from leading Northeast Ohio employers who have signed a formal statement that commits their organization to engage in, or develop a plan to engage in, six strategies that will positively improve their diversity and inclusion performance. The Commission, as a program of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, also receives high-level support that ensures its mission is integrated into the GCP’s regional economic development agenda.”
Luke Visconti, partner and co-founder of DiversityInc magazine and DiversityInc.com, was the keynote speaker at the Commission’s Annual Meeting. “Diversity gives companies a competitive edge,” said Visconti. “Good customer service and a commitment to diversity have some things in common. They are both about building relationships, and they have a positive affect on a company’s bottom line.”

2005 Survey Results

The preliminary analysis of the 2005 Greater Cleveland Employers Survey on Diversity is based on data provided by 84 organizations, including some nonmembers. The organizations employ 155,387 individuals in Northeast Ohio and a total of 505,776 throughout their operations. Responses from three additional surveys, to be submitted, will be included in the final survey analysis.

This analysis compares findings from 2005 against 2004 for the aggregate group, which are responses of the 84 organizations that participated in 2005, compared to the 75 organizations that participated in 2004. It also provides comparative data for the year-to-year group, which is composed of 71 organizations that participated both years. Highlights of current-year results include:

Board Diversity: Minority representation

  1. Aggregate: Decreased from 18 to 15 percent
  2. Year-to-year: Increased from 14 percent to 16 percent

Senior Staff Diversity: Minority representation

  1. Aggregate: Decreased from 17 percent to 11 percent
  2. Year-to-year: Remained constant at 10 percent

Policies and Practices: Organizations with diversity goals and objectives in strategic plans

  1. Aggregate: Increased from 68 percent to 70 percent
  2. Year-to-year: Increased from 67 percent to 72 percent

Supplier Diversity: Total diversity spend

  1. Aggregate: Increased from $259 million to $770 million
  2. Year-to-year: Increased from $54.8 million to $113.4 million

Supplier Diversity: Regional diversity spend

  1. Aggregate: Increased from $80.8 million to $132.3 million
  2. Year-to-year: Increased from $38 million to $107 million

About the Commission

The Commission on Economic Inclusion is a program of the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP).
Its mission is “to significantly improve the level of inclusion—the meaningful involvement of minority businesses and individuals—in the economic engines that drive Northeast Ohio.” The GCP mobilizes private-sector leadership, expertise and resources to create jobs and wealth and improve the economic vitality of the region.

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