6th Annual Champions of Diversity Awards Luncheon

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CENTRAL OHIO CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY MAGAZINE Champions Of Diversity P.O. Box 2502 Columbus, Ohio 43216 championsofdiversity.com PUBLISHER

Orville C. Lynch, Jr.

EVENT CHAIR

Brenda D. Spencer, President & CEO Spencer 4Higher Media

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Letter from Mayor Andrew J. Ginther

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Letter from Governor John R. Kasich

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Greetings from President of the Columbus NAACP, Nana M. Watson

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Diversity Pioneer Award Winner Ramona Keyes

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Diversity Pioneer Award Winner Karla Rothan

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Amos H. Lynch, Sr. Legend Award Winner Janet E. Jackson

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2016 Central Ohio Champions of Diversity Keynote Speaker, Dr. George C. Fraser

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2016 Awards Luncheon Program

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Thank You!

ASSISTANT EVENT COORDINATORS

Brea N. Spencer, Spencer 4Higher Media Tracy Taylor, T Communications Sharon Gordon, Urban Trendsetters Media

ADVERTISING & MARKETING Spencer 4Higher Media

DESIGN & LAYOUT

Derek Payne, DPI Graphic Design

PHOTOGRAPHY

COPY EDITOR

Sharon N. Lynch

ATTENDED & VIRTUAL CAREER FAIRS Dave Douglass, Career Town Networks Spencer 4Higher Media

VIDEO PRODUCTION

Dale White, Whitehouse Media Group

EVENT SALES

David Bailey, Basement Deep Media Group

Spencer 4Higher Media Career Town Networks Urban Trendsetters Media

EVENT COORDINATOR Katina Hall, KamDom Marketing Group

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October 2016 Greetings from the President of the Columbus NAACP On behalf of the Columbus NAACP, we congratulate all of the individual and corporate Honorees being recognized during the 6th Annual Champions of Diversity Awards. The Columbus NAACP is proud to be this years’ event host!

As a longtime resident of Columbus, Ohio I was proud to be elected as the President of the Columbus Chapter of the NAACP. Under the Unity ticket, my platform included creating increased community inclusion and accountability and to transform the Columbus Chapter into a more focused and energized organization. Our strategy also includes increasing community awareness of our chapter’s existence and increasing voter registration.

From its inception in 1909 until today, the NAACP continues to push forward in political, economic, and social issues. The NAACP stands on equality and remains as the largest, the oldest, the baddest and the boldest Civil Rights organization in the country.

The NAACP at the National, State and local levels in Ohio, have been instrumental in many court cases to ensure the rights of all people. By applying direct action or litigation, the NAACP, has continued to fight on behalf of people and their rights.

We invite everyone to learn more about the NAACP’s mission, goals and objectives and to become active members of this most prestigious organization at www.NAACPColumbus.org.

Again, Congratulations!

Nana Watson President, Columbus NAACP Unit 3177

233 S High St # 207, Columbus, OH 43215

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Director at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center at Catholic Social Services

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amona R. Reyes is the director at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center at Catholic Social Services. Prior to coming to the Center, she worked as a Human Resource professional at Nationwide Insurance were she was employed for 24 years. She is currently serving in her second term on the Columbus Public Schools Board of Education. She is the first Hispanic member of the Board and the only Latina elected official in the City of Columbus.

Ramona originally came to Columbus when she was awarded the Campbell Soup Scholarship, a scholarship for children of migrant farm working families, to attend the Ohio State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Transportation Logistics.

She also served as a Commissioner with the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs and President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She is currently serving on the East Coast Migrant Headstart board, Columbus

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YMCA Headstart Policy council, Columbus Association of the Performing Arts (CAPA) Advisory Council, and volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio.

Ramona was featured in the inaugural edition of Women's Book and the 2013 WELD Women You Should Know Calendar. She has been named a Columbus Hispanic Hero by the City of Columbus and the Columbus Crew, served as the Publisher for the first and future editions of Who’s Who in Latino Columbus, and has also been named a Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan by the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs and the Governor of Ohio. •

Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus

three years increasing the revenue for that fundraiser 200%. Rothan has been a leader and activist in Columbus for over twenty-five years working with a host of other organizations including the Human Rights Campaign, AIDS Resource Center Ohio, United Way, North Central Mental Health and on Mayor Coleman’s 2012 commission.

Mayor Coleman also appointed Ms. Rothan to the Recreation and Parks Commission on which she currently serves.

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s. Rothan, a native of Cincinnati, attended The Ohio State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Rothan began her leadership as the Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus in 2006. •

She toured as an actor doing shows in children’s theatre for a number of years before starting her own non-profit theatre company, New Venture Theatre in Columbus. Her career expanded in the non-profit arts arena when she landed a position at the prestigious Wexner Center for the Arts. She later became the public relations and marketing director for the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging.

Throughout her career Karla has maintained a serious commitment to Stonewall Columbus. She was the chair of the annual Pride Holiday for

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anet E. Jackson is president and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio, one of the largest United Way organizations in the country. Under her leadership, United Way is mobilizing the central Ohio community to reduce poverty.

Prior to coming to United Way, Janet served six years as Columbus City Attorney and nearly 10 years as a judge on the Franklin County Municipal Court.

Her honors and awards include: Allies of Equality Award from Equality Ohio, Woman of Achievement Award from the YWCA of Columbus, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award from the Columbus Education Association, 2013 Professional Woman of the Year by the Women of Color Foundation and Woman of the Year by the Niagara Foundation. She was inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame in 2001.< She also received the 2015 Mortar Board Alumni Achievement Award.

Janet currently serves on the Family Services Planning Committee, an advisory board for the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services. She is a board member of The Center for Family Safety and Healing, and served on the Greater Columbus Infant Mortality Task Force. She was a member of the Columbus Education Commission and worked on education issues facing the near east side of Columbus as co-chair of the PACT education sub-committee. She was also vice chair of the Central Ohio Workforce Investment Board. She is a member of the Installed Building Products Board. Janet is active in committees that help to guide the United Way movement on the national and international level. She is also a member of the International Women’s Forum and IWF Ohio. •

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r. George C. Fraser is Chairman and CEO of FraserNet, Inc., a company he founded some 28 years ago, to lead a global networking movement for people of African descent. Born in Brooklyn, NY, he was an orphan and foster child for 15 years.

He’s written 6 best-selling books to include: Success Runs in Our Race, Click and most recently, Mission Unstoppable: Extraordinary Stories of Failure’s Blessings, a book he co-authored with Les Brown. Upscale Magazine named him one of the "Top 50 Power Brokers in Black America," and Black Enterprise magazine called him "Black America’s #1 Networker".

Dr. Fraser has been featured on 7 national magazine covers, and has received 350 awards and citations to include: Induction into the Minority Business Hall of Fame and Museum, 3 honorary Doctorate Degrees , a Chaplaincy and an *Ambassadorship. He has been named as one of the best speakers in America and 5 of his speeches have been selected for global distribution by the prestigious Vital Speeches of the Day magazine, a first for any professional speaker in America.

He’s been married to Nora Jean for 43 years and has 2 sons.

Dr. Fraser is most proud of the 2 African-centered charter schools he h e lp e d f o u n de d which educate nearly 300 inner city Black children of which 70% are boys.

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WORKFORCE

SUPPLIER

OUTREACH

LEADERSHIP

DEVELOPMENT

Alliance Data Systems

AT&T Ohio (formerly SBC Ohio)

Cardinal Health

American Electric Power

Cardinal Health

Huntington Bancshares

Cardinal Health

City of Columbus

Cardinal Health

Columbus City Schools

JP Morgan Chase

Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc.

Franklin County

City of Columbus

Discover Financial Services, Inc.

Kroger Company

JP Morgan Chase

Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc.

Fifth Third Bank

Franklin County

Nationwide

The Ohio State University

LBrands

Huntington Bancshares, Inc. Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Nationwide Children’s Hospital

The State of Ohio

Nationwide

LBrands

OhioHealth

Ross Products Division, Abbott Labs

Wal-Mart Stores

PNC

Mount Carmel Health System

State Farm

Teleperformance

Ross Products Division, Abbott Labs

Nationwide Children’s Hospital

The Ohio State University

The Ohio State University

State Farm

The Ohio State University

United Parcel Service

The Ohio State University

The State of Ohio

Wal-Mart

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THE 2016 CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY AWARDS LUNCHEON

TODAYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PROGRAM

12:00 PM - The Fawcett Center BRIEF WELCOME Orville C. Lynch, Jr.

COMPANY AWARDS PRESENTATIONS Leadership Award Presenter: Tom Stalf, CEO Columbus Zoo

OPENING PRAYER Reverend Nelson Crawley

Supplier Award Presenter: Tom Lianez, Lianez Consultants

LUNCH

Workforce Award Presenter: Brandon Walker, Teleperformance

12:40 PM - The Fawcett Center WELCOME & THANK YOU Brenda D. Spencer Spencer 4Higher Media

Development Award Presenter: Maree Whitlow, Buckeye Ranch

MASTERS & MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES Matt Barnes, NBC4 Monica Day, NBC4 Sharon Gordon, UTS Media OPENING REMARKS Nana Watson - Columbus Conference NAACP AWARDS CEREMONY Pioneer Award: Karla Rothan Presenter: Jaiza Page, Columbus City Council

Community Outreach Award Presenter: Napolean Bell, Candidate State Representative

CLOSING REMARKS Orville C. Lynch, Jr. CLOSING PRAYER Dr. C. Dexter Wise, III Faith Ministries Church

Pioneer Award: Ramona Reyes Presenter: Judge Richard A. Frye Amos H. Lynch, Sr. Legend Award: Janet Jackson Presenter: Mayor Andrew Ginther INTRODUCTION OF KEYNOTE SPEAKER Sharon Gordon Keynote Speaker: George C. Fraser

Thank you For Joining Us for The 6th Annual Central Ohio Champions of Diversity Awards

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CENTRAL OHIO CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY AWARDS EVENT FOUNDERS The late Amos H. Lynch, Sr. Orville C. Lynch, Jr. Chief Executive Officer Career Town Network, Inc. CENTRAL OHIO CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY AWARDS EVENT NON PROFIT HOST Nana Watson Columbus NAACP CENTRAL OHIO CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY AWARDS EVENT CHAIR Brenda D. Spencer President & CEO Spencer 4Higher Media CENTRAL OHIO CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY AWARDS EVENT COORDINATOR Katina Hall CENTRAL OHIO CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY AWARDS EVENT SPECIAL REMARKS Andrew Ginther, Mayor, City of Columbus Dr. C. Dexter Wise, III, Faith Ministries Church Reverend Nelson Crawley, Associate Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church CENTRAL OHIO CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY PIONEER AWARD WINNERS Ramona Reyes, Columbus Board of Education Karla Rothan, Executive Director, Stonewall Columbus CENTRAL OHIO CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY AMOS H. LYNCH, SR. LEGEND AWARD WINNER Janet Jackson, United Way

CENTRAL OHIO CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY AWARD PRESENTERS Andrew Ginther, Mayor, City of Columbus Tom Stalf, CEO, Columbus Zoo Judge Richard A. Frye Jaiza Page Napoleon Bell Tom Lianez Maree Whitlow

CENTRAL OHIO CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY AWARDS MASTERS & MISTRESSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; OF CEREMONY Matt Barnes, NBC4i Monica Day, NBC4i Sharon S. Gordon, Publisher, Urban Trendsetters Media PRESENTING SPONSORS Career Town Network, Inc. The Ohio State University Buckeye Ranch The Columbus Zoo Teleperformance TABLE SPONSORS AEP Columbus Board of Education Fifth Third Bank Franklin County Children Services The Huntington Bank Judge Richard A. Frye NBC4i Radio One The Ohio State University Walmart Transportation TICKET SPONSORS Hollywood Casino PNC Bank

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SPECIAL “THANKS” TO THE NBC4i TEAM Matt Barnes, NBC4i Monica Day, NBC4i Kim May Jasmine D. Logan Julia Catalfino IN KIND DONATIONS Career Town Networks Mike Fields, Artist Norma Richards, Author, Free Ride To College Ohio Sickle Cell & Health Association Brenda D. Spencer, Author, Sell It Like It Is Victoria Ludaway, Fishbowl TV Media Who’s Who in Black Columbus Hollywood Casino

SOUVENIR PROGRAM BOOK SPONSORS Basement Deep Media Group Buckeye Ranch Career Town Network, Inc. The Columbus Zoo Franklin County Children Services Franklin County Office on Aging Judge Richard A. Frye La Mega FM Radio Minority Brands – Bounce TV/Telemundo/Azteca Nationwide Children’s Hospital NBC4i Ohio Chinese Newspaper PNC Teleperformance The Ohio State University Praise Reporter Spencer 4Higher Media Urban Trendsetters Media Who’s Who in Black Columbus MEDIA SPONSORS NBC4i AM 1580 WVKO The Praise La Mega 103.1 FM Radio/ La Jornada Newspaper Ohio Chinese American News, Inc. Spencer 4Higher Media, LLC Telemundo Columbus / Azteca Columbus / Bounce 23 TV The Praise Reporter Urban Trendsetters Media Whitehouse Media Group Who’s Who in Black Columbus

2016 EVENT STAFF, COD COMMITTEE & VOLUNTEERS Brea N. Spencer, VP Social Media, Spencer 4Higher Tanya McDay, Spencer 4Higher Media Barbara Carter, OSU/Kirwan Institute Sharon Lynch, Bailiff, Judge Richard Frye Dave Douglas, Career Town Network, Inc. John Shoemaker, Career Town Networks, Inc. Tracy Taylor, T Communications Victoria Ludaway, Fishbowl TV Media Adonis Alex, Volunteer Norma Richards, Volunteer Susan Cotner-Green, Volunteer Paulette Burks, Volunteer Karia Ruffin, Volunteer Eleanor Whetsel, Volunteer Jessica Richardson, Volunteer Rennell Mahone, Volunteer Jodie DeShonz, Volunteer EVENT PROGRAM AND VIDEO PRODUCTION Dale Gonzales White, Whitehouse Media Group Mark Yager Warren Williams CREATIVE AND GRAPHIC DESIGN Derek Payne, Graphic Design, DPI Graphic Design PHOTOGRAPHER David Bailey, Basement Deep Media Group SPECIAL THANKS TO Sybil Edwards-McNabb The Ohio Conference NAACP

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