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EVENT RECAP
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Unstoppable Together
We were also celebrated the pioneering success of the nation’s first African American Board Chair at a public food service company, Brenda J. Lauderback, who received the Alvaro L. Martins Heritage Award. Lauderback chairs the board for Denny’s, Inc., one of America’s largest full-service family restaurant chains. Named one of the National Association of Corporate Director’s Top 100 Directors as well as one of Savoy Magazine’s Most Influential Women in Corporate America, she also serves on the boards of Sleep Number and Wolverine Worldwide.
The ELC was proud to gather our members and member-affiliated companies for the 2022 ELC Recognition Gala. After being a part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were delighted to welcome almost 2,000 attendees back to Washington, D.C. Hosted by Kevin Frazier, co-host of Entertainment Tonight, this year’s Gala theme “Unstoppable Together,” spoke to the strength and resilience of our membership and to The ELC’s unwavering resolve to fulfilling our mission as one, united organization – no matter the challenges that stand in our way.
Gala Honorees Each year, The ELC honors companies and leaders who have exemplified an extraordinary commitment to serving the needs of the Black community, both in and outside of corporate America. Marvin R. Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Lowe’s Inc. received the 2022 Achievement Award. With more than 2,200 stores and 300,000 associates in the United States and Canada, Ellison has led the Fortune 50 company since 2018. Over the last five years, he has more than doubled online sales and increased share value by nearly 80%, compared with a 34% increase in the S&P 500 index overall. Under his guidance, 55% of its executive leaders and 60% of its board is female or ethnically diverse. Ellison is one of six sitting Black CEOs of a Fortune 500 company, and the only Black executive to have served as CEO of two Fortune 500 companies.
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The Corporate Award is given to a corporation that has shown exemplary service by making significant contributions to the advancement of Black corporate executives in areas including pipeline development, board diversity, supplier diversity and philanthropic efforts directed toward the Black community. The ELC extended this honor to Target, accepted by Target Chairman and CEO Brian Cornell. With a workforce of more than 400,000 team members – half are people of color and more than half are women.
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