community
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
COMERICA IN THE COMMUNITY
December 21-27, 2016
Page B-6
COLLEAGUE SPOTLIGHT
Nathaniel Bennett III As senior vice president, chief diversity officer and head of talent acquisition for Comerica Bank, Nathaniel Bennett III is responsible for leading teams to enhance diversity, inclusion and talent acquisition across Comerica’s national footprint, including Michigan and metro Detroit. Bennett joined Comerica in 2009 and has 12 years of banking experience. Prior to joining Comerica Bank, he led the talent acquisition services for a competing bank and Walmart stores.
Michael Cheatham, vice president and Michigan CRA manager at Comerica Bank, passes out piggy banks and Comerica Bank’s Charise Key and Michael Cheatham books to children who participated in the Adopt-A-Child are all smiles with Key’s adopted family as the children for Christmas program to help teach them good money test out their new bikes. management habits for the future.
Comerica Bank colleagues ‘adopt’ 44 children for Christmas Comerica Bank colleagues continued a favorite tradition, brightening the holidays for families and children in need at the North End Youth Improvement Council’s (NEYIC) 55th Adopt-A-Child for Christmas Program at Cobo Center in early December. Each year, the Adopt-A-Child program brings together thousands of volunteers from across metro Detroit, as well as parents and low-income youth recipients, ranging from newborns to 12 year olds. This year, the program will provide clothes and toys to 3,223 children. Comerica Bank colleagues adopted 44 of those children. Charise Key, vice president and West Oakland District manager for Comerica Bank, adopted a
family of three young children, including twins Manuell and Mallayuh and their younger sister, Millissa. “I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces when they see their new bikes,” said Key in anticipation for the children’s arrival.
Comerica Bank has an expansive network of external diversity initiatives and internal employee resource network groups dedicated to supporting cultural and diverse communities, including women, the Asian-Pacific, Middle Eastern, Hispanic, LGBTQ and African American. Comerica’s African American Network is the bank’s longest-standing employee resource network group. CoNathaniel Bennett III merica colleagues participating on these teams support the growth of businesses in these communities, provide banking support and lend their talents to organizations that enhance culture, diversity and inclusion. As Bennett projects his goals for Comerica’s employees nationally, he strives to continue devising ways to empower, develop and engage employees. He encourages his teams to continue to enhance the bank’s masters of diversity awareness program and to try to close any volunteering gaps within Comerica’s markets.
Key was touched to learn that Manuell and Mallayuh suffer from autism like her own son. She knows how important it is to provide kids with autism a positive outlet to explore and be active with their family members, saying, “I’m glad that the family can now go biking together.” In addition to opening presents, children enjoyed live music, Comerica colleague Nancy Heaston talks with her face painting and crafts projects adopted family as they open their presents at Cobo throughout the evening.
Center.
“Diversity and inclusion is an embedded core value at Comerica Bank and it starts with senior leadership,” said Bennett. “We have more than 90 percent of our colleagues participating in our masters of diversity awareness program. It’s a great testament to the commitment our colleagues have about wanting to educate themselves on different cultures and understand and create an inclusive environment for our colleagues, peers and the community.”
Southeast Michigan teachers receive $2,000 in school supplies from Comerica Cody Lown of Detroit’s Benjamin Carson High School, Torrie Maas of University High School Academy in Southfield and Brianna Bolton of Parker Elementary School in Clinton Township were the winners of the 2016 Comerica Tools for Schools contest. The teachers each received $2,000 in school supplies for their classroom to help enhance the learning and education of their students. Comerica invited members of the community to recognize deserving teachers. More than 80 nominations were received for teachers who are making a significant impact on the lives of students.
Nathan Bennett and the U-11 Jr. Broncos football team took a group photo during pre-season certification. Certification ensures each athlete is registered for the football league and playing in the correct age group. Stephanie Worth (left) and Beth Collins (right) of the American Heart Association congratulate Patricia McCann, national employee volunteer program manager for Comerica Bank, on being honored for her support of the American Heart Association at the organization's 2016 Volunteer Recognition Night.
Comerica Bank hosts 14th Annual Best-Dressed Detroit Goodfellows Dolls Contest
Patricia McCann of Comerica Bank listens as Principal Charles Todd (right) reads the Tools for Schools contest nomination for Cody Lown, a teacher at Detroit’s Benjamin Carson High School. Lown was nominated by one of his students, who emphasized his empathy, care and concern for his students and the drive he inspires in them to succeed.
Judging for the 14th annual best-dressed Goodfellows dolls recently was held at Comerica Bank’s Michigan Market headquarters on West Lafayette in Detroit. The dolls will be distributed as Christmas presents to young girls across metro Detroit. Goodfellows members selected 150 of the 10,000 dolls dressed by volunteers from across metro Detroit to put on display for public viewing at Comerica. Detroit News columnist Neal Rubin and a group of students from metro Detroit schools selected the 10 best-dressed dolls on display before choosing the overall “Best of Show.” This cowgirl doll Detroit Goodfellows has distributed gift boxes was unanimously to children for more than 100 years as it fulfills its voted as the 2016 mission of “No kiddie without a Christmas.” “Best of Show.”
In 2017, Bennett’s team will look to increase programming for colleague development for the bank’s multicultural and employee resource network groups in addition to growing diverse employee representation when hiring in Michigan on the technology side. Bennett will also look to Monica Martinez, who recently returned to the Michigan market to lead the bank’s community development and contributions efforts and grow Comerica’s Hispanic outreach. Bennett will continue to work with Larry Bryant who leads Comerica’s African American initiative in Michigan and will look to support and create other opportunities to enhance the initiative’s efforts in the African-American community. What are your goals for the future? “I’d like to continue to progress and move the needle for diversity and inclusion at Comerica and be seen as the best in class. We have a mature culture for diversity and inclusion, but there’s always opportunity for growth. I want both colleagues and customers of Comerica to feel this as well.” How are you involved in the community? “I grew up with two older sisters, both extremely successful. The importance of athletics and what sports do to train your body and mind and to help you overcome adversity was stressed to us at an early age. We were all college athletes and I firmly believe our commitment to sports helped drive our successes. In 2009, I formed an organization called the Jr. Broncos Organization. We have 140 four- to 13-yearold boys and girls participating in the program and playing basketball, football and cheerleading. We also support these athletes by tutoring them in any subject they need help with. It’s run entirely by volunteers and at a small cost to their families. One of my goals is to get to a level where we can have all of our athletes go through the program at no cost.” For more information on how Comerica colleagues are giving back to our community, visit
University High School Academy teacher Torrie Maas reacts with delight upon learning she’s won 10 Chromebooks for her classroom as a winner of the Comerica Tools for Schools contest. Patricia McCann, Antoinette Frost and Cheyenne Bullock surprised Maas during one of her classes. University High School Academy recently launched a new research class and the Chromebooks will provide Maas’ students with equal access to technology.
Neal Rubin of the Detroit News (left) works with student judges from metro Detroit Schools to select the top 10 best-dressed dolls.
Representatives from Comerica Bank and the Detroit Goodfellows hold some of the 150 best-dressed Goodfellows dolls that were on display at the bank’s Michigan Market headquarters.
Comerica Bank adds 17 ATMs at Detroit Metropolitan Airport Brianna Bolton of Parker Elementary School is surprised to learn she won $2,000 in school supplies for her classroom through Comerica’s Tools for Schools contest. In her nomination, parents and others emphasized her selflessness, dedication and drive to put her students first.
Just in time for the holiday season, Comerica Bank has expanded its ATM network to include 17 locations in the Edward H. McNamara Terminal and the North Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. With the addition of the Detroit Metro Airport ATMs, Comerica now has more than 600 ATMs nationwide, including more than 300 in Michigan, providing convenient service for its customers.
Comerica among Black Enterprise magazine’s 2016 ‘50 Best Companies for Diversity’
Parker Elementary School students check out the new school supplies awarded to their teacher, Brianna Bolton.
Black Enterprise magazine, in partnership with the Executive Leadership Council (ELC), has placed Comerica on its 2016 "50 Best Companies for Diversity" list. Black Enterprise conducts this annual survey to identify companies that demonstrate strength in four key areas: employee base, board of directors, senior management and supplier diversity. This is at least the seventh time Comerica has been placed on the "Best Compa-
nies for Diversity" list. In selecting the 2016 companies, Black Enterprise and ELC sent surveys to the nation's top 1,000 publicly traded companies with strong U.S. operations. The final list included those that showed a commitment to diversifying its ranks in the four key areas. Companies were also chosen based on programs created to nurture and maintain a diverse professional space.
www.facebook.com/Comerica.
Comerica Bank’s Charise Key served as a guest turkey carver at the 33rd annual Detroit Aglow, a fundraiser benefiting the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP). Key joined several of her Comerica colleagues for the event in honor of the bank’s partnership with the DDP and to celebrate the progress made within the city of Detroit. Comerica Bank recently sponsored the Van Noy Valor Foundation’s Holiday Family Skate Party to raise funds to purchase live Christmas trees, stands and decorations for 53 Detroit foster families this holiday season. Founded by former Detroit Lion Kyle Van Noy, who was adopted as a baby, as was the father and younger brother of his wife, Marissa, the Van Noy Valor Foundation strives to provide opportunities to encourage personal valor in youth by giving them resources and tools to grow, which will teach the youth to armor themselves for success. Comerica’s Michigan CRA manager, Mike Cheatham, was among the guests attending the skate party.