The Diversity Exchange

Executive Briefing

Description: The Diversity Exchange for ALL is a solution to the emerging and continuously changing needs of our diverse American and local populations. The Exchange is both a concept as well as a venue for everyone to share ideas, resources and opportunities to build a thriving community where people from every background can be welcomed economically, socially and personally.

Benefits: For the community: continuous, affordable and convenient diversity training opportunities with qualified presenters. For the economy: an opportunity to showcase local businesses. For leaders: compatibility with mission, service to the community, economies of scale, enhanced reputation in the community and opportunities for being “in the news.”

History: The Exchange has been successfully operating in Columbus, Ohio since June, 2007 in collaboration with The Columbus Metropolitan Club, Community Relations Commission of City of Columbus, Girl Scouts-Seal of Ohio, Global Galleries, Greater Columbus Arts Council, Huntington Bank, Outlook Media, Radio One, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and others. We are also working with Edison College in Lima, Ohio to establish a local Exchange there.

Typical Format: Our planning group selects an overall theme for the coming year, then develops seminars and workshops in accordance with that theme. Sessions are held quarterly, featuring guest speakers and/or a panel discussion, and are open to the general public. Most programs are about 2 hours long, held in the morning, and include a delicious spread of featured ethnic food. Fees are nominal ($30-$35 per person), with sponsorship opportunities for participating organizations.

Topics from Prior Programs:

  • Diversity-Friendly Meetings
  • Marketing in a Diverse World
  • Diverse Communications: Emotional Intelligence Works with Diversity
  • Diversity in Central Ohio: How do Businesses Compare?
  • Building a Diverse Community
  • Mentoring for a Real Workforce Cultural Change
  • Outreach to Diverse Consumers

2010 Theme: The Diversity of Personal and Social Gender Identity

  • March 3 – An Overview of Personal and Social Gender Identity
  • June 17 – Personal and Social Gender Identity in the Workplace
  • September 21 - Faith and Values Perspective on Personal and Social Gender Identity

Unique Factors of the Exchange:

  • All sessions are open to the public
  • In addition to stimulating and informative presentations, attendees are encouraged to engage in dialogue and debate; we often begin with group exercises designed to get the interaction started
  • Every event is “staged” to showcase local venues at a stimulating location such as Huntington Bank’s collection of Caribbean Art and The Columbus Recreation & Parks Cultural Arts Center
  • Ethnic food from local restaurants is served, highlighting and promoting local businesses
  • Exhibit tables are made available, for participating groups to share resources
  • Sponsors provide contributions and promotion of their organizations
Upcoming Programs

The Diversity Exchange and Diversity Matters LLC are pleased to announce the second in this year’s series of programs on Personal and Social Gender Identity.

Personal and Social Gender Identity in the Workplace
Practices in Corporate America and Grassroots Activism
Thursday, June 17, 2010 from 8:30 am to 11 am
Urban Spirit Coffee House (893 E. Long Street, Columbus, OH 43203)
www.urban-spirit.com

Learn what award-winning corporations are doing to promote gender-related diversity and how grassroots activism can make a difference. Gather strategies about how to reach the “GLBT market.” Take away ideas that you can adapt for yourself and your organization. Participate in a stimulating Exchange with other participants.

Schedule:
8:30 am – Networking and continental breakfast
9:00 – Facilitated interactive exchange led by Neal Semel & Nelson Hewitt
9:30 – Panelists’ presentations plus audience Q & A

The panel of speakers has strong credentials in both the business world and the GLBT community. Nancy Di Dia will discuss how her company achieved recognition as a diversity champion; Tom Grote will share how he grew his business as well as his experiences as a community activist; Susan McManus will describe her company’s successes with GLBT employees.

Nancy Di Dia, Executive Director, Chief Diversity Officer, Boehringer Ingelheim USA: Nancy has more than 25 years of experience in management and diversity practices in corporate America. She currently has national responsibility for Diversity, Inclusion & Engagement reaching more than 10,000 employees. Under her leadership the company achieved the #1 position from the Association of Diversity Councils as well as a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign for the best places to work for LGBT for three consecutive years. In 2009, she also received a prestigious recognition of Diversity Champion from the Southern Connecticut chapter of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).

Tom Grote has a long history in business and community activism. Tom was the Chief Operating Officer of Donato’s Pizza, as the business grew from seven restaurants in 1986 to over 150 restaurants in 1999. In 1996, Tom opened the groundbreaking restaurant Out on Main as a place to celebrate the lives of lesbians and gay men. He currently manages a “green” venture in Columbus. In 2005, recognizing that Ohio needed a strong, well-staffed, and consistently funded statewide gay advocacy and education organization, Tom helped found Equality Ohio, and served as chairman of the board for three years. Tom has also served as chairman of the Liberty Education Fund, and as a director of the Columbus AIDS Task Force, the Columbus Short North Business Association, the Godman Guild, and the Legacy Fund of the Columbus Foundation. He received the Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign in 1998 and the President’s Award from the Columbus Stonewall Union in 1996. He became a trustee of the United Way of Central Ohio in 2007 and currently co-chairs the Diversity and Inclusion committee as well as Pride Council, the first United Way LGBT donor and advocacy group in the nation.

Susan McManus, VP Marketing, Nationwide Insurance: For over 10 years, Sue has been actively involved in the Columbus community and in corporate-wide diversity efforts, addressing issues important to Nationwide's GLBT employees. Nationwide has earned a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index every year since 2001. She also designed and developed an executive education seminar for The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business in the fall of 2002 entitled, "Marketing Leadership: Capturing the Gay Market." The first offering of its kind at any major U.S. business school, the program drew over 150 participants from multiple states and received national attention. Sue is an active member of the HRC Business Council, founded in 1997 to support the goal of creating an America where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are ensured of basic equal rights — and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. Please join us for what promises to be a valuable event. Register now!

RSVP — REGISTRATION REQUIRED
To Register: $35 per person for each program; discount to $30 per person for not-for-profit agencies as well as two or more people who register at the same time. Fees include workshop, light breakfast, door prizes.

Also, we are making available reserved tables for 8 persons, for $200. So consider bringing along others from your organization, or even your clients who would be interested.

The easiest way to register is by using PayPal. Please make a selection from the drop-down menu below to proceed:

Type of Admission
Name(s) of Attendee(s)

You may also email your registration to RKohr@Diversity-Matters.net. Include your name, title, company name, email address, phone number and special accommodations or dietary needs.

Check payable to Diversity Matters LLC. Please mail to: Ron Kohr, 503 Brookside Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43209.

Sponsorships are available for this and other Diversity Exchange events. Contact Bruce Greenfield at 614-530-0071 or Bgreenfield@Diversity-Matters.net for more information.