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Diversity in Action: How diversity affects the bottom line

Plano’s International Festival is one of the events our city is known for and as the October festival approaches, leaders from local businesses are kicking it off with “Diversity in Action.
diversity in action
Diversity in action

Plano’s International Festival is one of the events our city is known for and as the October festival approaches, leaders from local businesses are kicking it off with “Diversity in Action.”

Why is diversity important to your business? With recent events, what is your company doing to build bridges between diverse populations?

Diversity in Action is a chance to explore questions of diversity from a corporate perspective through a panel discusses with business and education leaders. Leaders from Toyota, Cigna, Ericsson, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano and My Possibilities will attend and speak at the Annual Business Leadership Reception. This is hosted  by the Plano Multi-Cultural Outreach Roundtable (MCOR) and the Plano International Festival.

This is the eighth annual Business Leadership Reception, held at the Center for American and International Law in Plano. Prior years’ panels have focused on changing demographics in Collin County and how our educational institutions can prepare students for future workforce needs. This year’s theme explores how companies are benefiting from diversity, how they are accommodating people with disabilities, and how they are trying to build bridges between diverse populations.

Panelists include:

  • Ms. Adrienne Trimble, General Manager of Diversity & Inclusion, Toyota Motor North America. Ms. Trimble is responsible for leading and executing diversity & inclusion strategies and initiatives across all of Toyota North America and plays a key role in supporting Toyota’s headquarters consolidation in Plano, Texas.
  • Mr. LaMonte Thomas, President, North Texas and Oklahoma, Cigna. Mr. Thomas serves as the senior leader for Cigna’s operations, competitiveness and market growth in the region, and he helps to provide access to quality care for Cigna customers.
  • Ms. Nona Renfro, Head of Talent Acquisition, Ericsson – Ms. Renfro is redefining how to attract talent by implementing digital solutions to engage the job seeker and win the war for talent.
  • Ms. Kelly Martin, Entity Human Resources Officer, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano. Ms. Martin provides executive leadership for HR, Employee Health and Volunteer Services, in addition to being the liaison for the Seay Child Care Center.
  • Mr. Michael Thomas, Executive Director, My Possibilities. Mr. Thomas has helped increase fundraising and expand program growth to serve nearly 400 families per week. Several new job training programs have successfully placed individuals with disabilities into jobs in their community. My Possibilities is identified as one of the premier continued education programs for adults with disabilities in Texas and the United States.

The panel will be moderated by Assistant Police Chief Ed Drain. Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere will welcome guests. City of Plano Councilwoman Angela Miner, named this year’s honorary chair of the Plano International Festival, will also give remarks.

Diversity in Action

When:  Tuesday, August 30, 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Where: The Center for American and International Law | 5201 Democracy Dr. Plano 75024

More on the Plano International Festival: PlanoInternationalFestival.org

MCOR’s mission is to partner with the Plano City Council and the citizens of Plano to encourage understanding of and participation in the government process and the needs and desires of its diverse citizens.

The Plano International Festival was conceived by MCOR in 2005 to showcase and celebrate the many cultures represented by the people of Plano. It is designed to promote awareness of cultural diversity and facilitate communication between all cultural groups in the community. It also serves to advance Plano’s visibility and standing as an international city. The Plano International Festival is sponsored by the Plano International Festival Corporation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.