MCCA Awards 2015 George B. Vashon Recognition to Diversity Advocate Firms

Minority Corporate Counsel Association Awards 2015 George B. Vashon Recognition to Diversity Advocate Firms
Recipients are Leaders in Areas of Pipeline Initiative, Recruitment & Retention, and Mentoring

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) has announced the recipients of its 2015 George B. Vashon Innovator Awards. This year’s awardees are the Exelon Corporation in the category of Pipeline Initiatives; Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. in the category of Recruitment and Retention Initiatives; and Kozyak Minority Mentoring Foundation in the category of Mentoring Initiatives. The awards will be presented at the MCCA Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference Lunch Plenary on June 29, 2015 at the Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C.

“This year’s recipients all share one common characteristic: a determined and tenacious commitment to increasing diversity and inclusion in the areas they work,” said Joseph K. West, MCCA’s President and CEO.  “MCCA commends the Exelon Corporation, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., and Kozyak Minority Mentoring Foundation for their extraordinary work in helping talented attorneys and law students thrive and be successful.”

The 2015 George B. Vashon Honorees:

Exelon Corporation– Pipeline Initiative: Exelon’s commitment to expanding diversity and inclusion in the legal profession recognizes the importance of shaping young minds and encouraging students to examine many opportunities.  Exelon partners with law firms to engage law students in an educational and interactive discussion on the energy business today, the roles of legal within Exelon, and the importance of diversity and inclusion in Exelon and in business in general.  By encouraging female and diverse law students to consider the fulfilling practice of law within the energy business and as in-house attorneys, it is Exelon’s goal that they will soon see these talented attorneys in their field as colleagues.

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. – Recruitment & Retention: Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has an innovative approach to the recruitment and retention of diverse attorneys and limiting the effects of unconscious or implicit bias. HII’s legal department seeks to build a culture of inclusion by fostering the initiative of each attorney therein to act in the best interests of the company. HII’s legal department furthers its goal of an inclusive culture by instituting (1) trusted advisor models to promote attorney empowerment; (2) a peer culture to promote respect for points of view; and (3) information sharing and transparency policies to provide all attorneys with access to knowledge.

Kozyak Minority Mentoring Foundation- Mentoring: The Kozyak Minority Mentoring Foundation’s mission is to provide assistance and support to minorities interested in pursuing legal careers, mentoring programs, networking opportunities and limited financial aid.  The Foundation takes responsibility for finding experienced lawyers and judges to mentor black law students and working with other voluntary bar associations to find mentors for all minority law students. The Foundation regularly promotes awareness in the legal community for the need to increase diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

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