Veta T. Richardson Photo by John Abbott Photography
As I write, Washington, D.C. (where MCCA is headquartered), and the surrounding region have come to a standstill due to record-breaking snowstorms. Commuting is virtually impossible. Roads are impassible. Public transportation is not operating. Business is shut down, and the federal government has been closed for almost a week. Yet the MCCA team has remained fully functional, relying upon one another and on technology to telecommute and keep things going while many of us haven’t been able to get to the office.
It never ceases to amaze me how talented people can come together as a team in the face of adversity and achieve phenomenal results. I am honored to work with the fantastic people who enable MCCA to continue to meet and exceed the expectations of our stakeholders.
I think you’ll enjoy this issue of Diversity & the Bar.® It’s filled with perspectives regarding the past, present, and future. You will not want to miss our feature on James Lipscomb, a trailblazer who is retiring as general counsel of MetLife after an extraordinary 40-year career. His leadership helped to mold the MetLife law department into one of the best in the nation for diversity. We also feature AT&T general counsel Wayne Watts, a visionary leader whose diversity efforts are in full swing and highly impactful. Watts and the AT&T law department are among the nation’s top diversity champions, and MCCA is delighted to share their story. And, last but not least, MCCA looks to the future by spotlighting several leading corporations that contribute to the development of the next generation of lawyers by offering cutting-edge summer internship programs.
By the time you read this, let’s hope the blizzard that rocked the region is but a simple memory. But what I’ll always remember is how a few dedicated people can come together against extraordinary challenges and produce outstanding results. This issue of Diversity & the Bar is dedicated to the outstanding professionals—staff and consultants alike— who comprise our MCCA team. You are simply the best! DB
With appreciation,
Veta T. Richardson
Executive Director
Minority Corporate Counsel Association
From the March/April 2010 issue of Diversity & The Bar®