Diversity A Business Imperative • A special publication of the St. Louis American newspaper • PAGE 1
JULY 28 – AUG. 3, 2011 W W W . S T L A M E R I C A N . C O M
Diversity goes global
INSIDE BJC IN CONTEXT
From late to integrate to leader in diversity Duke University Health System is challenged – and changes.
Arnold Donald says blacks are competing with the world for executive positions
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MONSANTO
By Chris King Of The St. Louis American
carpenter working in her area, and she’s been in the construction field for more than 14 years. Prior to this, she was a licensed practical nurse. “I wish I knew about this fresh out of high school,” she said. “I’m 11 years behind. I work with a lot of nice guys. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them showing me things.” The new Mississippi River Bridge is the first bridge built connecting downtown St. Louis and southwestern Illinois in more than 40 years. Currently, the only urban interstate bridge between Illinois and Missouri is the Poplar Street Bridge, and it’s
As Arnold Donald prepares for the 25th anniversary gala of the Executive Leadership Council, he is ready to celebrate what he describes as “25 years of progress in corporate America” for African Americans. But as president and CEO of a membership-based organization for AfricanAmerican senior executives “Historically of Fortune 500 some level of companies, he also is braced to intervention look at the for African progress that Americans remains to be made, in terms was required to participate of representation of blacks at in the the highest process executive levels fully, and at the most intervention is powerful comstill required.” panies. “In reality, the gaps are – Arnold severe,” Donald Donald told The American. “And there are real challenges that make the task more difficult.” Those “real challenges” fall under the category of globalization. “A majority of firms are showing growth, not in the U.S. but in Asia or Latin America and in some cases India or Eastern Europe,” Donald said. “And with that growth, they need to represent those markets. There is pressure – naturally – for corporate
See BRIDGE, page 16
See DONALD, page 16
‘A clear business case for diversity’ Reuben A. Shelton, senior counsel for litigation at Monsanto Company, says a global company has no choice but to diversify.
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CASINOS
Missouri casinos folding on diversity Since 2008, none of the casinos have made substantial progress in making their employees, management teams or suppliers more diverse.
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HYATT REGENCY
Religious diversity is good for group sales Jacque Woods, primary market sales manager for Hyatt Regency St. Louis, is a member of the First Baptist Church of Chesterfield.
Photo by Wiley Price
Mishelle Wallace is one of a number of minority females working on the Mississippi River Bridge project. The bridge is set to open in 2014.
Bridge of inclusion MoDOT: bridge project has 22 percent minority workforce By Rebecca S. Rivas Of The St. Louis American Lynette Bryant pulled out her iPhone and searched for a video of her roller-skating. She’s one of the best rollerskaters in town, she said. In the video, she’s wearing a cute pairs of jeans and fitted red T-shirt. Skating backwards, she was prepping to do a back flip and then land in the splits, but too many people were in her way. No one would ever guess that Bryant works 10-hour days, surrounded by water, welding and build-
“Our contractors have taken that to heart, and they are working with unions to bring minority participation up.” – Gregory Horn, project director, Mississippi River Bridge Project
ing the bases for the Mississippi River Bridge. She’s the only female
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BJC in Context
INSTITUTIONALIZING DIVERSITY Though weak on minority inclusion in leadership, BJC works to change By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American BJC HealthCare is one of the largest nonprofit healthcare systems in the U.S and is the largest private employer in the St. Louis region. It serves residents primarily in the St. Louis metropolitan area, including portions of southern Illinois and midMissouri. The shining jewel in its healthcare crown is Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Barnes-Jewish is one of the top hospitals in the nation, ranking 11th
nationally and No. 1 as Best Metro Hospital by the U.S. News & World Report newsmagazine.
Michelle O’Kain, nurse manager of the cardiac department at Barnes-Jewish Hospital (right), talks with Marlo Williams, the lead charge nurse of the department.
Area demographics St. Louis is the second most populous city in Missouri, with the St. Louis metropolitan area including the city, St. Louis County and surrounding areas and counties in eastern Missouri and southern Illinois. 2010 U.S. Census data indicate an 8.3 percent See BJC, page 19 Photo by Wiley Price