PRESS RELEASE
Beacon Awards 2007
The Beacon Awards: Celebrating Diversity
in Greater Orlando's Workforce
For Immediate Release:
Editor's Note: Media are invited to attend this event at no charge. To attend, simply e-mail Jennifer.wakefield@orlandoedc.com.
ORLANDO, Fla. (September 6, 2007)
The Beacon Awards, an annual event that showcases and shares best practices in diversity and inclusion, will be held on Tuesday, September 18 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at Disney's Contemporary Resort.
The Beacon Awards recognize organizations and individuals for celebrating the diversity of Greater Orlando's workforce by promoting inclusion in areas of race, ethnicity, gender, age, physical and mental ability, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and family status. Companies, organizations and individuals chosen for the awards are held up in the community as beacons of light, leading the way for others.
Finalists for The Beacon Awards have been selected and winners will be announced at the event. The finalists include:
Darden Restaurants
Orlando Utilities Commission
Florida Hospital
UPS
Zero Chaos
Fifth Third Bank
JumpTV
Beacon Benefit Consulting
Tech Solutions
International Training and Development
Seminole Work Opportunity Program
Florida Minority Supplier Development Council
Orange County Library System
Betty Martinez Lowery, Walt Disney World
Ann Brown Payne, Minority/Women Business Enterprise Alliance (The Alliance)
Rich Morrison, Florida Hospital
Nominations were accepted from nine counties throughout Central Florida (Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia) and will be awarded in the following categories:
Large business: 1,000+ employees
Medium business: 51 to 999 employees
Small business: up to 50 employees
Nonprofit organization
Individual Advocate
Corporate/Organization Advocate
Corporate tables (8) for the event are now on sale for $1000 and individual tickets are $75.
For more information about The Beacon Awards, or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.thebeaconawards.org
About The Beacon Awards: Celebrating Diversity in Greater Orlando's Workforce
The Beacon Awards showcases and shares best practices in diversity and inclusion. Companies, organizations and individuals chosen for the awards are held up in the community as beacons of light, leading the way for others. The event recognizes organizations and individuals for celebrating the diversity of Greater Orlando's workforce by promoting inclusion in areas of race, ethnicity, gender, age, physical and mental ability, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and family status.
Nominations are accepted from counties throughout Central Florida, including Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia.
The Beacon Awards program was created in 2006 by the Orlando Chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners in partnership with Walt Disney World, The YaYa Network and the Orlando Business Journal's Diversity Works program. This year's new partners include WKMG-TV Local 6, Lift Disability Network and LYNX.
Previous winners (2006):
Nonprofit Organization: Orange County Regional History Center
Small Business: Bryan W. Crews and Associates, P.A.
Medium Business: WELBRO Building Corporation
Large Business: Lockheed Martin Corporation, with Rosen Hotels & Resorts receiving a Special Mention
Individual Advocate: Al Sandoval, Office Depot
Corporate Advocate: WKMG-TV Local 6