4th Annual NJ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Awards

The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) and New Jersey Business Magazine are proud to honor six companies with our fourth annual NJ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Awards. BND Consulting Group, CSG Law, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP), Einstein’s Alley, Hackensack Meridian Health, and New Jersey Resources are all being recognized for their commitment to DEI initiatives throughout their respective organizations.

These selected entities realize that the workforce has changed; that DEI initiatives today are moving families, society, culture and businesses forward. On the following pages, we salute those businesses and organizations that have made strides in giving opportunity to all. Please enjoy the respective company profiles below.

BND Consulting Group

www.bndconsultinggroup.com

Brittany S. Hale, J.D., Founder & CEO

Since 2017, BND Consulting Group has worked to foster better decision-making for better business outcomes. The firm aligns business initiatives with human outcomes using a proprietary methodology focused on values. Since no one gender, race or socioeconomic background has a monopoly on values like integrity, honesty and ambition, BND works to operationalize values in the workplace and foster deeper trust within internal audiences to facilitate organizational success. The firm provides audits and strategies to help leaders save money, develop an equitable environment to keep their best talent, and build pathways for future leaders.

Founder Brittany S. Hale has been committed to DEIB (belonging) on a personal and professional level. She developed the blueprint for the first municipal social justice commission in New Jersey and was the first Black woman to serve as president of the Rahway Board of Education. She is a Rutgers alumna and serves on the Rutgers University Alumni Association Board of Directors Diversity Committee.

CSG Law – Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC

www.csglaw.com

Patricia K. Costello, Managing Member

CSG Law acknowledges that a diversity of ideas, backgrounds and experience are essential to meeting the firm’s pursuit of providing world-class legal services. CSG Law’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and Women’s Initiative, both focus on helping to shape the future of the firm through providing professional development, training and mentorship, connecting with external organizations to support valuable DEI initiatives, and supporting pipeline programs to increase opportunities and access for others.

One highlight was the creation of two $50,000 endowments to Rutgers Law School and Seton Hall University School of Law in honor of the firm’s 50th anniversary in 2022. The endowments will be used to provide scholarships for students with outstanding academic records, with preference given to first generation law students, those who have overcome socio-economic or educational hardship, and/or have demonstrated experience in or commitment to working with historically underserved communities.

CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP)

(SobelCo team members joined CLA)

www.claconnect.com

Alan D. Sobel, Managing Principal New Jersey Office

SobelCo embraces and fosters a diverse and inclusive culture to create an accepting and open community. The firm has celebrated its differences and staff members have learned from one another after launching DEI initiatives internally and externally.

From employee resource groups and monthly holiday observations to book club meetings on DEI topics and internal focus groups, SobelCo has empowered its people to uncover issues that make one different, vulnerable and celebrated.

In February, SobelCo team members joined CLA. CLA’s full-time DEI team guides SobelCo’s efforts and draws on more than 300 local DEI ambassador voices. Nine virtual belonging communities provide ways for people to connect and engage. In 2022, the CLA Foundation granted $1.9 million to connect diverse networks across the country. The firm seeks to weave its DEI initiatives seamlessly into everything it does.

Einstein’s Alley

www.einsteinsalley.org

Katherine Kish, Executive Director

In 2012, Einstein’s Alley, which promotes innovation and entrepreneurship in New Jersey, teamed up with a national bipartisan coalition of more than 400 mayors and business leaders to hold its first conference addressing how smarter immigration policies could spur job growth and strengthen American competitiveness and diversity.

Then two key Einstein’s Alley Board members, Dr. Nicholas Montalto and Ryan Stark Lilienthal, along with Executive Director Katherine Kish, started a growing effort that included running the Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards for the last decade.

In 2019, the NJ Business Immigration Coalition was launched with 40 members including the New Jersey State Chamber and NJBIA, as well as regional and ethnic chambers.

The coalition works in four aspects of immigration policy: overall numbers, admission categories, legalization, and the educational pipeline. It shares the best research and thinking on immigration policy with policymakers, business leaders, and the public to achieve sensible immigration reform and sustain our competitive advantage as a “nation of immigrants.”

Hackensack Meridian Health

www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org

Robert C. Garrett, FACHE , CEO

Hackensack Meridian Health champions diversity, equity and inclusion as pillars holding up the healthcare system’s mission to deliver culturally-competent patient care. Each of its 34,000+ team members contribute to patient outcomes and a high-quality, compassionate patient experience by showing up to work wholly themselves. The Diversity and Inclusion program fosters an inclusive environment that embraces different perspectives and that values the contributions of each individual; promotes diversity at every level throughout its network; and employs and develops the finest talent from all groups within its vibrant communities. These goals are in-part facilitated through the Team Member Resource Group (TMRG) initiative, which provides team members the space and support to connect with others who share similar backgrounds, interests and goals.

New Jersey Resources

www.NJResources.com

Steven Westhoven, President and CEO

New Jersey Resources (NJR) is a leading energy infrastructure and energy services company dedicated to keeping its customers’ homes warm and businesses running in a safe, reliable and environmentally responsible way. Its more than 1,300 employees are the foundation for all it does and all it achieves.

NJR believes diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are not only core values, but key business strengths. Through the work of its Diversity Council, Business Resource Groups and entire team, NJR is committed to creating a culture where all people are treated with dignity and respected for their differences. By embracing DEI within the organization and among supplier partners, NJR is helping to build a workplace and a community where different voices can be heard, ideas can be shared, and people can perform their best. For NJR, this is the power of DEI and the positive impact it has on everyone.

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