The Greater Milwaukee Committee, in conjunction with Milwaukee Women inc., will bestow the second annual Mary Ellen Stanek Award for Diversity in Corporate Governance to ManpowerGroup chairman and chief executive officer Jeffrey Joerres at the GMC’s annual meeting at the University Club today.
The Mary Ellen Stanek Award, established in 2013, is given to an individual or entity exhibiting leadership, influence and impact resulting in increased diversity on corporate boards in our region. The inaugural award was given to its namesake, Mary Ellen Stanek, an executive at Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc.
Joerres chairs the GMC’s Future Workforce Committee, which focuses on strengthening the diversity of the region’s workforce. Through a combination of research, recognition and initiatives, the Future Workforce Committee seeks both a short- and long-term impact on a diverse workforce across all levels of professional development, from entry-level worker to CEO to the corporate boardroom.
“Jeff has worked tirelessly to promote diversity in the workplace in our region and beyond,” said Julia Taylor, Greater Milwaukee Committee president. “He has truly been a spokesperson for promoting women to executive positions and corporate boards, and understands that it is essential to a successful business climate.”
Joerres co-chaired the 2012 B20 Task Force on Employment, which delivered recommendations to inspire sustainable employment creation at the G20 summit in Mexico. Joerres also led discussions on the world of work at the 2014 World Economic Forum annual meeting last month. He is chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago board of directors.
“Jeff understands that having women represented on boards is about the importance of women as consumers, shareholders, and a source of executive talent that drives bottom line results,” said Phyllis King, Milwaukee Women inc. chair and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee associate vice chancellor. “His passion extends to his own company, where more than 30 percent of the board of directors is comprised of women and 55 percent of managers are women. Jeff’s leadership and emphasis on gender diversity sets an example for companies worldwide.”
Nominees for the Mary Ellen Stanek Award are reviewed on an annual basis by MWi and the GMC Future Workforce Committee, and the award is announced and granted to the recipient at a GMC membership meeting.
