The Fifth Annual Diversity Leadership Awards Gala was held in Chicago at the Wyndham Hotel. Pam McElvane, publisher and CEO of Diversity MBA magazine welcomed guests, honorees and supporters, saying “We give out awards, but this is a gala also so they can celebrate themselves.”
Fifty awards were presented for the 2011 Fifty Out Front, best companies for diversity. Winners included; American Airlines, McDonalds, Walmart, Colgate and Allstate. Awards also went to the Top 100 Executive leaders which included: Maria G. Arias, JD, Comcast Corporation; Catherine Corley, MBA, of Sam’s Club/Walmart, and Mariano Legaz, MBA, Verizon Communications. Emerging leaders noted were Xavier E. Corona, MBA of Flowers Communications Group and Sandra Fernandes, MS of Wells Faro. Kaiser Permanente was the number one company for 2011 Fifty Out Front award for Best Company for Diversity.
Dr. Ronald Louis Copeland , MD, FACS was the keynote speaker. Copeland is the president and executive medical director of the Ohio Permanente Medical Group. He has the overall 
responsibility for all clinical care services provided to Kaiser Permanente of Ohio members. Copeland is also a board certified general surgeon and serves on the Kaiser Permanente National Diversity Council among others. “Kaiser’s mission is not [just] to serve their members, but to help the communities in which we exist, to thrive as well,” explained Copeland.
