By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA – April 30, 2024  

On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the Great Women’s Business Council (GWBC) hosted its prestigious Top Corporations Awards Luncheon at the Emory Conference Center Hotel in Atlanta. The event, organized by the Greater Women’s Business Council® (GWBC®), celebrated the outstanding achievements of corporations dedicated to empowering women-owned business Enterprises (WBEs).

GWBC is known for its commitment to fostering the growth and success of women entrepreneurs. GWBC is one of fourteen regional partners of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), GWBC provides essential resources, education, funding, and networking opportunities to accelerate the advancement of women-owned businesses.

According to the GWBC website, the council’s constituency is comprised of 1300 WBENC certified women-owned businesses, including 831 in Georgia, 370 in North Carolina, and 133 in South Carolina. Certified WBEs generate more than $11 billion in revenue and Certified WBEs employ more than 69.7K employees.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of GWBC’s TOP Corporations Awards, which serve as a testament to the unwavering dedication of corporations in supporting and engaging WBEs. Recognized as “best-in-class innovators” in supplier diversity and procurement, the corporate honorees exemplify a solid commitment to driving inclusivity and empowerment within their organizations.

Adding to the prestige of the occasion, Karyn Greer, a seasoned veteran of the Atlanta market and the 5:00 pm anchor for WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News, served as the emcee for the luncheon. With over 30 years of experience as an anchor and investigative reporter, Greer brought her expertise and passion for storytelling to the event, guiding attendees through an inspiring and impactful program.

The keynote address was delivered by Jacqueline M. Welch, Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer at The New York Times (The Times). In her role, Welch leads The Times’ human resources team, overseeing talent acquisition, career development, organizational development, equitable compensation practices, performance enablement, and diversity equity and inclusion initiatives. With an extensive background in human resources, Welch’s career spans several renowned organizations, including Freddie Mac, Turner Broadcasting System, Westrock, Accenture, Willis Towers Watson, and Lord and Taylor.

Welch’s keynote speech provided valuable insights into the importance of fostering diversity and inclusion within corporate environments, highlighting the crucial role that organizations play in driving positive change and creating opportunities for women-owned businesses to thrive.

In addition to the keynote address, Ted Terry, DeKalb County, Georgia District 6 Commissioner, made a special presentation to the GWBC. Mr. Terry issued a proclamation naming April 30th GWBC Top Corporations Day in DeKalb County.

As the luncheon concluded, attendees left inspired and motivated by the impactful presentations and discussions, reaffirming GWBC’s commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs and fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion within the business community.

GWBC is committed to the principals of diversity, equity and inclusion through their recruitment, training, programs and resources for both certified women-owned businesses and corporate-partners.

For information on the Greater Women’s Business Council please visit their website. 

The 2024 Honorees:

Accenture – Nedra L. Dickson – Global Supplier Diversity and Sustainabiltiy Managing Director

Ally Financial – Di Morais – President

AT&T – Alexis Dennard – Assistant Vice President, Mass Markets Supply Chain, Supplier Diversity & Sustainability

Delta Air Lines – Charisse Evans – VP of Airport Operations Field Support

Emory University – Debby Morey – Vice President, Business Operations, Emory University, Vice President, Supply Chain, Emory Healthcare

Georgia Power Company – Nikita Trivedi – Director, Supplier Management & Strategic Shared Services

Grady Health System – Kevin D. Gordon – VP Supply Chain

Randstad – Floss Aggrey – Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer

Sonoco – Greg Munoz – VP, Global Supply Management

Toyota Motor North America – Matt Greene – Sr. Manager, Supplier Diversity

Truist Financial Corporation – Lissa J. Miller – SVP, Chief Supplier Diversity Officer