CPGjobs supports diversity at all-star summit in Texas

The leadership of CPGjobs took a high-profile stand for diversity at the Texas Diversity and Leadership Conference, May 15-16 in Dallas. Penny Sallberg-Carrillo, executive vice president of CPGjobs, addressed the crowd, and Michael Carrillo, the firm's president, participated in an hour-long panel. The event attracted hundreds of executives and diversity advocates and featured speeches by former Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, United States Treasurer Anna Escobedo Cabral and many others.

The California Diversity Council, of which CPGjobs is a sponsor, is hosting its own California Diversity and Leadership Conference in San Francisco, September 20-21. Speakers at the California event will include Dennis Kennedy, CEO and founder of the National Diversity Council, actress Geena Davis and Chris Gardner, the Wall Street success story who inspired the film, "The Pursuit of Happyness." CPGjobs is a sponsor of the California event and the California Diversity Council and a supporter of the Texas Diversity Council. Both organizations are part of the National Diversity Council. For more information visit www.californiadiversitycouncil.org.

Sallberg-Carrillo spoke immediately after Gen. Powell. As president of the Southern California Chapter of the California Diversity Council, she promoted membership in the California group, urged cooperation between the two chapters and also told the crowd about making a difference. "A boy comes across a bunch of starfish stranded by the tide and starts throwing them back in the sea. A man comes across the boy and tells him he's not making a difference to the thousands of dying creatures on the beach. The boy picks up another starfish, throws it into the sea, and says, 'It makes a difference to that one.' I told that story because diversity is a huge task and sometimes it seems we're not making a difference. But we are, one person, one heart, one mind at a time," Sallberg-Carrillo said.

Michael Carrillo joined a panel called "Diversity and Anglo Males--What's In It for Them?" with Rich Burns, director of HR planning and projects for the University of Texas; Steve Dryer, senior vice president of leadership development for Alltel Corporation; and Brian Lastovia, regional operations support director for Wal-Mart. Carrillo addressed several questions--he said Anglo males should support diversity because it improves profitability and increases results for the entire organization. "Diversity is not a win-lose proposition, but a win-win," he observed. Asked how to enroll Anglo males in diversity, he said companies need to educate male managers on the importance of diversity to their organizations and reward diversity performance. "Unless there is accountability there will be little progress on diversity."

CPGjobs received a Diversity Champion Award from the Texas Diversity Council. Other companies recognized included AT&T (the conference's primary sponsor), Brinker International, the Coca-Cola Company and TGI Friday's.

Sallberg-Carrillo said "the main reason we were in Dallas was to support diversity, which is so important to our clients--we need to be at these events." Michael Carrillo said the company's participation is part "of CPGjobs' long-term investment in being a diversity champion. Not just because it is the right thing to do, but also because it is good business practice. It is important to have a diverse workforce that reflects your customer base. Diversity improves relationships both inside and outside your company."

Michael Carrillo is president of CPGjobs, the CPG industry's leading candidate recruiting service for HR professionals and employers. You may contact him at Michael@CPGjobs.com or call (626) 535-0143.

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