Comcast and Turner Broadcasting are to be hailed as Diversity Champions at the Walter Kaitz Foundation Fundraising Dinner on Oct. 28 at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center in Denver.
A&E Television Networks CEO Abbe Raven and Cablevision Systems COO Tom Rutledge will co-chair the dinner, which moves from New York City for the first time to be part of "Cable Convention Fall." Several cable industry gatherings will be hosted in Denver Oct. 25-Oct. 28, including the CTAM Summit, the ACC Forum and the Cable Hall of Fame induction.
"Both Comcast and Turner are excellent examples of how companies in our industry are creating better places to work for women and minorities," David Porter, the Walter Kaitz Foundation's executive director, said in a release. "Our industry looks forward to saluting both companies in Denver as part of Cable Connection Fall."
Comcast was cited for its commitment to diversity from senior leadership, implementation of a significant supplier diversity program, execution of community investment endeavors, diversity in programming content and a commitment to a diverse workforce.
Comcast has a Diversity Steering Committee meets on a monthly basis to discuss upcoming initiatives, review successes to date, share best practices and drive internal awareness. It has had a supplier diversity program in place since 2003: in 2008, Comcast spent nearly $550 million with women and minority business enterprises (WMBE).
Comcast also has implemented a company-wide diversity scorecard and leveraged integration of talent management and diversity and inclusion to increase development opportunities for women and people of color.
Time Warner Inc.'s Turner Broadcasting displays a commitment to diversity in the company's people, programming and perspective, the foundation said.
Turner incorporates diversity into all of its business practices, including hiring, employee development, content creation and acquisition, marketing and promotion, and vendor sourcing. Its career management strategy informs talent programs across all business groups and is spearheaded by the executive team and respective diversity councils. Corporate human resource executives partner with human resource generalists to advance Turner's "Diversity Drives Innovation" initiative, focused on the business case for diversity. Turner also is closely affiliated with the National Minority Supplier Diversity Council (NMSDC), the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and other influential groups furthering supplier diversity as a business advantage and imperative.
Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Turner and Scripps Networks have committed to sponsorships for this year's dinner.
The dinner in the past has raised more than $1 million to fund diversity-oriented programs and initiatives for three industry-based diversity organizations: the Emma L. Bowen Foundation; the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC); and Women in Cable Telecommunications.
For more information, the foundation can be reached at 202 222-2490 and on the Web at walterkaitz.org.
