The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga presents its 36th Annual Equal Opportunity Day Breakfast on Tuesday, Oct. 30 from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Janet Marie Stovall, UPS’s executive communications manager and speechwriter, will be this year’s keynote speaker.
"For 36 years, Equal Opportunity Day has recognized local, corporate and individual leaders who have championed the principles of equal opportunity and social justice. This event seeks to showcase a sampling of the Urban League’s daily work of fostering economic empowerment through education, workforce development, entrepreneurship and business programs. The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga serves more than 14,000 disadvantage men, women and children of color annually," officials said.
“Janet Marie Stovall makes the business case for why diversity and inclusion are economic imperatives in today's marketplace,” said Warren E. Logan, Jr., president & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga. “Her data-driven methods help businesses of all sizes dismantle racial barriers and recognize the enormous value and impact in which authentic integration of diversity and inclusion has on the economy, locally and worldwide”.
Ms. Stovall is an executive speechwriter and communications expert and advisor, and presently serves as manager of executive communications at UPS. She is the primary speechwriter for UPS’s CEO David Abney, and members of the company’s executive team. Prior to joining UPS, Ms. Stovall founded The Point Communications, a marketing communications and public relations consultancy. For more than 20 years, she developed, implemented and managed marketing strategies and executive positioning projects for leading U.S. companies.
“I’m extremely honored to keynote the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga’s 36th Annual Equal Opportunity Day Breakfast,” said Ms. Stovall. “In an increasingly diverse society, the businesses that survive are the ones serious about creating diverse and inclusive workplaces. As a springboard to the C-Suite for women and people of color, the Urban League is furthering the inclusion that unlocks the power of diversity, and helping to ensure the future of businesses throughout Chattanooga.”
"An award winning writer and graduate of Davidson College, Ms. Stovall helps corporate, nonprofit, political and entertainment leaders communicate the messages they want in the voices they need to the people they choose. As one of the few FORTUNE 500-level executive speechwriters of color, Janet is uniquely adept at developing diversity and inclusion messages and recently took the stage as a TED speaker," officials said.
The honorary event chair of the 36th Annual Equal Opportunity Day is Wade Hinton. Mr. Hinton, former City attorney of Chattanooga, was recently appointed the vice president of Diversity and Inclusion at UNUM. He is also the founder of Board Connector, a networking web platform designed to link women and ethnic minorities to local nonprofits seeking to tap the expertise of diverse professionals to their boards.
“It is a privilege and an honor to serve as the Honorary Chair of 36th Annual Equal Opportunity Day as the Urban League is near and dear to my heart and plays such a vital role in our community and so many others,” said Mr. Hinton. “This year’s theme is Diversity & Inclusion – An Economic Impertative. Diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do – it’s smart for business and that’s why I would highly encourage executives from business, government and nonprofit sectors to attend this event. You definitely don’t want to miss it.”
To purchase a table or to be sponsor of the 36th Annual Equal Opportunity Day Breakfast, call 423-756-1762, send an email to sales@ulchatt.org or visit ulchatt.net. Tables start at $800. All proceeds from the event will support the Urban League’s empowerment programs.