Champions of Diversity Award FY'10 - 3rd Quarter Award Recipients

Corporate Offices
Sandi Clark-Martin, Sr. Manager, Employee and Corporate Relations, Clermont, FL
From developing others and celebrating their achievements to championing various diversity and inclusion initiatives, Sandi is a proven role model for her clients, customers and community. Starting out her career with Sodexo as an hourly employee, Sandi learned how important relationships are to the success of individuals and the organization and she still focuses on this today. In her current role, she is leading Teaming for Frontline Engagement, an initiative focused on continuing to drive the engagement of our frontline employees. Sandi is a member of all eight Employee Network Groups at Sodexo and leverages her membership to remain active in the community. She has been involved in the Womens Network Group - “WiNG” since its inception, serving as Regional Coordinator and then Chair from 2006 to 2008. In support of WiNG's philanthropic cause, Sandi has walked hundreds of miles across America rallying others to join her. Over the past four years, WiNG has raised over $250,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation (“race for the cure”) and the Avon Foundation, organizations that raise breast cancer awareness, promote education and conduct research. Through Sodexo Organization for disAbilities Resources - SOAR's New England chapter, Sandi joined Best Buddies, an organization that creates 1:1 friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with disabilities. In addition, Sandi marched in the PRIDE parade last year in Washington, DC. She has also been a member of the Women's Foodservice Forum (WFF) for the past 5 years, serving on several committees, including the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee. Sandi remains committed to the value and importance of developing herself and others. Not only did she pilot one of WiNG's first Mentoring Circles, she has participated in Spirit of Mentoring - IMPACT as a Mentee and several times as a Mentor. She currently serves on Sodexo's Flexibility Implementation Team.

Corporate Services
Ron Loving, General Manager, Food I, Sharp Microelectronics, Café, Camas, WA
Ron's 'people first' passion is integral to all of his diversity and inclusion efforts and propels Ron to provide customer service that is “second to none”. He makes it a point to keep the pulse on the lives of clients and customers. An Executive Chef at heart, Ron seeks to understand his customers' cultures and dietary needs. For example, he has the skills and knowledge to prepare authentic ethnic foods for the Japanese and Muslim communities at Sharp. Not only are those with special dietary needs important to Ron, but so are customers who have disabilities. When they come to the café, Ron and his team members make it a priority to assist them with their food trays. Ron takes advantage of Sodexo's promotional materials, for example, he created a Women's History Month Wall with a section to display posters of great women in history as well as those that “make up the great fabric of Sharp that are otherwise unrecognized.” As he solicited responses, women and men alike would supply remarkable facts about their coworkers' accomplishments. This program was so successful that Sharp included an article in their internal newsletter and shared the information with their international headquarters in Japan. This attention to detail is one of the reasons why Sodexo in Camas, Washington was the client's choice when the Sharp contracts went out to bid.

Cross Market - District Managers of Iowa - Team Award
Jerry Bildstein, Carla Carlson, Paul Delcorso, Dick Hesby, Barbara Madden, Randall McKinnis, Lydia Moriarity-Flynn, Marty Prettyman, Andrew Stonestreet, Paul Tebo
The outstanding collaboration across markets by the cross market District Managers of Iowa to plan, coordinate, and execute the Midwest Diversity Summit, is a clear example of how working together we can all contribute to embedding Diversity & Inclusion deeper into our organization. This exceptional event was held on March 24th at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Their consistent messaging produced an excellent response to the well-attended summit that drew 150 participants, including Sodexo employees as well as clients. The agenda provided tremendous opportunities to network, listen to varied perspectives from senior leaders and clients, and gain knowledge and skills around Diversity & Inclusion through the offering of three Learning Labs. The diversity luncheon offered international cuisine for all to enjoy. From planning to execution, this team of District Managers demonstrates how full engagement produces outstanding results that drive the organization's mission, core values, and diversity strategy.

Education Services
Willie Millender, Manager, Facilities, Bennett College for Women, Greensboro, NC
“Treat everyone with respect and build relationships” is the philosophy Willie Millender has followed during his 40 years tenure with Sodexo. By understanding his customers' diverse needs and being proactive, he always excels at exceeding their expectations. He has built an excellent relationship with customers, employees and most importantly with the client, the President and Board of Trustees of Bennett College. Those who know him around Campus affectionately call him “Mr. Willie”. He goes “above and beyond” to assist the Bennett College population and the various Campus visitors who have needs. Mr. Willie has a proven track record and is entrusted to get the job done.

Government Services
Keivin Kilgore, Senior Human Resources Generalist, USMC EC HR Generalist, Camp Lejeune, NC
Keivin has been a true ambassador who has raised the standard of communication and training throughout the Government Services Division. After being certified in August 2009 as an Internal Trainer for the Office of Diversity, he has facilitated numerous learning labs to include “Ouch that Stereotype Hurts”, “Selecting the Best Talent” and the Diversity Awareness for Frontline Employees “gender” module. Keivin's personal quest for cultural competence led him to pursue an associate's degree in Multicultural Studies that has proved a sense of self worth for him that he has been able to instill in others. He helps employees to recognize their value as well as the competitive advantage that diversity brings to Sodexo. In turn, employees feel free to bring their “whole selves” to the workplace. Keivin's desire for improved communications has helped him in facilitating town hall meetings via the Listening Campaign in the units. These employee meetings have surfaced opportunities and have resulted in improved communication and an increasingly respectful and productive work environment. It is through Keivin's efforts that employee retention has increased. As an active member of the African American Leadership Forum, Keivin encourages others to participate in the Employee Network Groups. He serves as a Mentor with the National Urban League and in local high schools.

School Services
Jane Buttermore, VP, Operations, Allentown, PA
Jane has made a strong impact as founding Chair of the Intergenerational (i-Gen) Employee Network Group whose mission is to leverage multi-generational differences and commonalities for personal and professional growth in order to attract and retain talent. This mission enhances Sodexo's strength of Diversity & Inclusion in the marketplace. At i-Gen's one-year anniversary, the group has acquired over 700 members and has launched 8 regional chapters! As Jane expresses during numerous speaking engagements, “Each generation brings diversity of backgrounds. By understanding and overcoming the associated challenges and creating synergies, we learn how to create a more productive and happier workforce.” Jane is an active supporter of Spirit of Mentoring and is an advocate in promoting diversity within her Division. For Jane, family is first, and she is so grateful for her experiences with i-Gen. They have helped her to understand her sons' decision-making and thought processes. Her firm commitment and drive are true examples of how each of us can contribute to Sodexo's Diversity & Inclusion journey and continue to embed diversity deeper into our organization.

Senior Living
Mark Whalen, General Manager, Asbury Methodist Village, Gaithersburg, MD
Mark manages a diverse work group in a community that represents over 50 diverse countries. As a result of this varied demographic, he has instituted cross-cultural education during weekly team huddles. In his unit, you will find a map representing over 32 countries that point out the employees' names, birthdays, and hometowns. Each week, one staff/associate member is invited to share his or her native culture, food, and ethnic background. Mark has also hosted several other Diversity events in his community including the national Pan Asian Network Group “PANG” meeting, “Ouch That Stereo Type Hurts” learning lab and just recently, Mark's team held a Fashion Show of Nations. During this event, employees dressed in their native garments and walked the runway holding their native flags. In addition, a variety of foods were showcased from all over the world. Mark engages his team of managers, front-line cooks, and servers in the planning process and together they insure the success of each event. Mark remains watchful of opportunities to bring the team closer and recently had a dialogue session where he educated them that to bring their “whole selves” to work, employees should feel free to speak their native languages. Mark's commitment to diversity and inclusion has resulted in very happy residents, clients, and associates, low turnover rates and increased customer satisfaction. 

View our previous Champions of Diversity award recipients: 
1st Quarter 2010 | 2nd Quarter 2010 | 3rd Quarter 2010
1st Quarter 2009 | 2nd Quarter 2009 | 3rd Quarter 2009 | 4th Quarter 2009
1st Quarter 2008 | 2nd Quarter 2008 | 3rd Quarter 2008 | 4th Quarter 2008