Diversity & Inclusion

Oak Brook, Ill. - Inland Securities Corporation, the exclusive dealer-manager and placement agent for real estate investment programs sponsored by Inland Real Estate Investment Corp. (“Inland Investments”) and Inland Private Capital Corp., announced that Michael T. Ezzell II has joined the company as CEO.

New York -- Wal-Mart Stores is the subject of a lawsuit accusing it of wrongly denying employee benefits for same-sex spouses, Reuters reported. The lawsuit seeks nationwide class-action status.

“Now Trending” is a new exclusive online series to chainstoreage.com, featuring trending topics that impact the retail real estate landscape.

As revitalized urban spaces continue to flourish in cities across the country, the concept of co-working spaces has gained considerable traction. The growing popularity of this new workspace arrangement is more than just another piece of the urban puzzle, it is one of the driving forces helping to shape a new generation of emerging urban landscapes.

Chicago -- Starbucks Corp. is ratcheting up its already significant commitment to job creation.

The coffee giant is teaming up with such other retail powerhouses as Walmart, CVS Health, Walgreens, Macy’s, Target and J.C. Penney in an ambitious jobs program to hire 100,000 16- to 24-year-olds "who face systemic barriers to jobs and education" by 2018 through apprenticeships, internships, training programs, and both part-time and full-time jobs.

Walmart is taking an innovative approach to empowering women with the unveiling of a new a new digital initiative designed to support the advancement of women leaders at Walmart and women worldwide.

New York -- Crate & Barrel has nabbed a CEO from the executive ranks of a much more upscale competitor.

The home furnishings retailer named Doug Diemoz, currently chief development officer at Restoration Hardware, as CEO, effective Aug. 1. He replaces Sascha Bopp, who was named CEO in 2012 but left in August 2014. Crate & Barrel COO and CFO Adrian Mitchell has been interim CEO during the search for a permanent replacement.

The Home Depot has come one step closer to eliminating youth homelessness in Canada after sponsoring an inventive in-store campaign.

By purchasing a paper door for $2, Home Depot customers in Canada raised $1,253,370 toward the goal of ending youth homelessness in that nation. Donations will go to support housing and life-skills development programs such as counselling, financial literacy, and employment preparation to give youth the practical tools they need to live to their full potential.

Lowe's is getting some recognition for its efforts to aid communities with money, supplies and manpower in times of disaster.