Diversity event draws some big names

Target director of owned brands Annie Zipfel is among those slated to participate in the fourth annual Network of Executive Women Multicultural Work force conference to be held March 1 to 3. With a theme of “Building Competencies, Growing Business,” the event will focus on the advantages of developing culturally competent organizations. Zipfel is listed on the event’s agenda as a participant on a panel discussing a report to be released by Deloitte on the topic of “The changing Consumer and the Work force Imperative.” Alison Kenney Paul, vice chair and leader of Deloitte’s U.S. retail practice, will present the report. Others on the panel with Zipfel include Nicola Johnson, a principal with Deloitte’s retail practice and Dian Emerson, VP diversity and inclusion at Safeway.

“This year’s conference will offer opportunities to better understand how inclusion of all perspectives in business decisions will equate to consumer and market share sustainability,” said Michael Byron, executive advisor of the conference and VP supplier diversity for Supervalu.

Keynote presentations will be delivered by Holly Moore, SVP global accounts at The Futures Company. She will make the case that “Diversity is the New Normal.” Featured speaker Dr. Sondra Thiederman, author of Making Diversity Work, will share her thoughts on “unconscious bias.”

Other big name participants include Sandy Douglas, president of Coca-Cola North America; Keith Wyche, president and CEO of Cub Foods Inc.; Walmart divisional president Rosalind Brewer; and Walmart SVP merchandise, Michelle Gloeckler, who also serves as president of the Network of Executive Women.