Department of Workforce Development

We've got NEWS

Friday, June 26, 1998 Governor Tommy G. Thompson Secretary Linda Stewart

News Media Contact Michael H. McCoy 608/267-4400 e-mail: mccoymi@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

For more information contact:
Marlene Duffield, DWD, 608/264-8786

Submission deadline is July 27
for "Glass Ceiling" awards

Madison, Wis. -- Wisconsin businesses and organizations which promote women and minorities to management and top leadership positions are being encourged to nominate themselves for special recognition by the Governor.

Those judged the best will be recognized with the Governor’s Glass Ceiling Commission’s highest honor, the Diamond Award. Seven awards have been presented since 1995, when the recognition was first given.

The deadline for nominations is July 27.

To speed the submission process, the Commission has established a World Wide Web site with the application form and other information. That may be found at http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/glassc/glassc1.htm.

The 1998 recipients will be honored at a special Glass Ceiling conference Oct. 21 in Milwaukee at the Midwest Express Center.

Companies and organizations are encouraged to nominate themselves. Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges selected by the Commission.

The award recognizes businesses, organizations, public agencies and institutions of all sizes which have made significant progress in any or all of these ways:

• creating a climate and commitment to the advancement of minorities and women to upper management and board positions.
  
• providing effective career development training, sponsorship, and mentoring programs for minorities and women.
  
• creating or developing internal support systems which eliminate artificial barriers to the advancement of minorities and women.
  
• using innovative recruitment and advancement methods for minorities and women within the company, organization, agency or institution.

"It is unlikely that any one program will satisfy every standard," said Linda Stewart, the Commission Chair and the state’s Workforce Development Department Secretary. "Yet it still can be competitive in our selection process."

Stewart said efforts that may qualify for recognition include recruitment, selection, development and retention practices which have increased participation of minorities and women in upper management.

Another is any creative initiative which has contributed to a more diverse management workforce, or which has included diversity training for the existing workforce.

For application information by other than the Web site, contact the Wisconsin Glass Ceiling Commission, P.O. Box 7946, Madison, WI 53707-7946, or call Marlene Duffield, Executive Director, at 608/264-8786.