SACRAMENTO, Calif. (PRWEB)
November 20, 2019

2020 Women on Boards (2020WOB) Sacramento will host the National Conversation on Board Diversity on Nov. 21, 2019, with a morning session at the Sutter Club.

2020WOB is a global education and advocacy campaign that has worked since 2011 to build public awareness and momentum toward the goal of achieving at least 20 percent of board of director seats at publicly held companies are held by women by year-end 2020, the centennial milestone of women’s right to vote.

The National Conversation on Board Diversity is a day during which 2020WOB campaigns across the nation gather to share ideas with business and civic leaders about the importance of increasing board diversity among directors. This year’s topic centers on how men play an essential role in ensuring more women are on boards.

Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire, CEO of 2020WOB, says research shows that companies are more profitable and productive when they include women on their boards. “Enlightened companies now recognize that it is a competitive advantage to have business-savvy women on their boards,” she says.

“Women bring diversity of thought, stakeholder representation, competitive advantage, and provide essential skills,” says Kim Box, a director on the board of American River Bank and McGrath RentCorp, and one of the speakers at the Nov. 21 event. “And consider this: women control some $21 trillion in purchasing power, and make 85 percent of the buying decisions. Getting first-hand insight into what drives women to open their pocketbook is good for any business’ bottom line.”

Erica Dias, MBA, Campaign Chair for 2020WOB Sacramento and Vice President of Marketing, Communications & Community Banking for SAFE Credit Union, said she is hopeful that the event will launch a community conversation on the value of diversity at the highest level of businesses in the region.

“Sacramento is one of the most diverse cities in the nation, and we are witnessing in real-time how that amazing blend of talent, skills, and backgrounds is transforming our region into a world-class business and cultural center,” Dias said. “Coming together to hear insights from those working daily on this effort will benefit our business community.”

The Sacramento event will feature a panel of exemplary speakers who have diligently worked on increasing overall diversity in boards of directors and in C-suites.

Speakers:

Kim Box: Kim Box is an Independent Director on the Board of American River Bank and is Chair of the Directors Loan Committee. Kim is also an Independent Director on the McGrath RentCorp Board of Directors and a member of the Compensation Committee and Governance Committee.

Virginia Walker: Virginia Walker is Managing Partner at the Jamison Group, a network of seasoned high-tech professionals providing solutions that help businesses transform to create increased value in today’s highly disruptive business environment. She is an Independent Director on the board of directors of Tri Counties Bank, a $6.5 billion California community bank, publicly traded, where she chairs the ALCO and CRM committee and is a member of the Audit, Nom/Gov, and Risk committees.

David Smith, PhD, and W. Brad Johnson, PhD: David Smith, PhD, and W. Brad Johnson, PhD, are the authors of “Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women.” Smith is an associate professor of sociology in the National Security Affairs Department at the U.S. Naval War College. He focuses on gender, work, and family issues. Johnson is a professor of psychology in the Department of Leadership, Ethics, and Law at the U.S. Naval Academy and a faculty associate in the Graduate School of Education at Johns Hopkins University.

Amii Barnard-Bahn, JD, PCC: Amii Barnard-Bahn is an Executive Coach, Attorney, C-Suite Executive and lifelong diversity advocate

Ed Gurowitz, PhD: Ed Gurowitz has spent over 30 years on the front lines of organizational transformation, partnering with executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations to provide training and consulting in leadership, communication, collaboration, and organizational effectiveness through executive coaching, consulting, and designing and delivering programs.

Lisa Thee: Sacramento resident Lisa Thee is an artificial intelligence startup founder who works to empower parents and protect children as VP of Strategic Partnerships at Bark.

Dave Tamayo: Dave Tamayo was elected to the SMUD Board in 2014. Tamayo has served on a number of public boards and commissions and is an environmental scientist for Sacramento County.

Both men and women interested in increasing diversity in business leadership are invited to attend the event. This event is made possible by generous sponsorship from SAFE Credit Union, SMUD, Comstock’s Magazine, Small Media Solutions, Jennifer Stevens Virtual Assistant, and Fruitridge Printing.

Event details

When: 8:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21

Where: Sutter Club, 1220 9th Ave., Sacramento

An optional Directors Lunch will follow from noon-1 p.m.

To register: https://2020womenonboards.regfox.com/ncbd-sacramento.

ABOUT 2020 WOMEN ON BOARDS

2020 Women on Boards (2020WOB) is a global education and advocacy campaign committed to building public awareness and momentum toward increasing the numbers of women directors on corporate boards. Its namesake goal of 20% women on boards has been achieved in 2019, a year earlier than expected in 2020—the year chosen to honor the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote in the U.S., the 19th Amendment.

2020WOB educates stakeholders, men and women, about the business advantages of gender diversity on boards. To provide the public easy access to online information, 2020WOB created its “Gender Diversity Directory” to inform business leaders, shareholders, consumers, and news media about the numbers of women directors on Russell 3000 boards, sortable by state, industry, company name, size, and ranking.

Through its annual National Conversation on Board Diversity, and “Get on Board” workshops, 2020WOB educates women about how to navigate their own careers toward corporate boards. The 2019 National Conversation on Board Diversity will be held on November 21st in more than 30 U.S. and international cities.

Established in Boston, 2020WOB is a 501c3, educational nonprofit. Headquarters and staff are now located in Los Angeles, CA. http://www.2020WOB.com.

About SAFE

SAFE Credit Union has made members an integral part of its vision since 1940. Over the years the credit union has kept the focus on what really matters, putting members first, a formula that has seen SAFE grow into a leading financial institution in Northern California with nearly $3 billion in assets and about 235,000 members. SAFE crafts every cutting-edge product and sterling service with members’ needs foremost in mind. In addition to banking services conveniently available through online, chat, mobile, or phone options, SAFE offers in-person care for members and small businesses at service centers across the Greater Sacramento region and a mortgage lending office serving Contra Costa and Alameda counties. SAFE is a not-for-profit, state-chartered credit union with membership open to businesses and individuals living or working in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Sutter, Butte, Nevada, Solano, San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Yuba, Amador, and Alameda counties. Insured by NCUA. http://www.safecu.org

Contact: Erica Dias, MBA

Sacramento Campaign Chair

2020 Women on Boards

(916) 271-0763