Nationwide executive among nation's top 100 leaders in workplace diversity and inclusion
Candice Barnhardt honored in June Issue of Black Enterprise
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2011
Contact:
Gayle Saunders (614) 249-3687
saundee4@nationwide.com
Columbus, OH — Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company announced today that Candice Barnhardt, chief diversity officer for Nationwide is one of the nation’s top executives in workplace diversity, according to the June listing in Black Enterprise. Barnhardt leads Nationwide’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and is instrumental in helping the company develop an inclusive culture.
“Candice is diligent in developing and advancing policies and practices
that help all of our associates feel valued and appreciated,” said Gale
V. King, chief administrative officer for Nationwide. “Her leadership is
enabling Nationwide to continue to foster an inclusive culture. She is a
champion for all associates and we are proud to celebrate this honor and
recognition of her hard work and dedication.”
Under Barnhardt’s leadership, Nationwide has earned a number of diversity awards and
honors including: Best Places to Work for Gay, Lesbian. Bi-Sexual,
Transgender Equality from The Human Rights Campaign; one of the Top
Companies and Organizations for Diversity & Inclusion for 2011 by
Uptown Professional magazine; recognition from The National Committee for
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, the Iowa State Chairman Award
and one of the Top 100 Companies to Work for in 2011 by Savoy
magazine.
“I am honored to be recognized among the nation’s top executives in
Diversity and Inclusion,” said Barnhardt. “At Nationwide, we believe in
the power of leveraging all of the unique and diverse attributes that
associates, customers and suppliers bring to the table,” she continued.
“We understand that the diversity of our workforce helps us build trust
with our customers and for us, meeting the needs of our customers through
a diverse workforce helps us deliver our On Your Side® promise.”
According to Black Enterprise, members of the Top 100 represent C-suiters and other senior managers at the nation’s 1,000 largest publicly traded corporations and 100 leading global corporations with strong U.S. operations. These leaders oversee and develop workplace diversity programs to include and advance African Americans and other ethnic minorities, women, the disabled, and the LGBT (lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender) community among the employee, senior management, corporate board, and supplier ranks. Most important, these professionals view such efforts not as initiatives to communicate good corporate citizenship but as vital to expanding market share, building revenues, and increasing the bottom line.
About Candice Barnhardt
Barnhardt leads the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for Nationwide.
This marks her fifth year in her current role as Chief Diversity Officer.
Prior to leading the D&I strategy for the company, she served as vice
president of Nationwide’s organizational effectiveness practice. She was
responsible for leading strategies that support a healthy,
high-performing culture including change leadership, cultural
transformation, diversity and inclusion, and associate engagement. Among
her accomplishments is the development of culture change workshops that
have touched more than 20,000 Nationwide associates since 2001. Barnhardt
joined Nationwide in 1999 after spending 18 years at JP Morgan Chase
(formerly Bank One), a leading financial services company.
About Nationwide
Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest
diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S.
and is rated A+ by A.M. Best. The company provides a full range of
personalized insurance and financial services, including auto insurance,
motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life insurance, farm, commercial insurance,
administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions and
long-term savings plans. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.
Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark and On Your Side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
