Three business professionals – two diversity champions and one community outreach specialist – will be honored with Business Performance Awards on Friday, November 20 at the St. Louis American Foundation’s 16th annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking luncheon.
The event will be held at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. The networking reception begins at 11 a.m., and the luncheon program at noon.
Danielle Carr: cultivating diversity
At Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale law firm, Danielle Carr is responsible for cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce. As the director of professional development and inclusion, she also heads up attorney development and training. She is a member of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Recruiting Committee and multiple firm professional development committees.
Before joining Greensfelder, Carr was a managing director for Major, Lindsey & Africa, the nation’s largest legal recruiting firm. She also spent six years as executive director for the Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms, where she was responsible for planning and implementing diversity programming for approximately 50 of the city’s largest law firms.
Carr’s professional history also includes seven years of corporate litigation practice, first with a large Chicago law firm and then with Chicago’s largest minority-owned law firm.
Adella D. Jones: in the community
Just hours after Home State Health opened for business in 2012, Adella D. Jones led the Summer Heat Safety initiative. She teamed up with regional agencies to provide air conditioners and fans for needy seniors and vulnerable families.
It was just the start of her journey with organization to help develop successful community partnerships and on-going initiatives.
Jones is the director of marketing and community outreach for Home State Health, the Missouri subsidiary of Centene Corporation based in Clayton. Home State is a managed care organization serving Missouri families in the Central, Eastern and Western Managed Care Regions of the state.
Since Home State began operations on July 1, 2012, Jones has established ongoing initiatives with grassroots organizations such as the St. Louis Clergy Coalition, the Black Health Care Coalition of Kansas City and the Voluntary Action Center of Columbia. Jones directed a statewide investment of over $700,000 in sponsorships that have paved the way for Home State to support a number of community initiatives.
Prior to joining Home State, Jones served as the vice president of Government & Community Affairs for Metro.
Arvetta Powell: DiBearsity leader
Arvetta Powell holds the colorful title of director of DiBearsity and associate Exbearience at Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. She leads the company’s diversity initiative, along with diversity training, the company’s Diversity Council and advises on diversity recruiting.
Prior to Build-A-Bear Workshop, Powell was the senior human resources director for Walmart Stores’ Real Estate division. Powell joined Walmart after working for Venture Stores as the Corporate Human Resources Manager.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Webster University. She is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management and the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, St. Louis Chapter. She is a member of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Board of Directors.
The 16th Annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon will be held Friday, November 20 at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, with a networking reception at 11 a.m. and luncheon program at noon. Tickets are $100 for VIP/Preferred seating, $75 for general admission. Call 314-533-8000 or visitwww.stlamerican.com for more information or to purchase tickets.
