Each year the Minority Corporate Counsel Association recognizes in-house innovation with its George B. Vashon Innovator Awards, and the group has announced this year’s winners. The award, named after the first licensed African-American attorney in New York state, will go to Exelon Corp., Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. and Kozyak Minority Mentoring Foundation at a ceremony next month in Washington, D.C.
“This year’s recipients all share one common characteristic: a determined and tenacious commitment to increasing diversity and inclusion in the areas they work,” said Joseph West, MCCA president and chief executive officer, in a statement. The Innovator Awards are presented in three categories:
- Pipeline Initiatives: Exelon partners with law firms to educate law students on a variety of matters, including the importance of diversity and inclusion in business. It encourages female and diverse students to take up careers as in-house lawyers in the energy sector.
- Recruitment and Retention: Huntington Ingalls was singled out for its approach to recruitment and retention, especially its concerted efforts to limit the effects of unconscious bias in legal industry hiring.
- Mentoring: Kozyak Minority Mentoring is being recognized for connecting minority law students interested in pursuing legal careers with established lawyers and judges.
