The Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA) hosted a virtual event Dec. 10 celebrating its inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Awards. The program recognizes nominees submitted by member organizations in two categories: Rising Star and Leader.
During the event, all nominees were recognized, and the six Leader Finalists were revealed. These finalists were chosen by a DCIIA member-led committee that reviewed and discussed all Leader nominations and the six were selected for their demonstrated commitment to driving change in improving diversity and inclusion within their organizations, industries, and/or communities. The Finalists are:
• Raynelle Grace, Vanguard: Grace is head of active equity product management at Vanguard. She is a member of the Vanguard Black Professionals Network senior leadership team, led the 2020 Women’s Initiative for Leadership Success Summit and is part of the Out Professional Engagement Network ally team.
• Lesley Nurse, Neuberger Berman: Nurse is head of North American consultant relations for Neuberger Berman. She is a member of the firm’s Operating Committee and its Diversity Council and has contributed to the development of the firm’s strategy and execution of equity, inclusion and diversity initiatives. Lesley is also a senior sponsor of the firm’s Black Employee Resource Group. She recently led a firm-wide discussion on the current social justice climate with Janai Nelson, Associate-Director Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
• Hanneke Smits, BNY Mellon Investment Management: Smits is CEO of BNY Mellon Investment Management and a member of BNY Mellon’s Executive Committee. Smits was previously CEO of Newton Investment Management, a BNY Mellon investment firm. In her prior role, Smits established Newton’s diversity and inclusion committee, which led to the introduction of a new recruitment policy with targets relating not only to gender, but also ethnic and socioeconomic diversity.
• Carol Waddell, Empower Retirement: Waddell is head of the retirement solutions group for Empower Retirement, where she is also a member of the Executive Committee. Waddell is also the co-chair of the Empower Diversity, Belonging & Equity Council and executive sponsor of the Women’s Empowerment Network business resource group.
• Wendy Wattenberg, Mercer: Wattenberg is a partner and global client manager at Mercer. For the last eight years, she has led the New York chapter of Women@Mercer, focusing on gender parity. In 2019, Wendy took on the role of global co-chair for Women@Mercer.
• Chris Weirath, Morningstar Investment Management LLC: Weirath is senior vice president of global account management for the workplace solutions group for Morningstar Investment Management LLC. She represents the workplace group on the Morningstar Diversity & Inclusion board and has been active on the Executive Leadership for Women program.
“We are very proud and excited to host the inaugural DCIIA Diversity & Inclusion Awards and highlight the great work within our member organizations in this very important area,” said Lew Minsky, DCIIA’s president and CEO. “Shining a spotlight on D&I has been one of our top priorities over the last two years since we formed our member-led D&I Steering Committee to explore ways DCIIA should be engaging in this area.”
DCIIA has now hosted two dedicated live events (in 2019) and three virtual events in 2020 highlighting D&I topics and speakers. In addition, Minsky said the DCIIA Retirement Research Center will have a specific focus on this area heading into 2021.
The awards program included a wide variety of topics and speakers, including a fireside chat with the Leader finalists, new relevant research and a video featuring all of the Rising Star and Leader nominees, listed below:
Maggie Akers, Emotomy (wholly owned subsidiary of Northern Trust Investments)
Chelsea Beckford, Morningstar
KC Boas, BlackRock
Sariyah Buchanan, Morgan Lewis & Bockius
Lauren Cellucci, Marquette
Carol Chen, MSCI
Ashlee Davis, AllianceBernstein
Farod Ford, Vanguard
Victoria Fung, T. Rowe Price
Sheila Gorman, Bank of America
Gabrielle Huh, Pinebridge
Allison Johnston, Capital Group
India Johnstone, Mercer
Lianne Kenealy, Edelman Financial Engines
Nima Khavari, Betterment for Business
Maureen Kuhns, BNY Mellon Investment Management
Lauren Mathias, Callan
Kayla Monroe, MassMutual
Greg Moye, Russell
Gerrick Ratliff, Aon
Kevin Reiher, Ascensus
Arley Reyes, Wellington
Sibil Sebastian, American Century
Chery Victoria, Empower Retirement
Pat Advaney, Betterment for Business
Kevin Barry, Fidelity
April Cody, MSCI
Michael Davis, T. Rowe Price
Stephanie Epstein, BlackRock
Raynelle Grace, Vanguard
Ralph Haberli, Capital Group
Beth Halberstadt, Aon
Jessica Hart, Northern Trust
Andrew Junkin, State of Rhode Island
Joe Keefe, Impax Asset Management
Lesley Nurse, Neuberger Berman
Kelly O’Donnell, Edelman Financial Engines
Pamela Popp, Lockton
Danielle Savage, Ascensus
Elizabeth Smith, AllianceBernstein
Hanneke Smits, BNY Mellon Investment Management
Debbie Vince, New York Life
Carol Waddell, Empower Retirement
Wendy Wattenberg, Mercer
Joel Weaver, Bank of America
Chris Weirath, Morningstar
• SEE ALSO: TIAA Leader Ferguson Announces 2021 Retirement
Veteran financial services industry journalist Brian Anderson joined 401(k) Specialist as Managing Editor in January 2019. He has led editorial content for a variety of well-known properties including Insurance Forums, Life Insurance Selling, National Underwriter Life & Health, and Senior Market Advisor. He has always maintained a focus on providing readers with timely, useful information intended to help them build their business.
