Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards Dinner

The second annual Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards Dinner will be held May 9, 2006 at the Civic Center of Anderson beginning at 5:30 pm.

Presented by The Riley Institute at Furman University, this year's dinner will be hosted by the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce and co-sponsored by the Greater Greenville and Spartanburg Area Chambers of Commerce.

This event began as a group project during the 2004 Upstate Diversity Leadership Academy (DLA) hosted by The Riley Institute. As their capstone project, one group suggested an annual event that would recognize organizations and individuals for their accomplishments in improving diversity in the Upstate. The idea grew and was quickly adopted by the Riley Institute and the Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg Chambers of Commerce, all of which have had representatives complete the DLA program.

Keynote speaker for this event will be Mr. Joseph B. Anderson, Jr., a graduate of the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Math and Engineering. He also received two Masters Degrees from UCLA. Mr. Anderson attended the Army’s Command and General Staff College and is also a graduate of the Harvard Advanced Management Program. He currently serves on the company Boards of Directors of Quaker Chemical Corporation, ArvinMeritor, Inc., Sierra Pacific Resources, and Rite Aid Corporation. He is also on the Board of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association; Director, Society of Automotive Engineers Foundation; Director, Society of Automotive Engineers International; Executive Committee of the National Association of Black Automotive Suppliers and Board of Governors of the Center for Creative Leadership. Mr. Anderson’s community involvement includes Horizons-Upward Bound Advisory Board, and Board of Directors of Focus: Hope.

Cost to attend this event is $75 per person.