Nominations open for inaugural Celebrating Diversity program

Nominations of outstanding business professionals who are culturally diverse are being accepted for the inaugural “Celebrating Diversity” program. Launched by Westfair Communications, publisher of the Westchester and Fairfield County Business Journals, in conjunction with Geneive Brown Metzger of ICA World, this program will culminate with an awards event in March, recognizing candidates who have excelled in the following five categories:

  • Pace setter
  • Most socially conscious
  • Most promising millennial
  • Outstanding entrepreneur
  • Visionary.

Those seeking to nominate a candidate can do so by submitting a form at westfaironline.com/celebratingdiversity. Nominations are due by Oct. 5.

Candidates must live or work in Fairfield and Westchester counties.

Information about the candidate should include his or her business accomplishments and community involvement, as well as what sets that candidate apart from the crowd.

Three judges will evaluate the nominees, choosing 50 candidates who will be profiled in a publication inserted into the Dec. 19 issue of the Westchester and Fairfield County Business Journals. Profiles will also be available at westfaironline.com.

The public can then vote for the candidates they feel excel in any of the five categories. Voting will run through Jan. 31, and there is no limit to the amount of times readers may cast their votes.

Winners will be notified in early February and will be awarded at the “Celebrating Diversity” event in mid-March.

“Diversity is what our country is all about. It’s the blend of different cultures, ideas and creativity, which have affected the growth, economics and prosperity of our nation and our region,” Westfair Publisher Dee DelBello said. “This event promises to cast the spotlight on the successful diverse men and women in our business community.”

“Diversity is not only the right thing to do, it is a growth strategy, particularly as cultural demographics shift,” said Brown Metzger, Westfair”™s diversity and community relations partner.