PLANO,
Texas, Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Motor
North America (TMNA) today announced the appointment of three new
members to its North American Diversity Advisory Board (DAB).
Robert C. Davidson Jr., CEO,
Surface Protection Industries, Domenika
Lynch, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Latinos and
Society Program, and retired Army Major General Tammy S. Smith joined the company's DAB
effective August 1, 2022.
"Toyota's core philosophy of Respect for People is part of our
DNA and is reflected in our long-standing commitment to diversity
and inclusion," said Sandra Phillips
Rogers, senior vice president, corporate resources and chief
diversity officer, TMNA. "The addition of Robert, Domenika and
Tammy bring powerful voices to the DAB which will help us continue
developing a diverse and inclusive workforce and innovate our
business to be ready to meet the challenges of the future."
"Toyota is grateful to recently retiring DAB members,
Phyllis Campbell and Jim Lowry, for their many years of service and
outstanding contributions, helping Toyota to achieve a #4 ranking
among DiversityInc's Top Companies for Diversity," added
Phillips Rogers.
Created in 2002, Toyota's DAB plays an integral role in
fostering a more diverse and inclusive company culture. Working
closely with the organization's senior leadership, the Advisory
Board - led by former U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman - helps drive adoption of best
practices and ensures executive accountability.
"Like the other Board members, Tammy, Domenika and Robert have
worked tirelessly for decades to educate and advocate for DEI and
bold new ideas, said Alexis Herman,
DAB Chair. "We look forward to hearing and learning from them as we
continue this important work."
The new members represent a wide range of experience in the
field of diversity and inclusion:
Robert C. Davidson,
Jr.
Robert C. Davidson, Jr. was
Chairman and CEO of Surface Protection Industries, a paint and
specialty coatings manufacturing company he founded in 1978. Under
Davidson's leadership, the company grew to become the largest
African- American-owned manufacturing company in California. Previously, Davidson co-founded
and served as Vice President of Urban National Corporation.
Davidson served as Chairman of the Board of Morehouse College and Chairman of the Board of
Art Center College of Design.
Additionally, Davidson is on the Boards of Cedars-Sinai Medical
Center, City First Broadway and Vice Chairman of the Board at
Smithsonian American Art Museum. In
addition to serving on various boards, Robert continues in his
pursuit of museum-quality historic African American art from the
19th and 20th Century to add to his
collection, mentors young entrepreneurs and is involved in giving
back to his community. Davidson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree
from Morehouse College and an MBA in
Marketing and Finance from the University of
Chicago.
Domenika Lynch
Domenika Lynch is the Executive
Director of the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program
(AILAS), with the mission of empowering Latino communities and
promoting long-term economic growth and resiliency. All of AILAS
programming is rooted in the goal of increasing recognition that
the nation's success depends on Latinos' inclusion at all levels of
society.
Over the course of two decades in leadership roles, Lynch has
overseen strategic planning, policy advocacy, and public affairs
campaigns for nonprofits and corporations, increasing donor and
stakeholder support and raising millions of dollars for
organizational endowments.
Lynch served as president and CEO of the Congressional Hispanic
Caucus Institute (CHCI), the preeminent Latino leadership institute
founded by Hispanic members of Congress in Washington, DC. She previously spent more than
a decade as executive director of the Latino Alumni Association
(LAA) at the University of Southern
California. During her tenure, LAA doubled its membership
and tripled its endowment. Her professional breadth extends into
the corporate sector, with previous leadership positions at Bank of
America and Univision.
Lynch currently serves on the Board of Directors of the
Congressional Management Foundation and serves on Bank of America's
National Community Advisory Council which advises the bank on
community development, environmental and consumer policy issues.
She also serves on the Council on Underserved Communities (CUC)
which provides the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) with
input, advice and recommendations on strategies to help strengthen
competitiveness and sustainability for small businesses in
underserved communities. She is also an intended appointee to
the Commission on Presidential Scholars.
A graduate of the USC Price School
of Public Policy, Lynch holds a master's degree from the
USC Rossier School of Education.
Tammy S. Smith
Retired Army Major General Tammy
Smith served in the Army for 35 years. In her final role,
she was Military Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Army
(Manpower and Reserve Affairs) at the Pentagon where she designed
and implemented Army-wide policy and provided oversight for the
Army Quality of Life portfolio.
In 2012, shortly after the repeal of Don't Ask/Don't tell
(DADT), Major General Smith was promoted to Brigadier General,
gaining visibility as the US military's first openly LGBTQ+
General/Flag officer. MG Smith was awarded the Secretary of the
Army Diversity in Leadership award for her contributions to Army
inclusion efforts.
During her military career and after, Smith's Board of Directors
and Advisory Board activities have focused on workplace inclusion
and opportunity for LGBTQ+, military veterans and women, including:
VetVoice Foundation; the Army and Air Force Exchange Service
(AAFES), in Washington DC; Out
& Equal Workplace Advocates, San
Francisco, Calif.; Army Diversity Council; and the External
Inclusion Advisory Council, Deloitte, in New York City.
Smith holds a Doctor of Management degree in Organizational
Leadership from the University of
Phoenix and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane
Letters from Lincoln University,
Jefferson, Missouri.
In addition to Davidson, Lynch and Smith, the Advisory Board is
comprised of Alexis Herman,
Jyoti Chopra, Howard W. Buffett and Gilbert Casellas.
Learn more Toyota North America's Diversity + Inclusion efforts
and the Diversity Advisory Board at
https://www.toyota.com/usa/diversity.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in
North America for more than 60
years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation
mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than
1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in
North America who have contributed
to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars
and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota's
14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture
automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more
electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, more
than a quarter of the company's 2021 North American sales were
electrified.
Media Contact
Victor Vanov
Toyota Corporate Communications
Victor.vanov@toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America