Deliver Your News to the World

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Recognized As Top Company For Executive Women By The National Association For Female Executives


WEBWIRE

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has been named one of the “2007 Top 35 Companies for Executive Women” by the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE). NAFE selected the company for its programs and initiatives designed to support female participation and leadership in the workplace.

NAFE selected the companies based upon their innovative programs that foster women’s advancement to influential positions. They also examined the number of women within in each company overall, in senior management and on the Board of Directors. Only those companies with two or more women serving on the Board were considered for this honor; Wal-Mart currently has three females serving on its 14-member Board of Directors, accounting for 21 percent of the board. Wal-Mart and other companies honored this year demonstrated significant representation of women in executive positions. Additionally, the honored companies emphasize compensation equality, manager accountability for the advancement of women and successful training programs.

“At Wal-Mart, we invest in all of our associates. We are dedicated to enabling women to succeed in and outside the workplace. Whether it’s offering industry-leading career training programs and creating opportunities for advancement or providing a network of support, we are committed to the women within our company,” said Charlyn Jarrells Porter, senior vice president and chief diversity officer, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. “We are honored to be recognized by NAFE for our continued efforts to support and promote women in all facets of our organization.”

As the country’s largest private employer, Wal-Mart places diversity and a multi-cultural workforce, at all levels, among its top priorities. Today, the company remains an employer of choice for its female associates. In fact, 61 percent of Wal-Mart associates are women and 40 percent of the company’s management is female.

The retailer remains fully committed to its female associates, offering leadership seminars intended specifically for women and creating its Executive Women Caucus. The Executive Women Caucus provides a network for Wal-Mart’s female executives by offering mentoring and discussion of issues facing women today. There are various committees and leadership positions within the caucus that actively engage participation by Wal-Mart’s executive women.

Wal-Mart’s ongoing commitment to fostering diverse participation and leadership throughout the company begins internally but extends throughout the communities it serves. The company partners with more than 1,400 women-owned business suppliers and supports various organizations dedicated to women including the Hispanic Women’s Corporation, Network of Executive Women and the League of Black Women, among others.

Additionally, the company has received several accolades for its support of women, including the National Association of Women Lawyers 2006 President’s Award for Diversity Initiatives and LATINA Style Magazine’s 2006 “50 Best Companies for Latinas.” Wal-Mart executives have also been recognized for their commitment to diversity. Recently, Regional Manager Gisel Ruiz was recognized as one of Hispanic Business Magazine’s “Elite Women” and Esther Silver-Parker, senior vice president of diversity relations, received the 2007 Humanitarian award from Just Communities, an organization that advocates understanding and respect of diversity through cultural awareness and diversity education and training.


About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, more than 127 million customers visit Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam’s Club locations across America or log on to its online store at www.walmart.com. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $270 million to local communities in the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfacts.com, www.walmartstores.com, or www.walmartfoundation.org.



WebWireID31634





This news content was configured by WebWire editorial staff. Linking is permitted.

News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.