FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 22, 2014

CONTACT: Peter Van Delft
(617) 704-6682

SHERIFF TOMPKINS, DEPARTMENT SUPPORT CORPORATE CHALLENGE

Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins was accompanied by Suffolk County House of Correction Superintendent Yolanda Smith and Senior Policy Analyst for Women and Senior Programs Marie Turley at the Corporate Challenge.

Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins recently joined with Governor Deval Patrick, Bentley University President Gloria Larson, Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rachel Kaprielian, and a host of others at the “Corporate Challenge: Getting to More” update and recognition event held at university’s campus in Waltham.

Sheriff Tompkins, along with Suffolk County House of Correction Superintendent Yolanda Smith and Senior Policy Analyst for Women and Senior Programs Marie Turley, represented the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department at this historic ceremony, which celebrated Governor Patrick’s initial goal of enlisting 100 businesses to make the formal commitment to grow and retain women at all levels, including board positions across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Corporate Challenge came as a recommendation from the Governor’s Successful Women, Successful Families Task Force. The initiative is about building a community of companies that are working towards balance in their workplace and is collaborative, not punitive. Organizations that commit to the challenge can choose one or more areas upon which to focus and appoint a key person to represent the organization. Some of these include the active recruitment of women to fill open positions at all levels of the organization; increasing the retention rate of women at all levels of the organization; increasing the percentage of women among the top 10% of the company’s senior positions; increasing the number of women on the board of directors; and monitoring pay by gender and addressing such gaps as they are discovered.

Bentley University’s Center for Women and Business served as the facilitator and resource partner to carry forth the Governor’s vision and plan. In March of 2013, Betsy Myers – Founding Director for the Center of Women and Business – recruited fourteen original businesses to join the Corporate Challenge. At the recognition ceremony, it was announced that recruitment had moved beyond the initial goal of 100 for a total of 106–and–counting confirmed businesses – among them, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department.

“I’m proud to stand here today with Governor Patrick, Bentley University, colleagues, and business leaders to offer the support of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department for this important initiative,” said Sheriff Tompkins.  “As has been eloquently stated today by the guest speakers, the time is now to move from conversation to action and the Sheriff’s Department is here to do our part and step up to the plate to offer our support and assistance.”

A small sample of the many companies that have signed on thus far includes: Bank of America, Biogen Idec, Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts, The Boston Globe, The Castle Group, Citizens Bank, EMC, Greater Media Boston, Hill Holiday, Liberty Mutual, Massachusetts Medical Society, Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, National Grid, Putnam Investments, Sodexo, State Street Corporation, Verizon, Walgreens, and Zyno Medical.

To get involved with the Corporate Challenge or for more information on Bentley University’s Center for Women and Business visit: www.bentley.edu/cwb

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