Around The Railroad

'Above and Beyond Award'

Diversity Award Honors Two BEN Founders

March 2, 2009 | 12:10 p.m. CST

Two UP employees were recognized with the "2009 Above and Beyond Award" for tirelessly supporting the railroad's diversity initiatives at the Network and Affinity Leadership Conference (NALC) Feb. 25 in New York.

Sponsored by Diversity Best Practices and Working Mother Media, NALC honored Richard Gregory, general director-Labor Relations, and Arnold Nesbitt, director-port development, for their instrumental work in establishing the Black Employee Network (BEN) – the railroad industry's first employee resource group.

"Richard and Arnold were visionary in recognizing the importance of an organization like BEN to our company, and they were courageous in pursuing their vision at a time when affinity groups like this weren't even on our radar. They truly have been pioneers," said Barb Schaefer, senior vice president-Human Resources. "From recruiting teams to community involvement, BEN's success is apparent and UP is proud to support it."

BEN's mission continues to be a model for other employee resource groups in and outside the railroad industry. In 2008, African Americans represented 7.42 percent of UP's employee population; however, 14.62 percent of all promotions occurred within this group.

"Watching the growth and development of BEN through the years has proven to me that good ideas don't have to die," Gregory said. "An army of just a few people can make a difference."

"I'm proud to have witnessed UP embrace the value that diversity brings to the workplace," Nesbitt said.