Upstate leaders were honored Tuesday at the 10th Annual Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards Dinner at the TD Convention Center. The awards recognize organizations and individuals for outstanding achievement in promoting diversity and inclusion in the Upstate community.
The event was presented by TD Bank and hosted by the Greenville Chamber and the Riley Institute at Furman, in partnership with the Anderson, Greer and Spartanburg Chambers of Commerce.
BMW Manufacturing Co. won the Outstanding Business Award for developing a diversified supplier network and having “a positive impact through extensive community involvement.” Its annual Supplier Diversity Matchmaker Conference promotes networking between Minority Business Enterprises, Women’s Business Enterprises and BMW Tier 1 Suppliers, and over the last two years, BMW has increased its Tier 1 Minority Spend by over 230 percent and Tier 2 Spend by over 500 percent.
Kinneil Coltman, chief diversity officer for the Greenville Health System, won the Calder D. Ehrmann Outstanding Individual Award for serving the hospital’s diversity needs since 2007. She is currently responsible for overseeing one of the largest language services departments in the Southeast and the largest in South Carolina, with more than 40 interpreters on staff.
Other winners included The Year of Altruism, Outstanding Nonprofit Organization; Berea Middle School, winner of the William “Bill” T. Wylie Valued Lives Award for School Excellence in Diversity; and Darien Smith of Clemson University, winner of the Outstanding College Student Award.
