Diversity called vital for business

As the demographic face of America changes with an increasing number of minorities and women in the workforce, businesses need to improve their diversity to thrive.

That was the message delivered Tuesday night at Montana State University-Billings by Wanda Brackins, managing director of diversity for RBC Dain Rauscher.

Brackins said corporations need to recognize and react to these changes in order to hire the best and the brightest employees and to stay successful.

"You don’t want to make all the eye contact with the man when the woman holds the checkbook," Brackins said.

Minneapolis-based Brackins has a master’s degree in business administration and is a member of the Women’s Vision Foundation, the National Black MBA Association and the Society of Human Resource Management. She also serves on the Diversity Committee of the Securities Industry Association, as well as several corporate boards.

By JAN FALSTAD
Of The Gazette Staff

Full Story: http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/10/26/build/local/65-biz-diversity.inc