Meet CDW's Business Resource Groups (BRGs)
CDW’s Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play an important role in maintaining our diverse and inclusive culture. They provide opportunities for mentoring, networking, professional development, executive exposure, celebration and new perspectives. No matter who you are or where you are in your career, our coworkers can find support, community and belonging within the BRGs. Matt Milam, Co-chair of our Black Excellence Unlimited BRG shares, “It is simply a place where we can find commonality in the journey that we are on, and guidance and sponsorship in the journey that we’d like to take.”
2020 was a banner year. More than 2,600 CDW coworkers are members of at least one BRG and membership grew 20%.
In 2020, CDW BRGs held more than 140 events, while working remotely most of the year. Mayra Archilla-Barton, Manager on the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion team and for the BRGs, shares how the groups have grown and adapted. “The BRGs did not skip a beat! They adapted their programming from in-person to virtual due to COVID-19. BRGs successfully continued to provide a positive coworker experience.” Events brought coworkers together even though most of us were apart.
In fact, 2020 was a banner year. More than 2,600 CDW coworkers are members of at least one BRG and membership grew 20%. Read on to learn more about CDW's BRGs.
Alliance for Business Leading Equality
Vision: To create and support an industry leading disability inclusive culture.
Mission: To advocate and educate for an accessible environment that facilitates self-advocacy, focusing on coworkers who are disabled and our allies, so they can achieve their full potential.
Notable 2020 Event: Celebration of the 30th ADA Anniversary.
Black Excellence Unlimited
Vision: Be a pillar for the success of Black coworkers at CDW.
Mission: To provide resources and development opportunities for CDW’s Black coworkers that enables them to achieve excellence and have a positive impact on our customers and community.
Notable 2020 Event: Black History Month (Theme: “Elevate Your Excellence”). The event included several presentations and discussions focused on helping the audience learn ways to elevate their excellence, both personally and professionally.
Business Resource Alliance Valuing Equality
Vision: To engrain within CDW’s culture an environment for LGBTQ+ coworkers to feel welcome and included as their authentic selves.
Mission: To assemble the building blocks for LGBTQ+ inclusion within CDW through networking and outreach with LGBTQ+ coworkers globally, connecting with our BRGs on topics of intersectionality, and educating CDW on issues that impact the LGBTQ+ community.
Notable 2020 Event: Pride Month Celebration (Theme: “The Power of Community”). BRAVE held four virtual events during June which provided professional development, LGBTQ+ awareness, networking and a panel of coworkers talking about the power of the LGBTQ+ community at CDW.
Business Resource Inclusion and Diversity Group for Everyone
Vision: To cultivate connections across CDW to bridge the gaps in experience, function, generation, geography, and tenure to advance coworker and organizational success.
Mission: To foster connections and mentorships across CDW bringing together coworkers from various roles and walks of life. We aim to cultivate a community of discovery, passion and growth where all coworkers are valued. Whether you are a seasoned CDW veteran or a newcomer, BRIDGE is a network where we embrace differences and grow as one.
Notable 2020 Event: Ongoing Coworker Direct series features a CDW guest host and offers coworkers the opportunity to learn about their career path, personal life and connect with each other.
Hispanic Organization for Leadership & Achievement's
Vision: Ignite passion for personal, professional, and business success.
Mission: To provide professional development and community involvement opportunities for all HOLA members and CDW coworkers at large in support of professional growth and multiracial nature of Latin Americans.
Notable 2020 Event: Todos Juntos: Latino Allyship and Intersectionality. The speaker highlighted the importance of supporting each other within and across lines of differences.
Military & Allies Resource Council
Vision: To be the dedicated CDW resource group for military veterans, allies and their families.
Mission: To develop and support coworkers who have served our country both past and present, along with our allies, to strengthen connections and partnerships with the greater community.
Notable 2020 Event: Veterans Day (Theme - "Resilience: Having the Courage to Continue Through Adversity") presentation focused on supporting and developing coworkers both personally and professionally.
Pan Asian Council
Vision: Provide a platform for coworkers with shared interests to achieve their career aspirations and drive a competitive advantage for CDW.
Mission: To build a diverse community of coworkers that enables personal and professional development opportunities for Pan Asian coworkers.
Notable 2020 Event: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month learning opportunities and membership drive.
Women's Opportunity Network
Vision: Build an inclusive culture where CDW is the employer of choice for the top female talent and where women realize their fullest career potential.
Mission: To promote an environment where women succeed at all levels by providing resources, connections, and development opportunities while driving CDW’s business objectives.
Notable 2020 Event: 2020 WON Summit (Theme - "Inclusivity in a Rolling Reality"). Various leaders shared their views of diversity and inclusion.
CDW also has four regional BRGs, Capital All Stars (Reston), Cherry Hill, Eatontown and 1850 Rising (Chandler), all focused on creating community and serving as a catalyst for diversity, equity and inclusion in our remote offices.
“None of us are one-dimensional. We are these wonderful mixtures of diverse thoughts and backgrounds and experiences that make us so unique, and our BRGs reflect that,” says Carrie Niecikowski, ABLE Co-Chair.
– CDW Team
Learn more about CDW’s Business Resource Groups and our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion here.
Photos featured in this blog were taken prior to March 2020, before social distancing and other health & safety guidance was in place.
CDW’s Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play an important role in maintaining our diverse and inclusive culture. They provide opportunities for mentoring, networking, professional development, executive exposure, celebration and new perspectives. No matter who you are or where you are in your career, our coworkers can find support, community and belonging within the BRGs. Matt Milam, Co-chair of our Black Excellence Unlimited BRG shares, “It is simply a place where we can find commonality in the journey that we are on, and guidance and sponsorship in the journey that we’d like to take.”
2020 was a banner year. More than 2,600 CDW coworkers are members of at least one BRG and membership grew 20%.
In 2020, CDW BRGs held more than 140 events, while working remotely most of the year. Mayra Archilla-Barton, Manager on the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion team and for the BRGs, shares how the groups have grown and adapted. “The BRGs did not skip a beat! They adapted their programming from in-person to virtual due to COVID-19. BRGs successfully continued to provide a positive coworker experience.” Events brought coworkers together even though most of us were apart.
In fact, 2020 was a banner year. More than 2,600 CDW coworkers are members of at least one BRG and membership grew 20%. Read on to learn more about CDW's BRGs.
Alliance for Business Leading Equality
Vision: To create and support an industry leading disability inclusive culture.
Mission: To advocate and educate for an accessible environment that facilitates self-advocacy, focusing on coworkers who are disabled and our allies, so they can achieve their full potential.
Notable 2020 Event: Celebration of the 30th ADA Anniversary.
Black Excellence Unlimited
Vision: Be a pillar for the success of Black coworkers at CDW.
Mission: To provide resources and development opportunities for CDW’s Black coworkers that enables them to achieve excellence and have a positive impact on our customers and community.
Notable 2020 Event: Black History Month (Theme: “Elevate Your Excellence”). The event included several presentations and discussions focused on helping the audience learn ways to elevate their excellence, both personally and professionally.
Business Resource Alliance Valuing Equality
Vision: To engrain within CDW’s culture an environment for LGBTQ+ coworkers to feel welcome and included as their authentic selves.
Mission: To assemble the building blocks for LGBTQ+ inclusion within CDW through networking and outreach with LGBTQ+ coworkers globally, connecting with our BRGs on topics of intersectionality, and educating CDW on issues that impact the LGBTQ+ community.
Notable 2020 Event: Pride Month Celebration (Theme: “The Power of Community”). BRAVE held four virtual events during June which provided professional development, LGBTQ+ awareness, networking and a panel of coworkers talking about the power of the LGBTQ+ community at CDW.
Business Resource Inclusion and Diversity Group for Everyone
Vision: To cultivate connections across CDW to bridge the gaps in experience, function, generation, geography, and tenure to advance coworker and organizational success.
Mission: To foster connections and mentorships across CDW bringing together coworkers from various roles and walks of life. We aim to cultivate a community of discovery, passion and growth where all coworkers are valued. Whether you are a seasoned CDW veteran or a newcomer, BRIDGE is a network where we embrace differences and grow as one.
Notable 2020 Event: Ongoing Coworker Direct series features a CDW guest host and offers coworkers the opportunity to learn about their career path, personal life and connect with each other.
Hispanic Organization for Leadership & Achievement's
Vision: Ignite passion for personal, professional, and business success.
Mission: To provide professional development and community involvement opportunities for all HOLA members and CDW coworkers at large in support of professional growth and multiracial nature of Latin Americans.
Notable 2020 Event: Todos Juntos: Latino Allyship and Intersectionality. The speaker highlighted the importance of supporting each other within and across lines of differences.
Military & Allies Resource Council
Vision: To be the dedicated CDW resource group for military veterans, allies and their families.
Mission: To develop and support coworkers who have served our country both past and present, along with our allies, to strengthen connections and partnerships with the greater community.
Notable 2020 Event: Veterans Day (Theme - "Resilience: Having the Courage to Continue Through Adversity") presentation focused on supporting and developing coworkers both personally and professionally.
Pan Asian Council
Vision: Provide a platform for coworkers with shared interests to achieve their career aspirations and drive a competitive advantage for CDW.
Mission: To build a diverse community of coworkers that enables personal and professional development opportunities for Pan Asian coworkers.
Notable 2020 Event: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month learning opportunities and membership drive.
Women's Opportunity Network
Vision: Build an inclusive culture where CDW is the employer of choice for the top female talent and where women realize their fullest career potential.
Mission: To promote an environment where women succeed at all levels by providing resources, connections, and development opportunities while driving CDW’s business objectives.
Notable 2020 Event: 2020 WON Summit (Theme - "Inclusivity in a Rolling Reality"). Various leaders shared their views of diversity and inclusion.
CDW also has four regional BRGs, Capital All Stars (Reston), Cherry Hill, Eatontown and 1850 Rising (Chandler), all focused on creating community and serving as a catalyst for diversity, equity and inclusion in our remote offices.
“None of us are one-dimensional. We are these wonderful mixtures of diverse thoughts and backgrounds and experiences that make us so unique, and our BRGs reflect that,” says Carrie Niecikowski, ABLE Co-Chair.
– CDW Team
Learn more about CDW’s Business Resource Groups and our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion here.
Photos featured in this blog were taken prior to March 2020, before social distancing and other health & safety guidance was in place.
