Council Honors John Chambers and Jane Shaw
The Bay Area Council on Wednesday held its 71st Annual Dinner and Bay Area Business Hall of Fame presented by Union Bank, inducting Cisco Executive Chair John Chambers and former Intel Chair Jane Shaw into the newest class of business and philanthropic leaders. The evening opened with an announcement of a $100,000 grant by Union Bank in support of the Bay Area Young Men of Color Employment Project (BAYEP), which the Council is leading in partnership with several key regional and national workforce development groups to expand career and employment opportunities for a segment of the population that has been historically underserved and underrepresented in the workforce. Julius Robinson, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility for the Americas for Union Bank, announced the grant and recognized Fred Blackwell, CEO of the San Francisco Community Foundation, and James Head, CEO of the East Bay Community Foundation, for their partnership in the effort.
Watch a video describing BAYEP>>
More than 700 business and civic leaders applauded the induction of Chambers and Shaw into the 2016 Hall of Fame class. In his acceptance remarks, Chambers spoke about the importance of the award in highlighting the urgency for business leaders to embrace a new era of digital technology. Chambers said the U.S. is badly lagging the world in preparing to lead in a digital world that is rapidly transforming. He said that while the Bay Area is unquestionably the innovation center of the world, our success does not entitle us to relax. Shaw emphasized how proud she was to accept the award as a female business leader, reflecting how it sends a strong signal that the efforts many have undertaken to ensure equal opportunity for women in the workplace and in the boardroom is making an impact.
Watch John Chambers’ acceptance remarks>>
Watch Jane Shaw’s acceptance remarks>>
The Bay Area Council extends its deepest gratitude to Union Bank for serving as Presenting Sponsor, and to Premier Sponsors Kaiser Permanente and PG&E.
