Collin County Leader

We Tell Your Story

Premier Issue

McKinney
Chamber

champions businesses in
booming region

Plano Community Forum

marks 40 years

Toyota, Chime partnership

driving change in
local communities

Smart business

We count on minority and women-owned businesses for smart solutions.
Not only does this benefit TI, but also the communities in which we work.

www.ti.com/supplierdiversity

The platform bar is a trademark of Texas Instruments Incorporated. © 2021 Texas Instruments

table of contents

Misty 22 Mandy 24 Leroy R. 26
Hoyt Price Armstrong
Jr.

FEATURES DEPARTMENTS woman-owned Business spotlight

advocacy in action up Front 22 First Communion to LinkedIn
Plano photographer captures
12 M cKinney Chamber champions 16 C hecking all the boxes genuine client stories
businesses in booming region Toyota, Chime Solutions driving By Caryn Berardi
By Caryn Berardi change in local communities
By M.V. Greene 24 Interventions
14 T aking a seat at the table Rare funding helping Kanarys
Plano Community Forum leaderBOARD strengthen workplace DEI
celebrates 40 years By M.V. Greene
By Georgeann H. Ikuma 16 Faster, stronger, better Inspiration
PepsiCo’s David Sanchez helps
We Tell Your STorY On the Cover develop and maintain strong 26 Time to reset
Premier Issue MBE partnerships Leroy Armstrong’s book reveals
The McKinney Chamber how to discover God’s purpose
McKinney corporate citizenship for your life
Chamber of Commerce is led by By Michele Majors Brown
President and CEO Lisa 18 C reating a better world
champions businesses in Hermes (standing) and Emerson gives back to Collin County Leader • Premier Issue 3
booming region Chairman Julie Williams. McKinney community
By Caryn Berardi
Plano Community Forum
marks 40 years Diversity Matters

toyota, Chime partnership 20 T aking flight
driving change in Vistra’s Annette Underwood
local communities ensures diversity initiatives have
wings for the long haul
By Michele Majors Brown

21 Unity is the root — diversity is
the fruit
Celebrating diversity helps build
unified, diverse cultures
By Georgeann H. Ikuma

ad index

Accenture PLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

American Airlines Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 We Tell Your Story
Ampcus Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Apple Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Mission Statement: Promoting the value of multicultural
IBM Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 partnership and economic development.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Oncor Electric Delivery Co. LLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Publisher General Manager
Texas Instruments Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Don McKneely Kristin Schneider
Toyota Motor North America Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Wells Fargo & Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Editorial Director Operations Manager
Stephanie Anderson Forest Kristin Gabaldon

Distribution Manager Contributors
Wendy Teel Caryn Berardi
Michele Majors Brown
Designer Brenda Beveridge
Nancy Kekich M.V. Greene
Georgeann H. Ikuma

Collin County Leader

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We Tell Your S T o r YPremier Issue Premier Issue

MCcKhainmnbeeyrchampionsboboumsiinnegsrseegsioinn Collin County Leader spotlights
people, businesses and organizations that
Plano Community Forum are driving the success of Collin County, one of

marks 40 years the fastest-growing areas in the country.

toyota, Chldoimcriavelincpgoamcrthmnauenrngsiehtiiiepns ccleader.net

4 Collin County Leader • Premier Issue

Take your business to new heights.

Learn how: aa.com/supplierdiversity

American Airlines and the Flight Symbol logo are marks of American Airlines, Inc.
oneworld is a mark of the oneworld Alliance. © 2021 American Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.

up Front

Mark Wilson,
president and
CEO, Chime
Solutions Inc.

In the win-win deal, Chime walked away with an initial three-
year business outsourcing services deal with Toyota, while the
automaker continues to address many of its corporate objectives,
including bringing another diverse supplier into its formidable
supply chain.

6 Collin County Leader • Premier Issue ccleader.net

6 exclusive

Checking all
the boxes

Toyota, Chime Solutions
driving change in local

communities

By M.V. Greene

F rom the very start, the vibe between Toyota and the Billion Dollar Roundtable Inc. In BDR, for instance, Toy-
ota is one of 28 major corporations that signify their bona
Chime Solutions Inc. seemed to check all the fides in supplier diversity through annual spend commit-
ments of $1 billion or more with Tier I diverse suppliers.
boxes. Toyota was the giant automaker with a
Toyota and like-minded corporate organizations view
demonstrated commitment to supply-chain diversity. Chime supplier diversity from a lens of competitiveness, strategic
advantage, innovation and customer and community en-
was the upstart diverse supplier seeking to expand its foot- gagement, rather than as a benevolent exercise that early on
characterized the practice.
print. The budding partnership met key business and oper-
“First and foremost, diverse suppliers that have been suc-
ational objectives of both sides. Also, job creation and com- cessful in gaining business with Toyota know firsthand that
our expectations in terms of performance and capability are
munity investment were two desired outcomes. exactly the same for them as they are for any supplier,” Niel-
sen said.
Through patience, openness and sustained engagement,
Chiming in
Toyota and Chime found common ground in a collabora- Chime was founded in 2016 in Morrow, Georgia, near

tion that is a model for forward-thinking corporate supplier Atlanta, by entrepreneur Mark Wilson, its president and
CEO. He has been intentional in ensuring that Chime is po-
diversity activity that optimizes the business case for pro- sitioned as a supplier that can perform. The company pro-
vides business call center solutions designed to adapt to the
curement diversity spend. individual needs of its clients — whether to reduce costs,
increase revenue or improve customer contact.
In the win-win deal, Chime walked away with an initial
Chime’s deal to support Toyota’s Brand Engagement Cen-
three-year business outsourcing services deal with Toyota, ter business unit in Dallas for Tier I call center services com-
menced Feb. 1, 2021, and runs through Jan. 31, 2024.
while the automaker continues to address many of its cor-
Wilson is unabashed in articulating what he is trying to
porate objectives, including bringing another diverse sup- accomplish for Chime.

plier into its formidable supply chain. “I try to have our company out there to where we are fair-
ly known, and we get to talk to all of [the potential clients]
“Our approach has been to recognize that there are some that are out there,” he said. In addition to the automotive
sector, Chime competes in the areas of health care, financial
really mutually beneficial opportunities in working with services and telecommunications.

diverse suppliers,” said Chris Nielsen, executive vice pres- That Chime received an opportunity as a certified diverse

ident of product support and chief quality officer, Toyota.

A new view

As a leading global automotive and technology giant, Toy-
ota hardly needs an introduction. The Japan-based compa-
ny has a broad footprint in the United States and established
its new North American headquarters in Plano, Texas — a
Dallas suburb — in 2017.

Toyota has long been a proponent of corporate supplier
diversity, as noted by its annual sponsorship of the Toyota
Opportunity Exchange for diverse suppliers, its board-lev-
el participation in the National Minority Supplier Develop-
ment Council Inc. and its status as a member company of

Collin County Leader • Premier Issue 7

up Front

“First and foremost, diverse suppliers that have
been successful in gaining business with Toyota
know firsthand that our expectations, in terms of
performance and capability, are exactly the same for
them as they are for any supplier,”

— Chris Nielsen, executive vice president, product
support, chief quality officer, Toyota

supplier to compete for and win Toyota business was hardly a stayed in touch. At the end of the day, the right opportunity pre-
fait accompli. Bonnie Clinton, Toyota vice president and chief sented itself,” she said. “A lot of it is around timing, and that can
procurement officer, indirect procurement shared services, said be very challenging. They were prepared and ready when the
diligence and hard work were required by both sides to create opportunity came about. They did not give up.”
the contract match.
Serving the underserved
She said Toyota carefully vets all potential supplier partner- In beating the bushes to get the word out about Chime, Wilson
ships, but it doesn’t stop there. It also values suppliers that can
align long term with the company’s business culture and objec- had a proverbial ace up his sleeve — a core value of the company
tives, she said. that would align with the objectives of potential clients. As a diverse
supplier, Chime seeks to place its call center operations largely in
“Long-term relationships are established through getting to minority communities where unemployment is high, and the need
know each other and through mutual trust,” Clinton said. is urgent for community investment and development.

Wilson said he was determined to show Toyota procurement ex- Since its founding, Chime has established call center operations
ecutives that Chime would fit the bill during more than three years serving clients in typically depressed areas of Atlanta, Georgia;
of interactions before signatures on paper would signify a deal. Dallas, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Baltimore, Maryland,
Chime withstood Toyota’s vetting process that included meetings, where the majority of its 2,500 employees are African American
presentations, backgrounding, site visits and negotiations. single women. In creating family-friendly work environments,
Chime offers inducements to its associates, such as on-premises
Clinton praised Chime for following through and showing child care and transportation assistance, as well as free classes on
Toyota that an opportunity existed to create that mutually bene- repairing credit, buying homes and becoming entrepreneurs.
ficial relationship.

“We initially didn’t know if there would be a fit, but everybody

“A lot of it is around timing, and that can be very ccleader.net
challenging. [Chime was] prepared and ready when
the opportunity came about. They did not give up.”

— Bonnie Clinton, vice president and chief
procurement officer, indirect procurement shared

services, Toyota

8 Collin County Leader • Premier Issue

Be Inclusive

We believe that a diverse supplier base is
integral to company profitability and strategic
objectives. For more than 50 years, IBM has
championed diversity and equal rights for
everyone – including its suppliers.

Find out more:
ibm.biz/globalsupplierdiversity

IBM and the IBM logo are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Other product and service names might be
trademarks of IBM or other companies. A current list of IBM trademarks is available at ibm.com/trademark. ©International Business Machines Corp. 2021. B34075

up Front

“We kind of looked at each other and said,
‘We want to be a part of this.’ It just
resonated with us.”

— Joe Mossinger, senior manager,
strategic sourcing, Toyota

Chime’s approach clearly caught the keen eye of Toyota as “We kind of looked at each other and said, ‘We want to be a
it began to establish new corporate citizenry in the Dallas/Fort part of this.’ It just resonated with us,” he said.
Worth area alongside other Fortune 500 companies like AT&T,
FedEx, ExxonMobil, J.C.Penney, American Airlines and Frito-Lay Based on Toyota’s current forecast, Chime will be employing
North America. 60 or more full-time employees by January 2022.

Nielsen said Toyota learned of Chime through association with For his part, Wilson couldn’t be more thrilled with Chime’s
the Dallas Regional Chamber after relocating its headquarters to partnership with Toyota. He described the collaboration as be-
Plano from Torrance, California. One of the chamber’s goals was to ing in its infancy, with the opportunity for increased engagement
increase economic activity in the depressed southern Dallas area. going forward.
He said Toyota was happy to join such an effort as a key Toyota value
is creating economic opportunity in areas where it has operations. “They could see tangibly that the work they are providing us
to perform was being serviced by people from the community.
He said the chamber’s president introduced him to a prop- It was very visible for them to see and understand that we are
erty developer in southern Dallas who told him about Wilson putting people to work by virtue of the work they are providing
and Chime, which had located operations to a mall in the area. our company,” he said. “All of these companies with supplier di-
Nielsen said he met with Wilson and was impressed with his vi- versity initiatives are really supporting the diverse constituencies
sion for community development and referred him to Clinton of those companies.” ¿
for possible procurement opportunities with Toyota.
To learn more about Toyota’s supplier diversity
Joe Mossinger, senior manager, strategic sourcing, and member program, visit onetoyotasupplierdiversity.com.
of Toyota’s procurement team, called the experience “eye-open-
ing” when the team visited the mall to see Chime’s operations. To learn more about Chime Solutions, visit
chimesolutions.com.

“They could see tangibly that the work they are ccleader.net
providing us to perform was being serviced by
people from the community. It was very visible for
them to see and understand that we are putting

people to work by virtue of the work they are
providing our company.”

— Mark Wilson, president and CEO,
Chime Solutions Inc.

10 Collin County Leader • Premier Issue

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advocacy in action

McKinney Chamber

champions businesses in booming region } By Caryn Berardi
A ccording to residents, there are many
reasons that McKinney, Texas, is one } Lisa Hermes (left),
of the fastest-growing cities in the president and CEO,
country — a strong school system, McKinney Chamber of
historic and vibrant downtown and Commerce, with the
proximity to the Dallas Fort Worth In- organization’s Chairman
ternational Airport, to name a few. Julie Wiiliams

But for Lisa Hermes, president and CEO

of the McKinney Chamber of Commerce, the

growth always comes back to the people.

“It’s all about neighbors helping neighbors

and businesses helping businesses,” she said.

“People who visit McKinney see what’s spe-

cial about it and how the city represents the

people who live here.”

Hermes returned to the McKinney Cham-

ber as president in 2014 after beginning her

Chamber career as its communications and

public policy director in 2006.

During the years in between, she held educational opportunities further the growth She became the chairman in January 2021
leadership roles at other North Texas cham- of its members. Chamber initiatives such as and described the timing of the new role as
bers, but jumped at the opportunity to the Women’s Alliance of McKinney serve to an interesting time to lead, as the Chamber
bring her experience back to McKinney and foster relationships that empower, promote aims to rebuild its membership after the
lead the Chamber’s efforts to serve as the and support leadership in women from the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic present-
collective voice for the city’s growing busi- corporate world to entrepreneurs through ed to the business community and continue
ness community.
development opportunities such as a Lunch to support its members that are still strug-
McKinney is located 30 miles north of & Learn series and its annual daylong Wom- gling, including a tailored initiative for the
downtown Dallas, Texas, and is the coun- en’s Business Conference.
deeply impacted restaurant industry.
ty seat of Collin County. The Chamber fo- Hermes credits the engagement of the McK- “My goal is to get us back on the growth
cuses on helping its 1,200 members thrive inney business community and the Chamber’s path we were on before COVID-19 and assist
through programming, leadership develop- volunteer board of directors for the success of companies however we can,” Williams said.
ment, business idea incubation and advoca- these advocacy and programming initiatives “The Chamber is a really vital part of McKin-
cy. As companies grow and expand, so too and for the Chamber’s position as a catalyst for ney, and I’m so proud to be a part of it.”
does the economic impact on the city and its change in McKinney.
residents, Hermes said. In addition to COVID-19 recovery, Her-

“Volunteers are investing their time, talent mes and Williams want to continue building
For example, she said there is a commu- and treasure, and we are grateful for them,” partnerships with stakeholders in McKinney,
nitywide advocacy effort by the Chamber for Hermes said.
more affordable housing to attract a more highlight the community to an external audi-

talented workforce for entry-level positions An interesting time to lead ence and advocate for all businesses through

the Chamber’s diversity, equity and inclusion
benefits both community members and Julie Williams is chairman of the Cham- task force and diversification of the board.
businesses.
ber’s board of directors. She got involved These efforts include not only racial and
This kind of work has been a staple of the in the Chamber when she and her business ethnic diversity, but also industry and size
McKinney Chamber since its founding in 1914. partner started a real estate company, Texas of businesses, and goes back to the heart of

Advocating for the region Property Sisters LLC, in McKinney in 2013. McKinney itself, its people.

It was important to their business to sup- “We will continue to be a collective voice to
“The way we do things has changed over port the local community, such as purchas- convene the people of McKinney to engage
time, but you can read archives about the ing from local vendors and getting involved and connect,” Hermes said. “We are building
Chamber going down to Austin on horses with the Chamber. Williams participated in an inclusive group that celebrates and values
to advocate for better roads,” Hermes said. the Leadership McKinney training program everyone for what they bring to the table.” ¿
“Now, we drive a car or take a plane, but we
are still advocating for our region.” sponsored by the Chamber and since then To learn more about the McKinney
has taken on multiple leadership roles with- Chamber of Commerce, visit
On the programming side, networking and in the organization. mckinneychamber.com.

12 Collin County Leader • Premier Issue ccleader.net

Equality drives innovation

Equality is a powerful multiplier of innovation and growth.
It inspires creativity and a sense of belonging. At Accenture we’re

committed to championing a culture of equality where our
people are empowered to be their best, professionally and

personally. Because as equals, anything is possible.
Learn more at accenture.com/equality

advocacy in action

Taking a seat at the table

Plano Community Forum celebrates 40 years } By Georgeann H. Ikuma
C elebration and reflection marked the re-
cent 40th anniversary of the Plano Com-
munity Forum (PCF). Four decades ago,
Ken Chetsnut, Fred Moses, Al Schexnay-
der and Cecil Starks created the forum
in response to a need for African Amer-

icans to get involved in the Plano community.

Additionally, the organization was started to

honor and recognize the achievements of Af-

rican Americans in Plano, Texas.  

“When I first moved to Plano, I saw that

people of color were involved in church, but

not in any of the other important parts of the

community,” said Moses, owner, president

and CEO of Telecom Electric Supply Co.

“We needed to find a way to encourage peo-

ple of color to get involved in the areas and

groups where we could be making decisions

that affected the direction of our community.”

Moses also understood the role and im-

portance of the Plano Chamber of Commerce

recognizing people of all groups in his com-

munity. With both a purpose and passion, Mo-

ses and his co-founders structured the PCF to

acknowledge the accomplishments of those

in the Plano community. With a growing voice

of the community, the PCF sponsored and

co-sponsored many events in the city includ-

ing, but not limited to, the citywide annual Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration weekend. 

“We were only four percent of the popu-

lation but by coming together, we’ve been

able to make a difference and take our seat

at the table,” said Moses, pointing out that at } Fred Moses (center)

the time, there were not any people of color accepts the City of

working in any administrative jobs at the city Plano 40th anniversary

hall or in the school district. proclamation from Plano

“Through the PCF, we have made a tremen- Mayor John Muns as
event co-host Pamela
dous impact, not by marching and protesting,
but by sitting down with stakeholders and ad- Hart looks on.

dressing the issues head on,” he added.

In addition to providing cultural enrich-

ment and community involvement, one of ed over $500,000 to more than 300 students “We can’t rest on our laurels and become

the forum’s most enduring accomplishments seeking careers in a variety of professions. complacent during our next 40 years,” Mo-

has been providing scholarship opportunities “Some are serving as doctors and lawyers; ses said. “We have to continually encourage

to minority students graduating from Plano others include an NFL player and a Grammy more people of color to run for office, take

schools. Based on both academics as well as Award-winning gospel artist.” a seat at the table where decisions are be-

financial need, the PCF believes that students Today, the forum is a multicultural and ing made and be involved in developing and

should have to abandon their dreams due to multiethnic organization that remains stead- serving in our community.” ¿

lack of funds whether it be for tuition, books fast in its mission to support opportunities

or supplementing room and board. for minority students while continuing to be To learn more about the Plano
Community Forum, visit planocf.com.
Over the past 40 years, the PCF has award- a voice for the people in the City in Plano.

14 Collin County Leader • Premier Issue ccleader.net



leaderBOARD

Faster, stronger, better
PepsiCo’s David Sanchez helps develop and maintain strong MBE partnerships

D avid Sanchez is a 31-year PepsiCo Inc. best practices and insights that we’ve been ~ David Sanchez, senior director, global
veteran currently serving as senior able to share within our own organizations. procurement, PepsiCo Inc.
director in global procurement. His Additionally, the ability to connect with and
three decades at the beverage and mentor MWBEs allows me the opportunity We strongly believe it is our responsibility to
snack giant have included stints in to share my own learnings from a diverse not only operate in these communities but
engineering, contract manufacturing, career at PepsiCo, which not only fulfills [also] continue to advance economic em-
finance and global procurement. my obligation as a board member, but also powerment for the communities we serve.
fulfills my personal mission to support and
Sanchez is also serving in his 12th year uplift others in this field. Q: What advice do you have for
representing PepsiCo/Frito-Lay on the board
of directors of Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Q: What are the biggest challenges diverse suppliers interested in doing
Supplier Development Council Inc. business with a company like PepsiCo?
for the continued growth of supplier
Q: Can you tell us a little about your diversity inclusion? A: PepsiCo’s goal is to become an even

background? A: As major corporations continue to ex- faster, stronger and better company that
enables us to serve our communities when
A: I’m a native of Albuquerque, New Mexi- pand capabilities required to meet rapidly they need us most while accelerating our
changing consumer and customer require- growth. As consumer preferences change,
co, and a proud alum of Southern Methodist ments, it will require partners to work and we must ensure we have strong partner-
University, where I earned a bachelor’s de- invest together to build a more resilient ships with growth-minded suppliers capable
gree in electrical engineering. I also complet- supply chain in areas such as digitization of enabling game-changing innovation and
ed my MBA at the University of Texas at Dal- and sustainability. It also will require trans- first-class service to our customers with un-
las. I’ve been privileged to have spent over formational thinking, agility and flexibility to matched products and services. ¿
30 years at PepsiCo, where I’ve led teams in advance these agendas as they unfold. And
various functions within our business. of course, during this process, [it also will To learn more about PepsiCo’s
require] ensuring our suppliers retain and supplier diversity program, visit
Q: What is your current position at maintain an engaged workforce and can at- pepsico.com/esg-topics-a-z/
tract the best talent in an increasingly com- supplier-diversity.
PepsiCo and what does your current petitive market.
position entail?
Q: What are you most proud of about
A: I am currently a global procurement se-
PepsiCo’s role in supplier-diversity
nior director in our PepsiCo Beverages North inclusion?
America sector. I lead a team responsible
for rigid packaging, which includes the pro- A: PepsiCo has a long and rich history of
curement and supply of glass, cans, bottles,
closures and resin. This role entails working supporting minority- and women-owned
cross-functionally to enable business growth, businesses. In fact, our diverse supplier
unlock capacity, drive innovation and deliver spend was more than $1.6 billion in 2020.
productivity for the business.
We continue to build on this history by
Q: How long have you been involved developing and maintaining strong partner-
ships with industry and advocacy organiza-
in the supplier-diversity arena? tions, particularly as we focus on providing
the support necessary for business growth.
A: For the past 12 years, I’ve served as a buy-
Last year, PepsiCo launched a more than
ing entity board member on the Dallas Fort $570 million set of commitments to —
Worth Minority Supplier Development Council. among other areas — leverage our scale
and influence across suppliers and strategic
In addition to serving on the executive partners to increase diverse representation
committee and other committees with- and elevate diverse voices. We’re working to
in DFW MSDC, I recently began serving as drive sustainable change where we address
treasurer as part of the executive commit- and help dismantle barriers to economic op-
tee. With these roles, I’ve had the benefit of portunity, thus, opening the door for greater
engaging and learning from an outstanding growth and development over the long term.
board of directors over my tenure. Our buy-
ing entities and minority/women’s business
enterprise or MWBE board members share

16 Collin County Leader • Premier Issue ccleader.net

THE BRIGHTEST STARS OF TEXAS

ARE LIGHTING, AND LEADING,
THE WAY TO A BETTER FUTURE.

WE RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF DIVERSITY - IN OUR WORKFORCE,
IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND IN THE BUSINESSES WE SUPPORT.

Supplier diversity is more than the right thing to do - it's good business - and it
helps us in reaching our goals and exceeding our expectations. Together, we work
hand-in-hand to build a better Texas, and illuminate a better future.

At Oncor, we help power diverse businesses through our minority and women­

owned supplier program. We're proud of our more than 4,000 employees and the

important work they accomplish with the help of local, diverse suppliers.

T hank you for helping us reach our goals and keeping us Oncor Strong!

WE DELIVER.

ONCOR.COM

corporate citizenship } Emerson’s team in McKinney includes (back row, from left) Bartley de la Houssaye,
Blaike Dumas, Sydney Wilkins, Archie Lakshmanan, Will Vaughn, Jim Griffin; (middle
row; from left) Tim Hawkins, Ashely Sine, Terri Spriester, Justin Masias and Katie
Pitlik; (front row, from left) students Bilaal Kahn and Andrew Simmons.

Creating a better world

Emerson gives back to McKinney community } By Caryn Berardi
E merson Electric Co. is known for de-
veloping pioneering industrial and communities and championing local organi-
technological solutions for business- zations, she said, is a critical component for
es and consumers, but its principal driving meaningful and lasting change.
values and causes go beyond any
Emerson philanthropy programs are fo-
cused on four areas: education, health and hu-

one product or service. The compa- man services, culture and arts, and civic needs.

ny’s purpose is “We drive innovation that In 2020, the company gave $24.5 million to

makes the world healthier, safer, smarter more than 1,300 charities, nonprofits and ed-

and more sustainable.” ucational institutions across the United States.

In short, Emerson wants to create a bet- This includes its commitment to equitable

ter world for the next generation. It is an and quality education for children and young

ambitious effort, but one that is grounded adults, particularly funding and supporting

in the company’s philosophy of global citi- STEM education, with $16 million donated to

zenship and in the five causes that guide its STEM (science, technology engineering and

work: Planet, Humanity, Champion, Inclu- math) initiatives over the past 10 years.

sion and Future. Education is an important focus for Spri-

“At Emerson, we’re focused on creating a ester and her team in McKinney. Emerson

world that protects our resources, celebrates has been a community partner with the McK-

and empowers employees and communi- inney Education Foundation (MEF) since

ty members of all backgrounds, and offers 2004, when it established an endowment

sustainable solutions to make lives easier,” fund for scholarships that is now valued ~ Terri Spriester, vice president,
said Terri Spriester, vice president of human over $400,000. MEF supports the students human resources, Emerson’s pressure
resources for Emerson’s pressure manage- and teachers in the McKinney Independent management business
ment business in McKinney, Texas. “This School District (MISD) through scholarships

commitment extends to our employees, cus- and College Advisor programs that place col-

tomers, industries and communities, and it lege advisers in all three MISD high schools

inspires us to give back to the areas where to help with the college application and

we live and work.” scholarship process. It is an essential pro-

While Emerson operates across the globe, gram that Emerson helps make possible,

each Emerson office supports charitable ef- said Ashley Sine, executive director for MEF.

forts on a local level. Giving back to their (continued on page 27)

18 Collin County Leader • Premier Issue ccleader.net



diversity matters

Taking flight
Vistra’s Annette Underwood ensures diversity initiatives have wings for the long haul

} By Michele Majors Brown building this program. We created a diversi- ~ Annette Underwood, chief diversity
ty council. At the time, I didn’t think there officer, Vistra Corp.
A nnette Underwood’s path to an em- would be a chief diversity officer for a couple
ployee relations career might best be of years, but I told my boss, ‘I don’t know cultures within the company — retail, tradi-
described as the road — or, better yet, what you plan to do with this, but I want to tional corporate and generation — all with
the route — less traveled: She entered help build it.” different motivations and ways of communi-
the professional world as a flight at- cating. Under her leadership, the company
tendant. It’s an experience that, over   created seven new employee resource groups,
20 years with Delta Air Lines Inc., shaped her Opportunity knocks  aimed at bringing those teams together.
for what lied ahead. 
The opportunity to build on Vistra’s diver- For example, the resource group Bridg-
“Being in an environment where you sity program came quickly. Just months after ing the Gap helps bridge the gap for Vistra
never have control over who you were in- those listening sessions, in December 2020, employees looking to grow professionally
teracting with taught you to think fast, evalu- the Vistra board approved the addition of a but are unsure where to go for questions or
ate and influence quickly – just how to deal chief diversity officer. advice. The group brings together a diverse
with a lot of people,” said Underwood, Vis- group of plant and corporate employees to
tra Corp.’s first chief diversity officer. “Going “I applied, thinking if I don’t get it, I still support and provide access to Vistra’s great-
through 9/11, going through Delta’s crash, have a great job. We have a pretty awesome er network of opportunities.
all of that strengthened my people skills and workforce. Vistra was already a good place to
my coping skills, and that was my biggest les- work. Most people are happy,” Underwood Underwood, who came from humble be-
son to date.” said. “Even in the listening sessions, they ginnings, said providing exposure can help
said that, but there was some substantial many people grow and achieve success and
Underwood’s time at Delta ultimately led work we needed to do in the diversity space. see different career possibilities. 
her to Dallas, Texas-based Vistra, a leading So, I applied in January.”
integrated retail electricity and power gen- “Providing people opportunities is the
eration company with more than 5,000 em-   best that you can do, giving somebody an
ployees. She was working on the employee Internal development and opportunity to provide for their family or
relations team, as a manager and director, recruitment 
when Vistra — and the nation — faced (continued on page 27)
the reality of the country’s systemic racism When Underwood accepted the job, she
and inequality through the lens of George hit the ground running, looking for ways to
Floyd’s murder.  implement some of the employee sugges-
tions from the summer listening sessions.  
The summer of 2020 prompted Vistra
CEO Curt Morgan to act. “We heard that loud and clear during the
listening sessions from all groups, all races,
“He’s a strong CEO. He’s very transpar- all levels, that we had this practice of going
ent and not afraid to show emotion,” Un- external for the bulk of our hires, and peo-
derwood said. “He said, ‘We have got to do ple felt like there was no movement or op-
something.’ He kind of put himself out there portunity,” she said.
and said, ‘We’re going to do something. I
just don’t know what yet.’” Underwood met with recruitment teams to
ensure that Vistra’s internal candidates had an
  opportunity to compete for open positions. 
Listening sessions
That involved taking a hard look at existing
Initial conversations between Morgan and teams and explaining the meaning of diversity.
Vistra’s Chief Administrator Officer Carrie Kir-
by led to the development of 28 virtual listen- “Because when you say diversity, people
ing sessions for employees, leaning heavily automatically think you’re talking about race,
on Underwood’s employee relations skill set. or if not, you’re probably talking about gen-
Those sessions gave employees the opportu- der,” Underwood said. “So, what we have to
nity to share a wide range of experiences and constantly do is say, ‘No, everybody’s valued.
perspectives — and for others to listen.   We need white males, too. We need allies. Ev-
erybody brings something to the table.’”
“The executives attended all 28 sessions
and listened to what employees had experi-  
enced in the company,” Underwood said. “As Three distinct cultures
we went through that, we really just started
Another challenge Underwood faced early
on was bridging gaps between three distinct

20 Collin County Leader • Premier Issue ccleader.net

Unity is the root — diversity is the fruit
Celebrating diversity helps build unified, diverse cultures

} Georgeann H. Ikuma color of your jersey.” ~ Steve Gandara, co-founder and
Gandara summarizes that “inclusion is the managing director, Excellent Cultures Inc.
W hen it comes to adding value and
enhancing supply chain perfor- wrong word because nobody wants to be in- 6
mance, corporate America under- cluded — they want to be celebrated.”
stands that diversity matters. For “When you have a
Steve Gandara, co-founder and Best cultures for the corporate culture of
managing director of Excellent best companies unity that celebrates
Cultures Inc., however, it’s how a company diversity, equity occurs
achieves diversity that matters most. Gandara and Excellent Cultures have automatically. You can
spent the past four decades creating the no longer win with just
Like most corporate training and pro- best cultures in the world for the best com- talented individuals; it’s
grams that attempt to cause human beings panies in the world — from Toyota and Mi- the best team that wins.”
to change from the outside-in, diversity, eq- crosoft, to Costco, Subway and numerous
uity and inclusion programs can produce smaller companies. 5— Steve Gandara
temporary and limited results at best. 
Using a unique combination of scientific
“From diversity to inclusion, everything is assessment data and proprietary technol-
rooted in culture,” said Gandara, who, as a ogy, his team has designed and orchestrat-
ed strategies delivering client ROIs ranging
Hispanic American, understands the ne- from 225% to 1750% in less than two years.
cessity for diversity in the business world.
“The Excellent Cultures Method focuses on “Our superpower is the technology we’ve
building cultures of unity that celebrate di- developed over time that unifies people
versity and meaningful lasting change from in less than 60 days,” said Gandara, whose
the inside out.” coaching strategy helped Coast Properties
build an excellent culture using four key
Dell Harris Gandara employs seasoned benchmarks: set and achieve goals, self-actu-
business consultants, coaches, and corpo- alization, respect and value people, and uni-
rate trainers to assist businesses in achieving ty. “Not only did they get a 225% return on
their desired outcome of winning, building, their investment, but they won awards for
and sustaining the type of cultures that pro- best places to work and diversity, and they
duce a measurable impact on a company’s didn’t even have a diversity strategy.”
revenue, cost savings, and bottom line.
When you understand unity that cele-
“When you have a corporate culture of brates diversity you can hire people because
unity that celebrates diversity, equity occurs they are team players and excellent at what
automatically,” he said. “You can no longer they do, not because of their gender or eth-
win with just talented individuals; it’s the nicity. As companies begin to value winning
best team that wins.” through unity that celebrates diversity as
their highest cultural priority diversity oc-
As an example, Gandara points to the NBA curs naturally as a direct result because you
and WNBA as organizations that demon- can’t win without it.
strate the culture that really wins most, be-
cause they have created a culture where uni- “Winning organizations are fast, mobile,
ty is the priority and diversity is celebrated quick to change, diverse, highly motivated,
rather than forced or merely tolerated. totally unified teams that hate losing and
love to win,” said Gandara. “Unity is the root;
“As we’ve most recently seen in society, diversity is the fruit. When you miss unity
diversity without unity produces chaos,” he and only focus on diversity you get chaos in-
said. “I recently had the opportunity to in- stead of success. Just remember UCB, www.
terview former NBA coach of the year, Del UnityCelebratesDiversity.com, and you’ll be
Harris. Del has successfully coached 5 NBA good to go.” ¿
Teams, the Puerto Rican Team and the Chi-
nese National Team. When I asked what he To learn more about Excellent
thought of diversity and inclusion, he said, Cultures, visit excellentcultures.com.
‘I really get into diversity because it works,
but inclusion not so much, because the only
color that matters on a basketball team is the

Collin County Leader • Premier Issue 21

woman-owned Business spotlight

First Communion to LinkedIn

Plano photographer captures genuine client stories } By Caryn Berardi
P hotography by Misty, the Plano, Tex-
as-based company founded by Misty programming, education and outreach.
Hoyt, has evolved over the years. It’s her way to give back to a community
What started with personal and fam- that has been such an asset to her.
ily portraits has moved toward a
“Being involved in the Chamber helped
when I was starting my company, and I

more corporate client focus, includ- continue to obtain at least one client per

ing headshots, events, branding services week either directly or indirectly through

and more. it,” Hoyt said. “My involvement connects

Adapting to industry trends and taking me with resources not only for my busi-

advantage of the thriving business com- ness, but also ones for clients so I can help

munity in Collin County and across Dallas/ them grow their own initiatives.”

Fort Worth has helped the company grow, Persistent networking is just one of the

but Hoyt said no matter who is in front things that Hoyt practices herself and ad-

of the camera, the key to its success has vises for other small business owners. She

remained constant – a genuine passion to also encourages mentoring relationships

seeing its clients succeed. with people outside of your generation

“I do not hire anyone who doesn’t have and being open to suggestions and advice,

a passion for people,” she said. “From even if you consider yourself an industry

asking questions to learn a client’s sto- expert, recalling that one of her favor-

ry before we even get out the camera to ite photographs came from a suggestion

~ Misty Hoyt, owner, Photography straightening a necklace or rearranging made by a 6-year-old client. Perhaps most
by Misty furniture to make a shoot work, we offer importantly, Hoyt urges business owners
our clients assurance that we are always to never stop learning.

looking out for their best interests.” “Listen to every business podcast and

6 This client-centered approach and focus take notes, attend seminars and read
“I have no desire to on genuine photography and storytelling books. Even if you think you don’t need
has been the foundation of Photography it now, you might find you need it later,”
by Misty since Hoyt founded the company she said.
in 2003. As a journalist working at small-
Using everything she has learned

er publications where she was responsible throughout her career, Hoyt is excited

ever retire, I just want for both writing and photographing her about the future of Photography by Misty.
stories and then a mother who was always Her goal is to have three to four photog-

to bring people along taking pictures of her babies, Hoyt real- raphers booked all day three to four days
ized she had an eye for capturing special per week. And while the businesses’ com-

with me. I want to build moments. A hobby turned into a full-time petitive advantage remains its client-fo-
financial freedom not entrepreneurial enterprise. cused approach and expertise, Hoyt is
also focused on staff members’ growth. At
Her early clients mostly came from

just for myself, but for her children’s school community. Now, the beginning of every year, she sits down
18 years later, some of the kids for with her employees to discuss their per-

others. That’s what really whom Hoyt took First Communion pic- sonal goals. It’s an extension of the pas-
tures are coming back to her for their sion she brings to her clients for learning
motivates me.”
LinkedIn headshots. about, supporting and celebrating indi-

5— Misty Hoyt This connection to her local Plano vidual stories.
community was critical in building her “I have no desire to ever retire, I just
business, and Hoyt has continued her in-
volvement through the Plano Chamber of want to bring people along with me,” Hoyt
Commerce and its Leadership Plano pro- said. “I want to build financial freedom not
just for myself, but for others. That’s what

gram. She also serves on the City of Plano really motivates me.” ¿

Cultural Arts Commission whose mission To learn more about
is to support arts and culture within the Photography by misty, visit

city by encouraging innovation in diverse photographybymisty.com.

22 Collin County Leader • Premier Issue ccleader.net

Investing in diverse
entrepreneurs for
over 25 years

For the last quarter century we have opened new
opportunities for diverse business owners, creating a
positive impact on the communities we serve together.
Their success is critical to our success as a business.

jpmorganchase.com/supplierdiversity

woman-owned Business spotlight

Interventions

Rare funding helping Kanarys strengthen workplace DEI } By M.V. Greene
R arified air.
That is a perfect description of Kanarys among various initiatives — increased to $4.6
Inc., a technology company of Black million in seed funding overall that Kanarys
founders that lifts organizations by pro- has received since its founding.
viding software and tools to address
emerging workforce challenges sur- Kanarys approached the funding mar-
ket by targeting so-called “inclusive inves-
rounding diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI. tors” who have a vision corresponding to
that of the company. While noting that the
Entrepreneur and Kanarys co-founder business case for DEI has been built out for
decades, Price said that two seminal events
and CEO Mandy Price launched the Dal- during 2020 — the George Floyd social in-
justice protests and the emergence of the
las, Texas-based startup, along with her two COVID-19 pandemic — exposed how badly
organizations were faring with issues around
co-founders, Star Carter and Bennie King, workplace DEI.

in 2018. They received their first infusion Before 2020, many potential investors did
not understand “the vision of what we were
of highly elusive venture capital funding in trying to create. A lot of them have now.
They’ve seen the shift that has happened
2020. As the recipient of venture backing, with respected companies and corporations
focusing on DEI,” Price said.
Kanarys indeed embodies rarified air, espe-
Many venture investors failed to see the
cially considering that diverse business own- market for DEI and challenges in the work-
place for women, people of color, LGBTQ+
ers face overwhelming obstacles in the scram- and other underrepresented groups, she
said. “We’ve had to approach fundraising
ble to obtain financing of any kind to grow very differently. We wanted to be with inves-
tors that understand the market, the oppor-
their companies. tunity and the change we are trying to create
in the world.”
Meanwhile, Black women founders receive
Price’s personal and professional brand
~ Mandy Price, co-founder and CEO, an even more minuscule piece of the venture are as much the story of Kanarys as anything
Kanarys Inc. capital pie — in which private equity investors else. Growing up in Texas, she always had an
provide capital to companies with high-growth abiding interest in issues involving racial and
social justice. For example, at the Universi-
potential in exchange for equity stakes. ty of Texas at Austin — where she received
her undergraduate degree — she served as a
6 Statistics show that all Black founders his- member of the school’s Task Force on Racial
“We’ve had to approach torically have received less than 1% of avail- Respect and Fairness.
able venture capital dollars. According to
Crunchbase Inc. — which aggregates invest- On top of that, she is a Harvard Law
ment data and information on global com- School-trained lawyer, receiving her juris
doctor in 2006. She focused her research in-
panies — a record $147 billion in venture terest on social justice issues, including ser-
vice on Harvard’s Civil Rights-Civil Liberties
fundraising very capital was invested in U.S. startups through Law Review, which is widely viewed as the
the first half of this year. Crunchbase re- nation’s leading progressive law journal. Af-
ter graduation, she moved into the divergent
differently. We wanted search noted that venture dollars invested field of private equity and worked for more
with Black firms has increased since 2019, than a decade in Big Law — large, high-rev-
enue law firms usually located in major U.S.
to be with investors that but still only about 1.2% of that $147 billion cities — before establishing Kanarys, giving
understand the market, went to all Black founders and 0.34% to her a heads up on how founders attract ven-
Black women founders. ture dollars.

the opportunity and the “There is a huge disparity when it comes
to Black founders receiving funding,” Price

change we are trying to said. “It is a big challenge. There are many,
many entrepreneurs who have talented
create in the world.”
teams and great ideas, but are not funded.”

5— Mandy Price Kanarys was fortunate enough to close on
a $3 million round of venture funding earli-
er this year, led by Zeal Capital Partners LLC
that also included investors Revolution’s Rise
of the Rest Seed Fund; Morgan Stanley; 100

Black Angels and Allies Fund; Segal Ventures;

Portfolia Rising America and Rackhouse Ven-

tures, according to the company. The round

— which is being used to advance product

features and accelerate sales and marketing

24 Collin County Leader • Premier Issue ccleader.net

Creating long-term, systemic

changes around DEI challenge

Price formed Kanarys with her Harvard

classmate Star Carter, who serves as chief

operating officer and general counsel, and

husband Bennie King, the company’s chief

product officer, both of whom also received

their undergraduate degrees from the Uni-

versity of Texas at Austin.

Carter had worked as a corporate attor-

ney before the founding, and King worked

at a large pharmaceutical company. All three

founders felt the sting of issues with inclu-

sion at previous jobs, Price said.

“A lot of the inspiration behind Kanarys

came from us working in the workplace.

We really have the passion and drive for the

company based on our own experiences.

Our experiences were not isolated. These

were experiences that many other Black em-

ployees held in the workplace,” she said.

The genesis of the company’s name

comes from a former coal mining industry

tradition, where miners would take canar- ~ Bennie King, Mandy Price and Star Carter, co-founders, Kanarys Inc.
ies into the mines as a means for detecting

carbon monoxide and other odorless toxic

gases that could hurt humans. If gases were Price said that before the fundamental and initiatives are needed,” she said.

present, they would kill the canary, warning shifts in 2020 with the protests and pandem- Currently as critical as ever for business

the miners to get back above ground. The ic, organizations tended to focus their diver- success, more employees are fervent in their

founders chose the name Kanarys to serve as sity efforts primarily around talent acquisi- demand that corporate organizations have a

a “canary in the workplace” to help organiza- tion but failed to ensure that DEI principles plan to address DEI — or they won’t work

tions detect DEI issues in their workplaces. were rooted within the business as a priority. for them, Price noted.

Kanarys’ business mission is to provide or- Implementing initiatives such as employee This attitude is especially acute in Gener-

ganizations the tools needed to create long- resource groups and unconscious bias train- ation Z, those younger workers born after

term, systemic changes around DEI challeng- ing was hardly enough, she said. 1997. Living Facts, a research publication of

es, offering benchmarking and data designed Besides talent acquisition, DEI through The Pew Charitable Trusts, says 67 million

to uncover what Price described as DEI blind data collection and analysis also needs to en- Americans are part of this group and are

spots within the organization. Unless DEI is capsulate practices like employee retention, the most racially and ethnically diverse of

data-driven and transparent, strategies won’t performance management and pay practices all generations, with 48% identifying them-

be precise or enduring, according to her. across the entirety of the corporate enter- selves as nonwhite.

Kanarys is certified by National Minori- prise, including regions, divisions and depart- Another workplace research organization,

ty Supplier Development Council Inc. as a ments that may have different DEI challenges, Glassdoor Inc., noted in its Diversity & Inclu-

minority business enterprise. Yum! Brands, according to her. “We help them have precise sion Workplace Survey from September 2020

Dallas Mavericks and Neiman Marcus are and measurable interventions based on data, that 76% of employees and job seekers sur-

among its current clients. so they are not just guessing which programs veyed said that a diverse workforce is a key

6 factor when evaluating companies and job of-

fers. In addition, nearly half of African Amer-
ican and Hispanic employees and job seek-
ers responded that they have quit a job after
witnessing or experiencing discrimination at

“Companies must have [DEI] as a focus or they will not be able to work, according to the Glassdoor survey.

“Companies must have [DEI] as a focus or

retain workers. They cannot be an employer of choice if they’re they will not be able to retain workers. They
cannot be an employer of choice if they’re
not paying attention to the issues that their employees care about.” not paying attention to the issues that their

5— Mandy Price employees care about,” Price said. ¿

To learn more about Kanarys, visit
kanarys.com.

Collin County Leader • Premier Issue 25

Inspiration

Time to reset
Leroy Armstrong’s book reveals how to discover God’s purpose for your life

} By Michele Majors Brown T he beginning of the coronavirus pan- sits on the board of the McKinney Cham-
demic in 2020 led Leroy R. Armstrong Jr. ber of Commerce.
~ Leroy R. Armstrong Jr., president to write a book prompted by a sermon
and lead servant, Proclaiming the focused on helping people adjust to life Armstrong’s journey into ministry includ-
Word Ministries at the beginning of the pandemic. ed several twists and turns before he an-
Based on a sermon using the word swered the calling. In fact, he’d been called
6 ‘reset,’ he released his first book — “Disrup- while in college, but pursued a career in
tion: Resetting Your Life’s Purpose” — this engineering for five years. Knowing that he
“You don’t have to live year. It is available on Amazon and Barnes would eventually pursue ministry, he prayed
stuck in your past where & Noble in paperback and eBook versions. for clarity about his calling.
you made poor choices
and bad decisions. That “Worldwide, we were all reeling from the Moving to Dallas, Texas, Armstrong pur-
onset of this coronavirus that just came like sued his ministry calling that led to serving
doesn’t define you.” a wave and disrupted life on so many levels,” under other leaders and eventually leading
Armstrong said. his own church.
5— Leroy R. Armstrong Jr.
He said the disruption allowed people the Armstrong said that although he had a
opportunity to pause long enough to reset successful ministry, sometimes disruptions
their life’s purpose. that individuals face in their careers or per-
sonal lives can be self-inflicted. In hopes
Armstrong knew he tapped into some- of encouraging others facing similar chal-
thing based on the responses he received lenges, in the book, he shares his own dis-
from people on Facebook who watched his ruptions, which including loss of a church
sermon that was recorded from his living that he founded as well as a broken mar-
room last year to be replayed later. The mes- riage and family and other relationships
sage resonated with people on many levels. that suffered.

“I’ve lived long enough and interacted “One of the things I say in the book is that
with enough people to know there are peo- some seasons of disruption are Divinely al-
ple who have jobs that pay good money, have lowed, others are self-inflicted,” Armstrong
businesses that make good money, but they said. “In 2010, I was responsible for major
lack the fulfillment that comes from living disruption in my own life, and it was self-
according to their purpose,” said Armstrong, inflicted, because of several extremely poor
a licensed and ordained minister who has a choices that I made.”
Bachelor of Science degree from the Univer-
sity of Kansas and a Master of Theology from Armstrong said that during his healing
Dallas Theological Seminary. Armstrong is season, he learned that God could use him
pursuing a doctorate in preaching at South for another purpose despite the disruptions
African Theological Seminary. he experienced. He learned that he could
serve God no matter what type of position
A Kansas City, Missouri, native, he is pres- he had whether he led a church or not.
ident and lead servant at Proclaiming the
Word Ministries. In addition, Armstrong Armstrong suggests that his book helps
owns Charis Communications LLC, a mar- individuals who may be stuck because of
ketplace business which offers a compre- disappointing circumstances or bad choic-
hensive digital marketing platform to small es. He said the best way for individuals to
and medium-sized businesses. His business approach the book is to read it and apply
also focuses on acquiring and building in- the principles to discover God’s specific pur-
come-producing assets. pose for their lives.

He said the overwhelming response from “You don’t have to live stuck in your past
sermon viewers and his prayer time with God where you made poor choices and bad de-
prompted him to write a book addressing cisions. That doesn’t define you,” he said.
those concerns and disruptions in general. “The book offers lots of encouragement that
God loves you.”
“That’s why I wrote it. I really do want
to help people,” said Armstrong, who also While the pandemic forced people to fo-
cus on new health and economic realities,

26 Collin County Leader • Premier Issue ccleader.net

it also magnified civil, political, and social periencing is multifaceted. It’s multilayered. To learn more about Charis
unrest creating a perfect storm with Ameri- It’s crazy,” he continued. “And it’s a season. Communications LLC, visit,
cans being captive audiences stuck at home It’s a season where you have the privilege of chariscommunications.now.site/home.
as they watched, Armstrong said. disruption ... it’s a gift, that’s what I say,” Arm-
strong said. “Could it be that during this sea- To learn more about Armstrong and
“Last year, we witnessed this gruesome son of multilayered, multifaceted, disruption, Proclaiming the Word Ministries, visit
murder of George Floyd, as the world God has given you the gift of disruption, so proclaimingtheword.com.
watched it. He was murdered by a police that you can reset your life’s purpose?”
officer,” Armstrong said. “That disruption To read a free excerpt of his book
uncovered afresh this deeply seated racial These days, servant leadership drives Arm- and to order a discounted, signed
animus that is in the DNA of this nation. strong in every aspect of his life including copy, disruptionresettingyourlife
And we’ve lived through it, all the protests his community and business work in McK- spurpose.now.site.
and peaceful demonstrations, some went vi- inney. He has served in numerous capacities
olent. I don’t ascribe to the violence at all. in ministry. And, in addition to the McKinney
But the peaceful protests from multiple gen- Chamber of Commerce board, Armstrong
erations and multiple ethnicities, people are serves on the board of 3e United and on the
going, ‘This is enough.’ Community Advisory Council for the McKin-
ney police chief. ¿
“This disruption that we have all been ex-

Creating a better world mechanical engineering students more than from Emerson to the McKinney Chamber of
$118,000 in scholarship funding. Commerce will help fund the launch of a
(continued from page 18) McKinney diversity, equity and inclusion
“Annually, Emerson is a cornerstone inves- “We want these young people to drive program community wide.
tor providing support for both our College innovation to make a smarter, safer and
Advisor and Scholarship programs,” Sine more sustainable world – whether at Em- “This goal is critical and reinforces
said. “Without local corporate support, MEF erson or somewhere else,” Spriester said. our dedication to removing barriers to
would not be able to provide specialized “It is important to support teacher grants success and supporting an inclusive cul-
support to our high school families in the as well because they are the catalysts for the ture,” she said. “We want to ensure our
College Advisor Program. This work would students to learn and to get excited about business reflects a diverse workgroup,
fall to our high school counselors who al- these areas.” creating an environment where all per-
ready have a full load. Teamwork by MEF and spectives are recognized.”
MISD high school staff has proven priceless Emerson’s support of MEF and other lo-
to graduating seniors and their families.” cal non-profits matches its efforts to foster In all its internal initiatives — from Em-
Through MEF, the Emerson scholarship is community internally as well, with the com- ployee Resource Groups to peer recognition
awarded to two MISD high school graduates pany particularly focused on cultivating a awards — Emerson always comes back to its
who plan to study mechanical engineering. culture of diversity, equity and inclusion purpose and its five causes, ensuring its ide-
This past year, the awardees were also able within its business. als are more than just words.
to visit the Emerson office, talk to its engi- “We are always proud to recognize our em-
neers, learn about different career opportu- This year Emerson announced a com- ployees who truly live out our global values
nities, and experience the company’s flow pany goal to double its representation of and who support the communities where
and additive technology operations. Since women globally and U.S. minorities at the we live and work,” Spriester said. ¿
2010, Emerson has awarded 24 prospective leadership level by 2030. Spriester said she
would also like to see representation in- To learn more about Emerson, visit
crease at a local level and that a recent grant emerson.com.

Taking flight tra’s diversity program, fueled by the com- The future is bright
pany’s $10 million pledge over five years to Underwood has big plans for the future
(continued from page 20) invest in underserved communities, Histori-
get that first house or whatever their goals cally Black Colleges and Universities, other of Vistra’s diversity program but tries to stay
may be,” she said. “I didn’t come from a minority-serving colleges and universities, rooted in what matters most. 
wealthy family. I didn’t even come from and diversity- focused organizations. Some
a middle-class family. I came from a single of those initiatives have included partnering “My biggest focus, of course, is on our
mother of five kids. If people hadn’t taken with Texas Southern University, The Universi- people and making sure they feel valued. If
it upon themselves to expose me and give ty of Texas at Arlington, Prairie View A&M Uni- you’ve been in corporate America, you know
me opportunities and say, ‘How about trying versity, Paul Quinn College, Hispanic College it can seem like the opportunities aren’t
this?’ I don’t know that I would be where I Fund and the United Negro College Fund.  there, because you don’t see people like you
am today. If a door opened, I was definitely at certain levels,” she said. “At the end of the
going to take advantage. I wasn’t afraid.”  “It has been really enjoyable because day, we are taking a company of 5,000, and
we’re putting our money where our mouth we are tackling the initiatives that America’s
  is, and not just this year because it’s the hot- tackling. We’re not in it for the pats on the
Community and education  test thing, but for the next five years and be- back. It’s just the right thing to do.” ¿
yond,” Underwood said.
A commitment to community and higher To learn more about Vistra,
education became a third component of Vis- visit vistracorp.com.

Collin County Leader • Premier Issue 27

ENGINEERED FOR
DRIVEN BY DIVERSITY

The inclusive perspectives and progressive capabilities of
Toyota’s diverse suppliers make the possibilities of Mobility for All a daily reality.

O N E T O Y O TA S U P P L I E R D I V E R S I T Y. C O M