US Business Leadership Network Announces 2009 Board of Directors; New Board includes Representatives from Hewlett-Packard, Manpower, Qualcomm, and Sam´s Club

For Immediate Release
Contact: Brandon M. Macsata
February 23, 2009
Phone: 305-519-4256
info@usbln.org

WASHINGTON, DC (February 23, 2009) - The US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®) today announced that it has named its Board of Directors for 2009-2010. New representation on the USBLN® Board of Directors includes Martha Artiles, Chief Diversity Officer for Manpower Inc, Michelle Maybaum , Director, Employee Relations for Qualcomm, Inc., Michael Takemura, Director of Hewlett-Packard´s Accessibility & Aging Program Office, and Scott Williams, Vice President of E-Commerce for Sam´s Club. The USBLN® leadership now spans from the service industry to retail, the financial industry to technology, the telecommunications industry to health care, and the hospitality industry to employment services.

The full USBLN Board of Directors then elected Beth Butler, to serve as Chair, Deb Russell to serve as Vice-Chair and Deb Ruh to serve as Secretary/Treasurer.

"An important measure of any organization´s evolution, growth and success is the diversification of its board of directors," summarized Beth Butler, Vice-President and Disability Consultant for Wachovia Corporation - A Wells Fargo Company and Chair of the USBLN® board of directors. "Today, we find ourselves in ever-changing economic circumstances, so it is incumbent upon the USBLN® to be represented by the numerous companies that have demonstrated their commitment to workforce diversity. Only by employing the talents of workers both with disabilities and without disabilities, will our economy remain a viable competitor in today´s global marketplace."

Butler further stated, "Aside from promoting workforce diversity, companies like Manpower, Qualcomm, HP and Sam´s Club also understand the benefits of marketing to consumers with disabilities - who collectively hold significant buying power in America. I´m confident that Martha, Michelle, Michael and Scott will help the USBLN® build upon its many accomplishments and further enhance the business-to-business message of recruiting, hiring, retaining, and promoting workers with disabilities."

Marha Artiles brings a unique combination of human resources, engineering and community experience from her 25-year career to Manpower where she oversees global strategic diversity and workforce development. Her expertise spans many categories including diversity, organizational change, recruitment, quality management and mechanical engineering. Prior to joining Manpower, Artiles led diversity initiatives at global corporations in the manufacturing, IT and service sectors. Her accomplishments include the initiation of a minority council to educate senior executives at a Fortune 300 global corporation, the creation and development of an executive focused mentoring program and the co-founder of a Hispanic employee networking group.

Michelle Maybaum has been involved with the US Business Leadership Network since 2003, and she served as the Vice President of the Board from 2004-2007. She is also the representative for Qualcomm as one of the lead companies for the San Diego Chapter of the California BLN. Michelle actively partners with the Department of Rehabilitation and other service providers as a member of the San Diego Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities (SDCEPD) to further the employment of people with disabilities. Michelle has 20+ years of Human Resources experience and is currently employed as a Director, Employee Relations at Qualcomm, Inc. In that capacity, she is responsible for disability awareness for the entire the organization, overseeing accommodation needs, and outreach to the disabled community. Qualcomm is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on the Company´s CDMA digital technology.

Scott Williams has responsibility for the Samsclub.com business unit and leads the Sam´s digital marketing initiatives and call center operations. Scott joined Sam´s Club in 2006. Prior to joining Sam´s Club, Scott served as Senior Vice-President, Marketing and OfficeMax.com for OfficeMax, Inc. in Itasca, IL. Additionally, Scott has held marketing and general management positions with PepsiCo, Boise Cascade Office Products, and Koch Industries. Scott is on the Board for Life Styles, an organization supporting Adults with Disabilities.

Michael Takemura is responsible for developing and implementing the strategy for HP´s accessibility efforts. This office guides corporate-wide accessibility in product design, engineering, product development, marketing, web, services, support and programs for persons with disabilities and age-related limitations. Michael is a frequent speaker representing HP and the information technology industry on global information technology accessibility issues. He is currently serving as co-convenor of the JTC1 Special Working Group on Accessibility - Task Group on User Requirements, and the chair for the INCITS Study Group on Accessibility. Michael also represented the Information Technology Industry Council on the U.S. Access Board Telecommunications and Electronic Information Technology Advisory Council. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Assistive Technology Industry Associatio. He is a member of the Information Technology Industry Council Accessibility Committee, and the National Spinal Cord Injury Association Business Advisory Council. In 2005, he was named one of Careers & disABLED Magazine´s Employees of the Year, for his professional and advocacy efforts on behalf of people with disabilities in the workplace.

The USBLN® Board of Directors is also comprised of several existing members, including Kirby Croyle, Assistant Vice-President & HR Consultant of Wells Fargo Bank´s Internet Services Group, Debra Ruh, President & Founder of TecAccess, Katherine O. McCary, Vice-President & Manager of Accessing Community Talent, Disability Resource Center at SunTrust Banks, Erin Riehle, Director of Disability Services at Cincinnati Children´s Hospital Medical Center, Frances West, Director of IBM´s Human Ability & Accessibility Center, Kevin Bradley, Director of McDonald´s Corporation Inclusion & Diversity, Kevin Foster, Director of Motorola´s Quality Master Black Belt, Marthalee Galeota, Program Manager of Starbuck´s Accessibility, and Deb Russell, Manager of Walgreen Company.

The USBLN® is the only national business organization currently representing 54 BLN affiliates in 32 states - including the District of Columbia - and more than 5000 employers using a ´business to business´ strategy to promote the business imperative of including people with disabilities in the workforce and marketplace.

For additional information about the USBLN® and its board of directors, please contact Brandon M. Macsata by phone at 305-519-4256 or email at info@usbln.org.

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