Together Forward @Work
Systematic disparities in hiring and other unfair workplace practices have historically affected millions of workers. And it very much still does today. For that reason, and many others, SHRM launched Together Forward @Work in 2020, a call to action for the HR profession and business community to initiate open dialogue about racial inequity in the workplace. And today, the initiative provides tangible tools to create more equitable and inclusive workplaces. While more and more organizations are prioritizing DE&I discussions, now more than ever, action is needed.
This session will illuminate how we can move from talking about DE&I issues to creating real change. Hear compelling stories from brands you know and love (or soon will!)—including Johnson & Johnson, Crayola, and John's Crazy Socks—about pushing the boundaries to build more inclusive workplaces. You’ll take away fresh insights and new approaches that you can apply in your day-to-day work as a DE&I champion.
Mimi Dixon
Mimi Dixon is a highly motivated and dynamic thought leader with +20 years of expertise in Integrated, Shopper & Sports marketing for leading global brands. She describes herself as a “Big Idea Generator, Activation Master, Strategic Thought Leader and Passionate Marketer”. Currently, she is Director – Brand Activation & Content at Crayola. In this role, she spearheads Advertising, PR, Shopper Marketing, National marketing campaigns and Digital & Social Content & Imagery. Most recently, she led the development & activation of Crayola’s 2020 Colors of the World skin tone crayon launch which garnered over 3 billion impressions to date and has gone on to win various marketing, diversity & inclusion & product industry awards including a TOTY (Toy of The Year) award for Creative Toy of the Year. Mimi also serves as the Chair for Crayola’s first Diversity & Inclusion Council & is hard at work in building the council’s foundation for both the council and the company.
Mimi has been featured in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Diversity Woman, AdWeek and CBS Saturday morning. She has also served as a 2021 judge for the Effie, AME and ANA Multicultural Excellence Awards. Prior to joining Crayola in June of 2014, Mimi held various roles within increasing responsibility at Campbell Soup Company over a tenure of 16 years. During this time period, Mimi executed copious national marketing campaigns, managed the company’s NFL sponsorship for eight years, activated numerous brand & celebrity partnerships and lead retail specific activation for key retailers like Target, Kroger & Publix.
When Mimi is not creating or activating the next successful national marketing campaign, she enjoys traveling, reading, binge-watching true crime & reality TV shows, shoe shopping and spending time with family and friends. Mimi is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated and completes public service activities with her local alumnae chapter. Mimi has a Bachelor’s of Arts from Rutgers University and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Delaware. She currently resides in Hamilton, New Jersey.
John Cronin
John Cronin is a 24-year-old entrepreneur who happens to have Down syndrome. John is the co-founder and Chief Happiness Officer of John’s Crazy Socks which has a mission to spread happiness and show what people with differing abilities can achieve.
As a business leader, John has created a business where more than half the employees have a differing ability. John’s Crazy Socks has shipped over 270,000 orders to more than 80 different countries and earned over 27,000 5-star online reviews. John was the first person with Down syndrome to be named an EY Entrepreneur of the Year.
John is a fierce advocate for people of differing abilities and has testified twice before the U.S. Congress and spoken at the United Nations. He became “sock buddies” with former President George H.W. Bush and has been featured guest on national news programs. Speaking engagements that John performs with his father and co-founder Mark have taken them across Canada, the U.S. and Mexico and they are part of the U.S. State Department’s Speakers Bureau.
John is a member of the Board for the National Down Syndrome Society and the Athlete’s Congress for New York Special Olympics.
Mark Cronin
Mark X. Cronin is the co-founder, along with his son John, of John’s Crazy Socks, a social enterprise with a mission to spread happiness. His leadership has demonstrated that pursuing social goals – demonstrating what people with differing abilities can achieve and giving back – makes for good business.
Mark advocates for the rights of differently abled people. His advocacy work has seen Mark testify before Congress twice, speak at the UN and make numerous trips to Capitol Hill. Mark is a sought-after speaker having spoken at events across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Mark is part of the U.S. State Department’s Speakers’ Bureau.
Mark served as the Chief Operating officer of multiple health care management and technology firms, founded a software company, organized political campaigns and worked as a Congressional aide. Mark began his career as a schoolteacher and has taught in graduate schools as well.
Mark has an undergraduate degree from Holy Cross and a Masters of Public Policy from the Kennedy School at Harvard University. He has been named an EY Entrepreneur of the Year and is a Board member for the Long Island Chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization.
Casey Adams Jones
Casey Adams Jones is the Communications Lead for the U.S. Self Care business at Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health, responsible for key brands including BAND-AID® Brand, TYLENOL®, ZYRTEC®, and Zarbee’s® Naturals.
In this role Casey creates high impact communications strategies that inform, engage and align employees around our business strategy while elevating our Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health narrative externally. Casey partners with our brands to protect and enhance the reputation and equities of our brands and proactively tell the science story behind our products and innovation. She collaborates cross-functionally with key internal and external stakeholders such as agency partners, healthcare professionals and industry trade associations, to provide strategic counsel to the U.S. Self Care business.
Casey has a strong background in both internal and external communications. Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health, she was the Communications Director at the American Heart Association in Philadelphia and held various communications roles at the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, Campbell Soup Company, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to name a few.
Casey holds a master’s in health communication from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a bachelor’s in Business Management-Marketing with a minor in Spanish from North Carolina State University.
She currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband Chris, and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Junior League of Philadelphia, and the advisory council for Onboard Health.
Collis R. Jones
Collis R. Jones holds the position of Vice President, U.S. Policy & Strategy, for John Deere Public Affairs in Washington, DC. He leads the team responsible for managing U.S. federal and state government relations activities on behalf of Deere. These efforts are aimed at supporting legislation and public policies that are favorable to the interests of the company’s customers, employees and business partners.
Collis brings over 20 years of governmental strategic, tactical and policy development experience to this role and is one of Deere’s key contributors in delivering client-focused business initiatives within the organization. His 34-year career began at John Deere Financial and has included various marketing, sales and public policy leadership roles across the enterprise.
Collis serves on the Board of Directors for The Thurgood Marshall College Fund, The Congressional Award, Public Affairs Council, Government Relations Executive Council, North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of the Augustana College President’s Advisory Council and The FiscalNote Executive Institute Advisory Board.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL.
Deere & Company (www.JohnDeere.com) is a world leader in providing advanced products and services and is committed to the success of customers whose work is linked to the land - those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world's dramatically increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure. Since 1837, John Deere has delivered innovative products of superior quality built on a tradition of integrity.