Catalyst Honors Initiatives at Baxter, CH2M HILL, Gibbons, and KPMG With the 2009 Catalyst Award

Catalyst announces that Baxter International Inc., CH2M HILL, Gibbons P.C., and KPMG LLP are the recipients of the 2009 Catalyst Award, the annual award that honors exceptional initiatives from companies and firms that support and advance women in business. Of particular note, this year’s Award-winning initiatives—the first pan-Asia Pacific initiative, the first initiative from the construction-engineering industry, an initiative central to a law firm’s branding, and an initiative that engages all employees—reflect true innovation and the success of a customized approach.

“The Catalyst Award serves as a call to action and illustrates the strong business case supporting women’s advancement to leadership regionally and globally,” said Ilene H. Lang, President and Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst. “During challenging economic times, these initiatives demonstrate that business can benefit from fresh thinking and commitment to making women in the workplace a top priority.”

“We have worked hard to develop and build upon the Gibbons Women’s Initiative to improve the representation of women in the highest ranks at the firm and to continue to diversify our firm and the legal profession,” stated Patrick C. Dunican, Jr., Chairman & Managing Director of Gibbons. “It is an extraordinary honor to be recognized for these efforts by such a well-respected organization as Catalyst.”

Catalyst Award-winning initiatives are evaluated in a rigorous year-long process against an extensive set of criteria: business rationale, senior leadership support, accountability, communication, replicability, originality, and measurable results. These Award-winning initiatives reflect best practices around diversity, inclusion, and advancement of women to leadership roles and positions of influence.

Gibbons’ initiative, The Women’s Initiative: Driving Success Through Diversity Investment, has contributed to, and continues to support, a workplace culture that is flexible, innovative, engaging, and inclusive. It is embedded in the firm’s business development strategy and has become critical to its branding in the marketplace. In 2007, The Women’s Initiative generated more than 6 percent of the firm’s annual revenue. Women currently hold 21.1 percent of equity director positions, and the number of women directors overall increased from 13 percent in 1997 to 19 percent in 2008. Women of color directors increased from zero to 4.1 percent in the same timeframe. Women also chair three of the firm’s nine practice groups.

In addition to Gibbons, the 2009 Catalyst Award-winning initiatives include: Baxter’s Asia Pacific initiative, Building Talent Edge, CH2M HILL’s initiative, Constructing Pathways for Women Through Inclusion and KPMG’s initiative, Great Place to Build a Career. For complete descriptions of this year’s Catalyst Award-winning initiatives and previous Award winners, please visit www.catalyst.org.

Baxter, CH2M HILL, Gibbons, and KPMG will present in-depth discussions on their initiatives at the 2009 Catalyst Awards Conference at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City on March 31, 2009. The conference, which is sponsored by Campbell Soup Company and The Coca-Cola Company, will feature keynote speaker Andrea Jung, Chairman and CEO of Avon Products, Inc. Later in the evening, the 2009 Catalyst Awards Dinner, sponsored by DuPont and Shell Oil Company, will be chaired by Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO of Kraft Foods Inc. Over 70 CEOs and leaders of major corporations, firms, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations are expected to attend, along with more than 1,500 guests representing 250 national and global companies.

About Catalyst
Founded in 1962, Catalyst is the leading nonprofit membership organization working globally with businesses and the professions to build inclusive workplaces and expand opportunities for women and business. With offices in the United States, Canada, and Europe, and more than 400 preeminent corporations as members, Catalyst is the trusted resource for research, information, and advice about women at work. Catalyst annually honors exemplary organizational initiatives that promote women’s advancement with the Catalyst Award.

About the Catalyst Award
The Catalyst Award annually honors innovative organizational approaches with proven, measurable results that address the recruitment, development, and advancement of all women, including women of color. Catalyst’s rigorous, year-long examination of initiatives culminates in intensive on-site evaluations at select organizations. Catalyst assesses a range of strategic approaches related to women’s advancement in the workplace. Discrete, specific efforts as well as broad initiatives, such as those that facilitate cultural change, are considered. By recognizing, sharing, and celebrating successful initiatives, Catalyst provides organizations with replicable models to help them create initiatives that are good for women and good for business.