BRAG 41st Annual Scholarship & Awards Gala: Whirlpool President And Daymond John To Be Honored

Online, October 4, 2011 (Newswire.com) - New York, NY - The Black Retail Action Group Inc. (BRAG) a national not-for-profit organization, will host its 41st Annual Scholarship and Awards Dinner Gala on Friday, October 14th at The Edison Ballroom here. Daymond John, Chief Executive Officer, Shark Branding and star of the ABC hit series Shark Tank, will receive the group's Special Recognition Award. Felita Harris, Sr. VP Global Sales, Donna Karan; Jerome Smalls, Vice President, Director of Community Relations, The TJX Companies, Inc; and Michael Todman, President, Whirlpool International will each receive the BRAG Business Achievement Award. Simone Smith, Creator & CEO of Simone I. Smith, LTD and wife of rapper turned actor LL Cool J will receive the group's Business Innovators Award for her new line of fine jewelry.

This year the theme, BRAG: Reinventing the Future, intends to highlight how with creative solutions retail and retail related industries could ensure that all people of color are embraced, mentored and given opportunities to achieve equal levels of success. "There is a wonderful sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that each of our honorees should feel", says Gary L. Lampley, BRAG President. "We're thrilled to recognize them for being the face of the future of retail".

The annual gala typically draws over 500 industry insiders, fashion VIP's, celebrities and retail corporations. Organizations like Macy's, Bloomingdales, Donna Karan, Phillips Van Heusen, Stop & Shop and The TJX Companies, this year's top sponsor, are just some of the companies who will celebrate with BRAG by providing financial scholarships to deserving high school and college students interested in pursuing careers in fashion, retail or related industries. More than 20 scholarships will be awarded that evening.

To date, BRAG has awarded nearly 400 scholarships totaling more than $350,000 to students who have achieved academic success and who exhibit financial need. Besides the Scholarship program, this annual fundraiser supports such efforts as the industry acclaimed BRAG Summer Internship Program, which has served over 1000 students from across the country, as well as the initiation of new BRAG student clubs at colleges and universities nationwide. Most recently BRAG opened college chapters at Ohio State University, Howard University, University of Florida, Pennsylvania University and The Terry Lundgren School of Retail at the University of Arizona.

The BRAG theme, Reinventing the Future, places a critical focus on leveraging creative solutions to achieve business results at the group's second annual Executive Leadership Roundtable. Highly recognized and distinguished brand leaders in the retail industry will participate as panelists at the Executive Leadership Roundtable. The discussion topics will be moderated by Gail Jordan, President Monarch Janus Associates, a former HR Executive and Consultant specializing in leadership development, diversity and inclusion. Participants include Tim A. Adams, Chief Private Brand Officer, Macy's Inc; Greg Flores, Executive VP Chief Human Resources Officer & Chief Diversity Officer, The TJX Companies, Inc; Delena Sunday, Executive VP Human Resources and Diversity Affairs, Nordstrom, Inc; and J.D Wilson, Senior VP, Growth Development and Operations, Best Buy.

This leadership forum will provide an excellent opportunity for senior executives to share their vision for diversity and inclusion initiatives, best practices and new developments to drive innovation, employee engagement, customer loyalty, multi-cultural merchandising and/or vendor development in the workplace and marketplace. Registration and a complimentary breakfast will begin at 8:00am. The roundtable will begin promptly at 8:30am.

For more information, visit www.bragusa.org. Media inquiries contact Gillard Jones Agency at 212-726-1163 or via email at [email protected].

About BRAG

BRAG, a 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization, is dedicated to the inclusion of African Americans and all people of color in retail and related industries. BRAG is the leading provider of resources and development support that empowers African Americans and all people of color to reach their highest professional potential in retail and related industries. BRAG fulfills these objectives by: Promoting awareness to the corporate community of challenges facing people of color in the workplace and assisting in the selection, development and advancement of people of color; Promoting the professional development and leadership skills of high school and college members, professional members and associates and; Providing a forum for the exchange of information and offering an environment for networking