Immediate Release

Global Diversity and Inclusion Foundation Creates Diversity Certification

Diversity certification is a major key to growth in todays aggressively competitive global marketplace
ATLANTA (June 25, 2012) The Global Diversity and Inclusion Foundation (GDIF), a non-profit and a leading organization for creating and developing workplace diversity policies and procedures announce the formation and members of its Diversity Certification Institute Board of Directors. The Diversity Certification Institute, a division of Global Diversity and Inclusion Foundation has taken the lead in the development of being the premier workplace diversity and inclusion certification experts at the local, national, international and global level. The certification will test the basic knowledge of diversity professionals in the areas of Global Diversity Marketplace Diversity Multi-Culture Understanding Strategic Leadership U.S. Compliance Workplace Diversity

Individuals that pass the certification test will be awarded the credentials of Certified Inclusion and Diversity Professional (CIDP) for 3-year duration. Bottom line, what this Diversity Practitioner certification is doing by creating an authentic knowledgebased certification of the profession, its very timely and a great asset to the holistic industry, says Tina Smith, Vice President, Diversity Relationship Consultant at Wells Fargo. Chuck Obina, Founding President/CEO of Global Diversity and Inclusion Foundation, states, The Diversity Certification Institute has declared its objective to make certification a process controlled by the diversity and inclusion profession. It is clear to us that the profession has been doing little to ensure that existing and new professionals have the basic knowledge base they need to exceed and for the workplace to be inclusive. Diversity certification is a major key to growth in todays aggressively competitive global marketplace. No longer can corporations and practitioners hide behind their lack of diversity and inclusion, says Gary Wheeler, SPHR, GPHR, CCP, CBP, President and CEO at the Virtual HR Director. The Diversity Certification Institute Board of Directors consists of diversity executives, employees and individuals from an array of workplaces. The following individuals have been selected to lead the Diversity Certification Institute: Chuck Obina, President/CEO at Global Diversity and Inclusion Foundation Dan Pon, Principal at HR Expedite (Previous Vice President of Human Resources at US Airways) Gary Wheeler, SPHR, GPHR, CCP, CBP, President and CEO at the Virtual HR Director, LLC

--more-Diversity Certification Institute page 2-2-2 Greg Jenkins, Diversity Sergeant Major, US Army Jennifer Hale, Vice President, Talent Development, Learning & Performance at Assurant Lisa Buice, SPHR, Diversity Manager at Shaw Industries (A Berkshire Hathaway Company) Sherryl Hutch Coker, President and Chief Operating Officer at the Brown Stone Project Sonja Williams, Principal at Passionate about Diversity Stac Millender, Global Inclusion and Diversity Leader at Cisco Tina Smith, Vice President, Diversity Relationship Consultant at Wells Fargo

About the Global Diversity and Inclusion Foundation The Global Diversity and Inclusion Foundation (GDIF) advocates the implementation of professional standards and best practices for diversity practitioners and organizational leaders to shape a world of difference through the power of inclusion. For more information on the Global Diversity and Inclusion Foundation visit: www.globaldif.org. ### Share this:

Media Contact: Chuck Obina, President/CEO Global Diversity and Inclusion Foundation chuck@globaldif.org Phone: +1.404.786.4541 Twitter Account: globaldif