Governor Lt. Governor First Lady

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Governor Culver Announces Diversity Council

Council was created by Executive Order #4 to maintain a diverse workforce in state government

(Des Moines)- Today, Governor Chet Culver announced the members of the newly created diversity council. The Governor signed Executive Order #4 on October 26, 2007. State agencies must submit a written summary of their hiring practices to the director of the Department of Administrative Services for approval by February 1, 2008.

Governor Culver said, “Our Administration is committed to enhancing diversity through the hiring and promotion practices of state government. It is no secret there have been some challenges over the past several years related to minority hiring and promoting. We have spent time identifying the problems, now it is time for action.” Governor Culver appointed former mayor of Des Moines, Preston Daniels to chair the Diversity Council.

DIVERSITY COUNCIL MEMBERS:

  1. The Governor, or the Governor’s designee: Jim Larew
  2. Director of Department of Administrative Services (DAS), or director’s designee: Mollie Anderson
  3. The DAS state affirmative action administrator: Nancy Berggren
  4. The DAS recruitment coordinator: Robin Jenkins
  5. The executive director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, or the executive director’s designee: Ralph Rosenberg
  6. The director of the Department of Human Rights, or the director’s designee: Walter Reed, Jr.
  7. Two additional representatives from the Executive Branch with experience in addressing diversity issues, appointed by the Governor:
    Steve Wooderson – Director, Vocational Rehabilitation Services
    Miriam Tyson – Entrepreneurial Liaison, Iowa Department of Economic Development, Waterloo
  8. One representative from a collective bargaining unit that represents state employees in law enforcement, appointed by the Governor:
    Jon Thorup – Fire Prevention Inspector, Iowa Fire Marshall’s Office, Knoxville
  9. One representative from a collective bargaining unit that represents state employees, appointed by the Governor:
    Miguel Moreno – Highway Tech, Iowa Department of Transportation, Glenwood
  10. Three members from the private sector with experience in addressing diversity issues, appointed by the Governor:
    Reginald Jackson – Attorney, Wells Fargo Bank, Johnston
    Renee Hardman – Senior VP, Bankers Trust, W. Des Moines
    Preston Daniels, Chair – Realtor, Prudential First Realty, Des Moines
  11. Three members from non-profit organizations focusing on diversity issues, appointed by the Governor:
    Din Vanlo – Executive Director, Tai Village, Des Moines
    Alba Perez – Diversity Development Director, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Des Moines
    Shirley Hicks – Member, IA Association of the Deaf, Council Bluffs

The highlights of Executive Order #4 include:

  • Each agency shall develop a recruitment and retention plan that includes a timetable and achievement milestones.
  • Each agency shall work with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services to determine ways to increase employment of persons with disabilities.
  • The creation of a Diversity Council, made up of members of the executive branch (including the Governor), collective bargaining units representing state employees, the private sector and non-profit organizations. The Diversity Council is charged with (1) reviewing the state’s policies, procedures and practices related to the hiring of a diverse workforce and recommending methods to insure these are implemented and followed throughout state government; (2) developing a plan for training all state employees with respect to diversity; and (3) developing a state-government referral system for the referral of job candidates between agencies within state government.
  • Agencies must submit a Diversity Plan to the Diversity Council annually.
  • DAS, in consultation with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and the Department of Human Rights, shall annually monitor the application of the screening methods used by state agencies, assess their impact on employee groups in the selection process and counsel departments with regard to selection processes that pose barriers to any applicant group.
  • Diversity training shall be required on an annual basis for all state employees making hiring and promotion decisions within their respective agency, including agency directors and deputy directors.