FORT WORTH, Texas, June 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- American
Airlines Group has recognized four employees with the 2015 Earl G.
Graves Award for Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion for their
work in making a lasting impression in the workplace, in the
community and as role models in diversity. These employees have
made extraordinary efforts to reach out to groups of people within
the company and in their surrounding communities, promoting a
culture respectful of all genders, races, creeds and abilities.
- Mohamed El-Sharkawy, specialist
– Line Maintenance Training, Phoenix
El-Sharkawy has served as Chairman of the Arizona chapter of the Council on American
Islamic Relations for five years, where he encouraged dialogue,
protected civil liberties, empowered American Muslims and built
coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. He was
instrumental in starting the interfaith, intercultural Bridges
Employee Business Resource Group and played an integral role
educating crew members on Muslim etiquette in preparation for the
airline's route launch to Tel Aviv,
Israel.
- Carla Fink, senior analyst –
Alliance Sales, Fort Worth
Fink's collaborative style and fluency in Japanese have made her a
vital piece of our joint business dealings with our partner Japan
Airlines. As part of the Allies in Youth development program, Fink
leads trips to Russia and
Eastern Europe to raise funds and
awareness for orphans and works to help non-English speakers grow
and excel. Fink is also the board vice president of the Family
Matters Employee Business Resource Group and a key organizer of
American's World Diversity Day.
- Ed Pizza, senior planner – Tower
Operations, Chicago
Pizza was an integral part of the O'Hare Abilities Employee
Business Resource Group's mock airport event that gave more than 50
families with autistic children the chance to experience the travel
process. Participants went through ticket counter check-in,
security, gate announcements, boarding and onboard announcements.
Pizza also organized a project to recycle and donate worn American
Airlines uniform coats to a local shelter for homeless veterans,
and is an active supporter of Boy Scouts of America, where he
educates children about recycling.
- Varita Shelton, representative –
Reservations Planning & Analysis, Raleigh-Durham
Shelton is a key organizer for the annual Adopt-an-Island campaign
for Antigua, Haiti and Puerto
Rico, which donates items for local assistance organizations
and helps refurbish buildings. Shelton is a member of several
Employee Business Resource Groups.
Since 2008, American Airlines has been honoring recipients with
a diversity award for leadership in honor of Earl G. Graves, a successful African-American
businessman, entrepreneur and former board member of previous
American Airlines parent company AMR Corp., who showed us that
respecting and appreciating each other's differences is the right
thing to do and is key to our continued success.
"American Airlines is extremely proud to recognize these
employees for exceptional leadership in diversity," said Loral
Blinde, American's vice president – Human Resources. "This year's
recipients are an integral part of the community and they bring
their compassion and desire for inclusion to work every day."
American's long-standing commitment to diversity is part of the
company's culture of coordinated, collaborative teamwork and mutual
respect and has been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign and
the Association of ERGs & Councils. For more information,
please visit aa.com/diversity.
About American Airlines Group
American Airlines Group
(NASDAQ: AAL) is the holding company for American Airlines and US
Airways. Together with regional partners, operating as American
Eagle and US Airways Express, the airlines operate an average of
nearly 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in more
than 50 countries. American is a founding member of the
oneworld alliance, whose members and members-elect serve
nearly 1,000 destinations with 14,250 daily flights to 150
countries. This year American topped Fortune Magazine's list of
best business turnarounds and its stock joined the S&P 500
index. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at
Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.
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SOURCE American Airlines