2017 Demeter Award recipients announced

BOSTON, Sept. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Women in Agribusiness is proud to announce the recipients of this year's Women in Agribusiness Demeter Award of Excellence: two individuals who hail from The Coca-Cola Company and Buffalo Wild Wings, respectively, and a company award for Nationwide. Recipients will receive their awards this month at the sixth annual Women in Agribusiness Summit in Minneapolis, September 26-28.

Each year recognition is given to those companies and individuals (men and women) whose achievements further the Women in Agribusiness mission of attracting and advancing women in the ag and food sectors, and that exemplify the belief that nurturing gender diversity is in a company's and the industry's best interests. The three categories and the recipients for 2017 are:

• Leader of the Year – Kelly Stevens of Buffalo Wild Wings
• Innovator of the Year – Summer Butler of The Coca-Cola Company
• Company of the Year – Nationwide 

Kelly Stevens – Leader of the Year

Stevens, based in Minneapolis, is the diversity and inclusion consultant at Buffalo Wild Wings. She is being recognized for her efforts in launching Team Member Diversity Networks (LGBT and military/veteran), as well as nine regional Women's Field Leadership Forums and the Home Office Women's Leadership Forum, which are "spin-offs" of the National Women's Field Leadership Forum (WFLF). These forums focus on leadership development, education and awareness, community connections, and business impact. Approximately 400 women are part of the leadership forums offered at Buffalo Wild Wings to help further their career and build their networks. 

Summer Butler – Innovator of the Year

Summer Butler is the director for shopper marketing at The Coca-Cola Company where she is responsible for building the retail strategy for football and meals across a portfolio of brands. Butler, based in Atlanta, Georgia, spearheaded The Coca-Cola's Women's LINC program where she successfully launched "Lean in Circles," as support groups for women within the organization.

Nationwide – Company of the Year

Nationwide, which was named as one of the "50 Best Workplaces for Diversity" by Fortune, is recognized for promoting a diverse work environment that fosters innovation, inclusion, and engagement. The company, based in Columbus, Ohio, has 19 Associate Resource Groups (ARGs) – offered around gender, ethnicity, sexual identification, military and even pets – where associates have development opportunities to help showcase their leadership skills for the future.

The precursor to all of these group offerings was the company's All Women's ARG, which was developed in 2015 to deliver educational, community, and social events for those women (and men) passionate about agribusiness, and also provide mentoring and networking in order to drive stronger business results at Nationwide.

About Women in Agribusiness

The Women in Agribusiness Summit, a business of HighQuest Group, has nurtured an agribusiness community where attendees express their opinions, learn from others and share best practices, all in support of women's advancement. This year's event will focus on the fact that success, regardless of one's gender, is attainable the more one 'Knows Their Business Better.' The Summit will provide unparalleled networking opportunities with influential executives, spot-on professional development, and presentations on the latest trends, outlooks and innovations in ag. www.womeninag.com 

Follow us @Womeninagri, like us on Facebook, join our Linkedin Group.

CONTACT: Michelle Pelletier Marshall
+1.978.887.8800, x117
[email protected]

SOURCE Women in Agribusiness

Related Links

http://www.womeninag.com