The National Diversity Council Names OfficeMax's Carolynn Brooks One of the 2010 Most Powerful and Influential Women of Illinois

NAPERVILLE, Ill., April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- OfficeMax® (NYSE: OMX), a leader in office products and services, is pleased to announce The National Diversity Council has named Carolynn Brooks, chief diversity officer for OfficeMax, as one of the recipients of the 2010 Most Powerful and Influential Women of Illinois award. Brooks was selected for her commitment to community well-being and demonstrated accomplishments in her field exhibiting the highest level of ethical standards and professional excellence. Brooks was honored during the Illinois Women's Conference on March 24, 2010 where she joined other accomplished female executives from across the state.

"I'm deeply honored to be selected for this award and proud that the positive impact our programs have had at the company and in the community has earned such distinction," said Carolynn Brooks, Chief Diversity Officer for OfficeMax. "At OfficeMax, our diversity and inclusion programs are comprehensive, touching not only our associates but also our business partners and the communities we serve.  Our innovative programs differentiate us from our competitors, instill pride and self respect in all associates and empower them to become advocates of diversity and inclusion in business and in the community. We are creating a new way of doing business through diversity."

The National Diversity Council reviewed female candidates across the state of Illinois for the 2010 Most Powerful and Influential Women of Illinois award. Following extensive review, Brooks was selected for her outstanding leadership and influence as OfficeMax's Chief Diversity Officer, positive impact on the company and community, and impressive record of accomplishments in the field of diversity and inclusion, and corporate social responsibility throughout her career. In 2009, Brooks was awarded the Diversity Officer Leadership Award by Diversity Best Practices.

"Carolynn Brooks is an exceptional leader and advocate for diversity and inclusion, who has made a positive impact on her company's associates, vendors, customers and community," said Dennis Kennedy, founder and CEO of The National Diversity Council. "We are pleased to present her with this award in honor of her influence, leadership, and contributions to OfficeMax and the community."

Joining OfficeMax in 2001, Brooks was appointed to Chief Diversity Officer in 2006 where she led the development of the company's Office of Diversity in conjunction with OfficeMax CEO, Sam Duncan. In this role, Brooks ensures the company's diversity and inclusion values are upheld through training, awareness and outreach programs. She is also co-chair of the OfficeMax Diversity Council, which was established to accelerate collaboration and program execution. One of her most successful programs is the development of Associate Resource Groups, which promotes broader associate understanding and appreciation of diverse groups while empowering these groups to expand support efforts in the marketplace and the community through volunteer activities and educational outreach.

A national leader in diversity and inclusion, OfficeMax continues to enhance and expand its programs through its Office of Diversity. OfficeMax has been recognized with the Div50 Award as one of America's Top Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities presented by DiversityBusiness.com in 2007, 2009 and 2010. OfficeMax's CEO, Sam Duncan, was also honored with the 2009 CEO Diversity Leadership Award for his innovative corporate practices that foster a diverse and inclusive workplace presented by Diversity Best Practices. To learn more about OfficeMax's diversity and inclusion practices, please view OfficeMax's Corporate Social Responsibility Report.

About OfficeMax

OfficeMax Incorporated (NYSE: OMX) is a leader in both business-to-business office products solutions and retail office equipment. The OfficeMax mission is simple. We help our customers do their best work. The company provides office supplies and paper, in-store print and document services through OfficeMax ImPress®, technology products and solutions, and office furniture to consumers and to large, medium and small businesses. OfficeMax customers are served by more than 30,000 associates through direct sales, catalogs, e-commerce and more than 1,000 stores. For more information, visit OfficeMax.com.

About The National Diversity Council

The National Diversity Council is a non-profit 501 (C)(3) organization that champions diversity as a business imperative. The National Diversity Council was launched in the summer of 2008. The vision of the NDC is to cultivate a nationwide network of affiliated councils to advance diversity and inclusion by transforming our workplaces and communities into inclusive environments where individuals are valued for their talents and empowered to reach their fullest potential. Learn more at nationaldiversitycouncil.org.

SOURCE OfficeMax Incorporated