Johnson Controls Employees Honored With National Technology Awards
Two African-Americans Recognized as Outstanding Women in Their Fields
MILWAUKEE, Oct. 26 -- Two Johnson Controls employees received awards at the National Women of Color Technology Awards Conference, during its 10th anniversary celebration at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel in Atlanta, Oct. 20 - 22, 2005. Gisele Marcus, general manager, Metro Strategy for the Chicago market, and Laura Mitchell, director, information technology (IT), were both recognized with the National Women of Color Distinguished Achiever Award. The conference celebrates diversity by recognizing women who have achieved outstanding success in industry & technology careers. This is the second consecutive year that two Johnson Controls employees were recognized as leaders in their fields.
As general manager for the Metro Strategy in the Chicago market, Marcus is responsible for forming joint ventures with other businesses in related or complementary business segments to further enhance the penetration of products and services in the Chicago market. Prior to this role, Marcus was the strategic customer development director, North America, where she had responsibility for developing and implementing a customer relationship management strategy that led to a 100 percent client retention rate for Johnson Controls FORTUNE 500 facilities management clients. She has been with Johnson Controls for three years. Prior to her career at Johnson Controls, Marcus was the Chief Operating Officer of Marcus Enterprises, providing strategic and sales management consulting services to small to midsized minority owned businesses. Marcus was awarded an MBA in General Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration and received a B.S. in Management from Syracuse University with a concentration in both Information Systems and Transportation Distribution Management.
Mitchell manages IT development and implementation for a division of Johnson Controls, Inc. that delivers over $2 billion dollars in services to FORTUNE 500 companies. She also directs implementation including data centers, technical service centers, production scheduling functions, help desks, communication networks (voice and data), computer program development, and computer systems operations. Mitchell maintains the integrity of electronic data through review of computerized and manual systems, information processing equipment, storage and retrieval systems, and information processing equipment. She provides overall management and definition of all computer and communication activities and plays a leadership role in the day-to-day operations of IT functions. Mitchell received her Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science from the University of Maryland.
"Minority women are playing an increasingly responsible role in shaping our technology today," says Career Communications Group's chairman and CEO, Tyrone D. Taborn. "The economic implications of not recognizing 'micro inequalities' that exist in organizations today are far too large. This conference is designed to provide long overdue recognition of some of America's most distinguished women in technology and business, who just happen to be women of color."
Each year the Awards Conference offers a variety of networking events, workshops, and seminars including the Technology Recognition Luncheon honoring both veterans and rising stars, the Power Breakfast, co-sponsored by Johnson Controls and Career Fair featuring corporations, government agencies and educational institutions, and its conference signature event, the Women of Color Technology Awards Gala. Career Communications Group, Inc. (CCG) is a national leader in providing recruitment, retention, and recognition solutions to organizations that value diversity.
About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is a global leader in interior experience, building efficiency and power solutions. The company provides innovative automotive interiors that help make driving more comfortable, safe and enjoyable. For buildings, it offers products and services that optimize energy use and improve comfort and security. Johnson Controls also provides batteries for automobiles and hybrid electric vehicles, along with systems engineering and service expertise. Johnson Controls , founded in 1885, is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/ .
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