Description:

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are voluntary groups that foster inclusion, support, and professional growth within organizations. They promote diversity and equal opportunity and help attract and retain talent by creating a sense of belonging. Connecting ERGs with program managers through Group Decision-Making (GDM) enhances collaboration and innovation. Techniques like brainstorming, consensus building, and structured methods (e.g., Delphi) ensure diverse voices shape effective decisions.

Learning Objectives:

• Introduce ERG (Employee organizational group) 
• ProMotion equal opportunities 
• Personal and professional GrowthTalent attraction and retention
• Program management and connection with ERG 
• Group decision making
  
  

Speakers:

Amanda Miner & Steve Grierson

Amanda Miner is a dedicated leader in equal opportunity for all, and believes in creating opportunities for participation, fair access, engagement, and accessibility. As the founding member and Chair of CARE at Avangrid, Amanda was instrumental in growing the group from three members in January 2022 to over 900 members today. CARE promotes understanding and support for individuals with disabilities and caregivers, fostering an environment of acceptance and empathy.

Through CARE, Amanda partners with Avangrid’s HR team to recruit employees with diverse abilities and provides educational content on disabilities. She hosts, develops, and coordinates webinar topics ranging from disability etiquette, addiction, parenting disabled children, to neurodiversity and more while sharing her own experiences with Autism, ADHD, and Anxiety to reduce stigma. Her efforts contributed to Avangrid achieving a top score on the Disability:IN Disability Equality Index.

As the Director of Equal Opportunity at Avangrid, Amanda is responsible for overseeing the Employee Resource Group (ERG) operations for all seven of Avangrid's groups, including CARE. In this role, she ensures that each ERG is effectively supporting its members and fostering a culture of participation, fair access, engagement, and accessibility. Amanda works closely with Avangrid’s HR team to create equal opportunities for all employees based on talent, merit, and performance. This collaboration involves developing policies and practices that promote fair hiring, career advancement, and professional development, ensuring that every employee has the resources and support they need to succeed.

Amanda believes that participation for all is akin to sending everyone an invitation to a dance. Fair access ensures everyone has the transportation they need to get to the dance. Engagement is asking those invited to dance, while accessibility ensures everyone can access and fully participate on the dance floor.

Steve Grierson is a former naval officer with over 12 years of experience. He brings a unique blend of leadership, discipline, and strategic thinking to the field of business communication.

His academic background includes an undergraduate degree in Marketing and a Master of Science in Project Management. Through his professional journey, he had the privilege of working for industry leaders such as Microsoft, Oracle, and AT&T, as well as an international company based in Australia. Currently, he serves as an adjunct instructor at the University of Washington, where he is responsible for instructing students in program management, focusing on Strategic Alignment, Value & Benefits Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Governance, Life Cycle Management, and Organizational Change Management. In recognition of his dedication and expertise in teaching, he was previously nominated as an outstanding new instructor.

He is also a program manager by trade at Informatica, an Enterprise Cloud Data Management company. He is passionate about driving results through effective communication strategies and project execution.

Beyond his professional endeavors, family is at the core of who he is. As the proud father of five adults and a grandfather of seven, he derives immense joy from witnessing their growth and accomplishments. Originally hailing from the vibrant island nation of Jamaica, his diverse cultural experiences continue to shape his worldview and approach to leadership.

He is particularly enthusiastic about participating as a panelist as it aligns with his passion for effective divergent thoughts within organizations. He looks forward to sharing insights from both his military background and corporate career that can inspire.

With a passion for photography and writing, he finds creative expression and a means to unwind outside his professional commitments. These hobbies allow him to explore diverse perspectives and capture memorable moments through the lens or pen, creating a balance in his personal and professional life.