Mar 09 H. J. Russell & Company Names Tiffanie Lewis Vice President, DE&I
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) has always been a priority for H. J. Russell & Company (Russell), beginning with Herman J. Russell, the company’s founder and his quiet and strategic involvement in the civil rights movement as well as activities focused on creating equal opportunities for everyone. Although DE&I has been embedded in Russell’s corporate fabric over the last 70 years, in the last two years the company has underscored its commitment to DE&I efforts by developing a formal program with a dedicated staff.
Today, Russell names one of its longtime employees, Tiffanie Sanders Lewis, a nearly 30-year company veteran to the position of Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, transitioning from her position as Vice President – Compliance, IT and Property Management. In her new role as Vice President of DE&I, Tiffanie will lead Russell’s DE&I program. Claudette Hanks, Russell’s Diversity Manager, will report to her, where together they will be responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring corporate and project DE&I initiatives to help cultivate a diverse and inclusive culture across the organization as well as on construction and program management jobs. Reporting directly to Yasmine S. Murray, Esq., Chief Operating Officer, Tiffanie will work to increase the department’s capacity to help make an even greater impact.
“Tiffanie is a loyal and committed member of the Russell team, evidenced by her almost 30 years with the organization,” said Yasmine. “She’s an exceptional leader and brings significant value to the organization in many ways. She has long been a champion for creating an environment that is diverse, inclusive, and creates a sense of belonging, within and outside of the organization, particularly with her work in affordable housing where she was also very intentional about building a diverse supplier pool to provide services to the various properties under her management. I am thrilled to have Tiffanie move into this very important role and build on the progress Claudette has made in this space. I have no doubt that together, they will develop a best-in-class program that is reflective of Russell’s long-standing commitment to DE&I.”
Tiffanie began her career with Russell as a high school student working in the mail room. An Atlanta native, she graduated from the University of West Georgia with a Bachelor of Science degree and she received her master’s degree from Walden University. She also has a graduate certificate in College Teaching and Learning and a graduate certificate in Leadership. Tiffanie’s business affiliations include membership in the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) among many others.
“As a minority-owned firm, it is exhilarating to be a part of promoting ethnically diverse talent within our organization, and I’m elated to take on this new role within the company,” said Tiffanie. “We certainly need and embrace the power of differences, and I am thrilled to take the lead in enhancing our reputation as a company that values diversity, equity and inclusion. I believe when we recognize and leverage the potential of all our talents and abilities, we make better decisions; we innovate, and we transform.”
