Month: February 2024

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

As Black History Month comes to a close, Aflac shares a key moment in company history by highlighting James Jackson, a distinguished veteran who spent his second career with Aflac, becoming the company’s first-ever African American officer. In this video, Jim reminisces about his time at Aflac, working with company principal founder John Amos, affectionately known as “Mr. John,” and what it meant for him to be a part of Aflac history.

Jim grew up in Florida before moving to Alabama to attend Tuskegee University. A chemistry and math major, Jim soon joined ROTC program and, once commissioned as second lieutenant in the U.S. Army at Tuskegee University, he went on active duty in Germany for three years. Throughout his military career, Jim moved around to places like Missouri, Fort Bragg in North Carolina, a proving ground in Maryland, and even the Pentagon.

In 1978, after 24 years of active service with the U.S. Army — and, at the time, stationed at Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning) near Columbus, Georgia — Jim retired and sought out a second career. After some research, he learned more about Aflac and said, “That’s a place where I’d like to work.”

Jim sent in his resume, had a few interviews, and he eventually landed in the Compliance department at Aflac. He quickly rose through the ranks and became Aflac’s first African American officer when he was promoted to assistant vice president of Employee Relations.

Fondly reminiscent of his time with Aflac, Jim said that the founders cared deeply about employees — they always treated them like family.

Watch the video above to hear more from Jim about his time with Aflac.

Aflac’s family of insurers includes Aflac and/or Aflac New York, and/or Continental American Insurance Company and/or Continental American Life Insurance Company.

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A coalition between the United Soybean Board (USB), the National Pork Board, the National Corn Growers Association and other supporters, Farmers for Soil Health was established to advance the use of cover crops to improve soil health, advance sustainability throughout the food value chain and improve farmer profitability.

The coalition seeks to double the amount of corn and soybean farmland using cover crops to improve soil health and resiliency by 2030, using a baseline as reported in the most recent Census of Agriculture published in 2017.

While cover crops have proven to deliver multiple benefits over time, initial start-up challenges can be a barrier to adopting the practice. In May 2022, Farmers for Soil Health was awarded a $95 million grant from the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities to help farmers address these start-up costs, and in May 2023, the organization received $13.6 million in grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to establish personal, on-the-ground technical support for farmers in 20 states who are seeking to adopt cover crops. Crop advisors familiar with each state’s agronomic and production environment will help farmers select cover crops that offer the most soil health benefits, minimize issues during planting and add value to their overall production efforts. 

Beyond this important support in initial implementation of cover crops, Farmers for Soil Health is developing models for cost sharing and financial support for farmers implementing the practice, as well as mechanisms to measure and quantify the value of the practice over time.

For more information, please refer to the 2023 U.S. Soy Sustainability Overview. Titled “Partners for a Better Tomorrow,” the report highlights the partnerships fostered by U.S. Soy to drive innovation both on and off the farm.

NEW YORK, February 28, 2024 /3BL/ – The Tri-State Diversity Council (TSDC) announces Patricia Gomez, Corporate Vice President at New York Life as its 2024 New York Women in Leadership Symposium Woman of the Year awardee. Gomez will be recognized at the annual New York Women in Leadership Symposium (WILS) on Thursday, March 14, 2024 taking place from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET at 185 W Broadway New York, NY 10013. The 2024 Women in Leadership Symposium theme, “Leading with Heart: Empathy, Ethics & Excellence” is a call to action for women to elevate their impact and drive positive change while exploring their identity, leadership and contributions in workplaces and communities.

“We are pleased to announce Patricia Gomez as our 2024 Woman of the Year Awardee,” said Emily Pfister, Event Programmer for the Tri-State Diversity Council. “She embodies the values of service, advocacy for women’s equity and leadership. Patricia is a dynamic trailblazer whose belief in the power of collective action to create meaningful change in the field of DEIB showcases how women can lead with heart, empathy and excellence.”

Currently serving as a Corporate Vice President at New York Life, Gomez leads with empathy and expertise, implementing strategic initiatives that promote DEI in the workplace. Her role involves working with the Chief Diversity Officer to develop and execute innovative DEI programs, design programming to raise awareness and cultivate a culture of inclusivity and collaborate with key stakeholders to continue to drive organizational engagement.

Since joining New York Life in 2016, Gomez has navigated through various pivotal roles within the DEI and Talent Acquisition spheres. Prior to her tenure at New York Life, Gomez honed her expertise at NBCUniversal, where she played an instrumental role in fostering talent pipeline programs across seven cable networks, aimed at bolstering diverse talent both on-air and behind the camera. Her diverse background includes positions in human resources, talent acquisition, organizational development, marketing and business operations, all of which have equipped her with a multifaceted understanding of the DEI landscape.

“The Women in Leadership Symposium highlights the legacy of excellence and advocacy for women’s equity in workplaces and communities,” said Anika Rahman, CEO of the National Diversity Council. “We invite you to join us for the New York Women in Leadership Symposium as we lead with heart!”

The conference will feature moderator, Keti Mehta, Senior Vice President, Gallagher and panelists, Tamra Billinghurst-Black, Corporate Vice President – Talent Management Diversity Strategist, New York Life Insurance; Meredith Goodman, Vice President, Global Education, Travel Retail Worldwide, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.;Narges Kakalia, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Mintz; Mariela Orochena, Executive Vice President, Talent Acquisition, IPG Health; Jessica Palacios, Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Talent Acquisition, BlackRock; and Jenn Zephirin, Vice President, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Match Group.

The event sponsors include New York Law School and New York Life. To learn more information about the event visit 
https://ndc-wilsymposium.org/locations/2024-symposiums/2024-new-york/ or for sponsorship opportunities, please contact Emily Pfister at emily.pfister@nationaldiversitycouncil.org.

About the National Diversity Council

The National Diversity Council (NDC) is a 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to being both a resource and an advocate for the value of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB). Through our nationwide affiliates, events and learning and consulting, the NDC helps organizations create pathways that develop a more inclusive workplace, community and environment. For more information about the National Diversity Council, please visit www.nationaldiversitycouncil.org.

About the Tri-State Diversity Council 

The Tri-State Diversity Council (TSDC), a state affiliate of the National Diversity Council, is committed to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Through various events and programs, the TSDC serves as a resource for DEIB best practices and leadership development in the Tri-State region. For more information about the Tri-State Diversity Council, please visit https://tristatediversitycouncil.org/.

Media Contact: Kamaria Monmouth 
Sr. Communications Specialist 
National Diversity Council 
kamaria.monmouth@nationaldiversitycouncil.org

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