"Integrated Diversity Planning - It's Just Good Business Sense"

Alison Anthony

HR Professionals are often called upon to articulate the business case for diversity and to promote diversity initiatives as a business priority by ensuring the organization’s commitment is clear and visible to stakeholders.  The ability to do so becomes much easier when HR Professionals can illustrate how the diversity initiatives integrate into business strategy, impact the bottom line, and simply become part of the way we do business.

Bio:
Alison Anthony is the Manager for Diversity at the Williams Company. Alison joined Williams in 1999 and previously held roles as an HR Business Partner and a Consultant in the Leadership, Learning, and Performance Division where her focus was primarily Performance Management and Leadership Development. Prior to joining Williams, she was a staffing company branch manager and worked in various positions for Oklahoma State University.

Alison is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with both a Bachelor's and Master's degree. Her current community involvement includes her role as Diversity Advocate for TAHRA where she authors the "Diversity Matter" monthly newsletter article. Alison serves on several Boards, including the Tulsa Community Service Council, Planned Parenthood of Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma, and Oklahoma Business and Education Coalition's Education Policy Board. She also serves on the Tulsa Metropolitan Chamber's Education Committee and Oklahoma State Scholars Steering Committee. Alison previously served the community in positions such as Board Member for the National OSU Alumni Board of Directors, President of the Tulsa County OSU Alumni Association, OSU Arts and Sciences Alumni Board, Oklahoma Minority Supplier Development Council, the Executive Board for the Margaret Hudson Program, Board Member for Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., and Secrtary of the Board for PFLAG.

Alison and her husband Mark Wilson, who works for the University of Oklahoma, reside in Sand Springs and have five children. The common thread among all Alison's professional, community service, and family roles is that she is committed to helping people have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.