A report published in the January 23rd, 2018 issue of Forbes magazine looked at diversity in the workplace across the country. Working with a research firm called Statista, the magazine compiled what they termed “the definitive list of the best employers for diversity in America.” "Statista surveyed 30,000 U.S. employees in August 2017 to inform the list, asking questions about diversity, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age and disability. Responses among underrepresented ethnic minorities, women and people aged 50 and older received greater weight in the ranking" (Forbes, 1/23/2018). BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee ranked 33rd out of 250 organizations on the list.
According to Ronald Harris, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at BlueCross BlueShield in Chattanooga, their position on the list is the result of a concerted effort on the part of their senior leadership at BCBS. He told Richard Winham that it began with Tom Kinser, the company’s CEO in the mid-90’s, who made a diverse workplace a corporate priority at BlueCross BlueShield.
*Edited 3/22/18 to correct a factual error: Ronald Harris became Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion last year, not in 1995, as was originally reported.