As part of the 2015 Jackie Robinson Day celebration at Wrigley Field, Joe Williams, co-founder and president of Target Group, was named the Cubs' recipient of Major League Baseball's 9th Annual Jackie Robinson Most Valuable Diverse Business Partner Award (MVDBP). Jackie Robinson's legacy is memorialized each year on April 15 to recognize the anniversary of the Hall of Famer breaking baseball's color barrier. The MVDBP Award recognizes diverse business partners who exhibit and continue the legacy of Jackie Robinson.
"I'm really humbled by this award because it's so unexpected," said Williams. "This is a national award, and I am very pleased that the Cubs think of Target Group in this way."
Target Group is a Chicago-based management consulting firm that specializes in developing and implementing strategies to promote workforce diversity. Williams and his team serve as the Cubs' diversity consultant on the 1060 Project, the restoration and expansion of Wrigley Field, and have been tasked with developing, implementing and monitoring the project's diversity and inclusion program in cooperation with Pepper Construction and ICON Venue Group.
"It's a unique opportunity," Williams explains. "It's an indication of what the Cubs are trying to do to make these diversity initiatives work, which motivates me to make sure we are doing a good job."
The Cubs are strongly committed to ensuring minority- and women-owned business participation and a diverse workforce throughout the life of the project. Since last fall, Target Group has helped the Cubs conduct several outreach activities and events to generate interest and awareness in bidding and hiring opportunities on the project.