It is my distinct honor and privilege to represent African American employees of Xerox Corporation.  I not only bear witness to the value that caucus groups bring to its membership and the corporation, but I am an example of it as well.  There is no doubt in my mind that without the efforts of the pioneers that came before me, and the countless hours of mentorship and development I have received,  I would not have been presented the opportunities with which I have been blessed, nor would  I have been prepared to take full advantage of them.   In this season of change where we have seen the election of our nation’s first African American President and the appointment of the first African American Woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company, we are reminded that not only is opportunity within our reach, but more importantly, we must be prepared to take advantage of it.

In my role as NBEA President, I look forward to working with our Corporate Champion, Cam Hyde, the Executive Board, and our Advisors to drive three key areas of focus:

• Community Involvement
• Community involvement is one of the core principles upon which this organization was founded.  Through community improvement projects and youth outreach, we will ensure that our blessings continue to be “paid forward”.
• Constituent Development and Advancement
• Through formal and informal mentorship relationships, developmental programs, and succession planning, we will ensure that our organization is here to serve African American employees and our community for years to come.
• Affinity Group Partnerships
• While the NBEA founded the affinity group movement in corporate America, there are many affinity groups, both within and outside the company that have come up with new, creative and innovative ways to drive improved participation and effectiveness of their respective organizations. We look forward to learning from and with them to reach our collective goals of community improvement and professional development faster, and in some cases more efficiently.

Whether you are looking for a great vehicle through which to “pay it forward”, looking for help in advancing your career, want to hone your professional skills, or are an employee of the company just looking for affiliation, you have come to the right place.  Now that you know about us, we would like to know about you. Please take a moment to register on our website and one of our officers will contact you to get you engaged in your local chapter or surrogate.

Moving forward, we will ensure our strategies and initiatives align with our constituents expectations; we clearly understand none of these goals are achievable without your commitment and support. On behalf of myself, our Board, Advisors, and Corporate Champion, I thank you for your expressed interest in The NBEA, and I look forward to working with you to enrich the lives our members and our communities.

Alexander Burgess, NBEA President