Inside…
Harvey Awarded PepsiCo's Highest Honor
President Dr. William R. Harvey
Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey has been awarded PepsiCo’s Harvey C. Russell Inclusion Award. The award is part of PepsiCo’s prestigious Chairman’s Award, the highest honor the company bestows.
The Harvey C. Russell Inclusion Award, in its seventh year, honors those who have distinguished themselves as truly extraordinary in their efforts to help PepsiCo further its goal to build a diverse and inclusive culture.
This year, Dr. Harvey celebrates the 25th anniversary of his 100 percent ownership of the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Houghton, Mich., making him the only person of color to own a Pepsi franchise in North America. Harvey was the first black individual to own 100 percent of any major franchise soft drink bottling operation.
“Harvey C. Russell led us to the path of diversity. It is our responsibility to broaden that path and pave the way for others,” said Harvey upon receiving the award on April 13 at PepsiCo headquarters in Purchase, N.Y.
“Like Harvey C. Russell, he is the epitome of excellence when it comes to diversity & inclusion,” said Tom Bené, President of Pepsi-Cola North America. “Dr. Harvey has been a catalyst for change by transforming two historical institutions, Hampton University into a world-class leader in the field of higher education and PepsiCo into the category leader in Michigan.”
The Harvey C. Russell Inclusion Award was created to recognize outstanding accomplishments, above and beyond a person's traditional responsibilities, that accelerate PepsiCo vision of creating a diverse and inclusive environment. The award is named after Harvey C. Russell, who broke America's color barrier when he became a vice president of PepsiCo in 1962 and went on to set the standard for corporate social responsibility.
- Alison L. Phillips