Community Leaders Join Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida in Diversity Leadership Effort

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. (BCBSF) has enlisted the assistance of nine community and business leaders to join its Multicultural Advisory Council (MAC) to accelerate the company's leadership efforts in expanding its diversity and cultural awareness in business markets throughout the state.

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With the input from the members in MAC, BCBSF will obtain outside expert perspectives to help shape its cultural competence and diversity strategy in developing multicultural markets. All nine members are expert in some aspect of diversity in government, education, health or the private business sector.

The Multicultural Advisory Council includes:

• Nelson Adams, III, MD, Physician and former President of the National Medical Association
• Eugene Campbell, Vice President, Domestic Minority Business Development, Walt Disney World Resort
• Karen Dunlap, PhD, President, The Poynter Institute
• Ricardo Forbes, Corporate Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Baptist Health South Florida
• Joseph Gibbons, PhD, Co-Founder and Director, Futures Research, The FutureWork Institute
• Rhea Law, Esquire, Chair, Board of Directors and CEO, Fowler White Boggs
• Maritza Martinez, Assistant Vice President, Community Relations, University of Central Florida
• Lula Rodriguez, Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs, Miami Dade College
• Tony Tenicela, Business Development Executive and Global Leader, Workforce Diversity markets, IBM

The role of the MAC is advisory and consultative. Members will inform and help enable corporate goals and objectives relating to growth and development in multicultural markets.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is a leader in Florida's health industry. Since 1944, the company has been dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of all those it serves by offering an array of choices. BCBSF is a not-for-profit, policyholder-owned, tax-paying mutual company. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., BCBSF is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information concerning BCBSF, please see its Web site at www.bcbsfl.com.

SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida