MGM MIRAGE recognized for diversity initiatives

Thursday, July 3, 2003 | 11:05 a.m.

Las Vegas-based casino resort operator MGM MIRAGE is being recognized by Fortune magazine as one of "America's 50 Best Companies for Minorities."

MGM MIRAGE, ranked No. 31 on the list in the July 7 edition, is the only Las Vegas-based company and the only casino operator on the list.

Fortune noted that MGM MIRAGE ranked ninth on its list for minorities within its total workforce and eleventh for minority new hires. Minorities make up 51.7 percent of the company's workforce, including 28 percent in management. The magazine also cited the company for creating a director of diversity education to develop a supervisory training program, which prepares employees for managerial roles. Of the 137 new manager positions created in 2002, minorities filled 80.

"We take tremendous pride in seeing our diversity efforts recognized in such a prestigious forum," said Terry Lanni, chairman and CEO of MGM MIRAGE. "While we are honored by this recognition, we are not satisfied that the job is done ... Our commitment to diversity is centered on creating a culture that reflects diversity as a core value: diversity is who MGM MIRAGE is and not just what we do."

In 2002 the MGM MIRAGE board of directors created a diversity committee to assist the board in guiding the company's diversity initiative as a "strategic business imperative." Alexis Herman, former U.S. Secretary of Labor, is a member of the board and chairs the Committee.

MGM MIRAGE has taken a leadership position in the gaming industry on diversity issues as the only major company to annually report on improvements in its hiring and promotion of minorities and on its spending with minority-owned contractors and vendors.

Other companies operating in Southern Nevada on the Fortune list include McDonald's, Denny's, SBC Communications, U.S. Postal Service, Xerox, Safeway (Vons), Hyatt, Hilton Hotels, Marriott International, United Parcel Service, Darden Restaurants (Olive Garden, Red Lobster), Washington Mutual, Nordstrom, Yum Brands (Taco Bell, KFC), Levi Strauss, Pep Boys, FedEx, Citigroup, Bank of America, AT&T and Prudential Financial.