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CORRIDOR
New Diversity Focus leader enthused about move
Reporter: Tim Kenyon
tim@corridorbiznews.com
Hazel Pegues is enthused and eager to start as the new Diversity Focus executive director.
“I’m not aware of another foundation formed specifically to explore and take on diversity; it’s novel and that’s very exciting and transformative to me,” Ms. Pegues said.
Diversity Focus was formed in 2005 as a nonprofit organization to enhance Corridor diversity.
Charter sponsors include Alliant Energy, Guaranty Bank, ACT, the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College, Rockwell Collins and the University of Iowa. Since then, St. Luke’s Hospital, Mercy Medical Center, Aegon and Quaker Oats have joined.
She starts June 16, less than a week after she plans to move here from the Cincinnati area. She recently served as an advisor to nonprofits through Pegasus Consulting in Cincinnati, an organization she founded to provide strategic planning, fundraising and board development help.
Ms. Pegues said the Corridor is “a well-kept secret” from other parts of the country and called the opportunity a good surprise for business and personal reasons.
“I expect and anticipate to be spending my first six months doing a lot of listening and meeting with a lot of people from many arenas,” she said.
She is set to carry out initiatives such as the cultural ambassador program, a series of workshops based on the award-winning film, “Crash,” and other projects to help the organization gain higher recognition among residents.
“I plan to expand them (initiatives) to increase community awareness up and down the Corridor to get more people engaged,” Ms. Pegues said.
The ambassador program matches newcomers with volunteers in the Corridor to exchange cultural awareness and to share knowledge about area resources, programs and events.
Another focus area will involve connecting diversity with making money.
“Linking diversity with profitability helps all of us understand it’s not a standalone initiative, it impacts others and helps keep us healthy and globally thinking toward the economy,” Ms. Pegues said.
She said she likes the combination of amenities featured in both the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City ends of the Corridor.
“I love culture. I’m a cultural and arts kind of person,” she said. “Cedar Rapids has a symphony and the international reputation of the university is impressive. The combination is very, very fascinating.”
She said she looks forward to working with representatives from government, business and schools in her new role.
“From my limited perspective that looks very healthy to me from my lengthy nonprofit experience,” she said. “Having everyone who’s a stakeholder represented on your board that puts together your strategic plan, that's how you ensure interest of all stakeholders.”
Ms. Pegues has worked for more than 20 years in helping nonprofit entities.
Past roles include vice president of programs for the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, director of Partners in Education for the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative and executive director/chief development officer for the Friends of the School for Creative and Performing Arts.
Ms. Pegues succeeds Karen Brown, who has served as interim director. Ms. Brown has juggled Diversity Focus duties since December while continuing similar work at Rockwell Collins after Alfred Ramirez resigned as the nonprofit’s initial executive.
Two Diversity Focus board members said they foresee Ms. Pegues leading an expansion of programs and awareness.
“She is a very gifted and talented woman who is going to do great things with Diversity Focus,” said Lee Clancey, Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. “She understands nonprofits and has worked with for-profits. She seems to be very thoughtful, very forthright, communicates very effectively and is very easy to get to know. I think she’ll be a great asset for the organization and the Corridor.”
Diversity Focus Board Chairman Chris Lindell, vice president of shared services with Alliant Energy, said Ms. Pegues is a good fit to lead the organization.
“Hazel brings a wealth of experience that will build and enhance Diversity Focus,” he said. “Throughout her career, she has demonstrated the ability to build effective boards and work groups and motivate, organize and direct teams of paid and volunteer staff to reach strategic goals.” CBJ
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