Columbus--Two college students and two outstanding insurance executives received honors from Corporate Connections recently at its fifth annual recognition dinner.

The organization, which began in 2003 as an independent support group for black employees at Nationwide Insurance, places a premium on entrepreneurial opportunity for young people with demonstrated potential and on professional recognition of those who have paved the way for success.
Each  year, Corporate Connections makes two major presentations, the Trailblazer and the Donna A. James awards, which go to current or former employees of Nationwide.

The Trailblazer recognizes exemplary performance, extraordinary leadership in service, achievements and mentoring contributions within the company. The James award is the highest honor bestowed by Corporate Connections. It is names for Donna A. James, retired president of Nationwide Investments, who is founder and managing director of Lardon & Associates LLC consulting firm.

This year’s honorees were John Matney, a retired who received the Trailblazer Award, and Gale King, senior vice president of property and casualty insurance operation, who received the Donna A. James Award.
Connections operates with the motto “Each One, Teach One to Reach One.”

The reach goes outside the business world and onto the campus of Ohio State University in the form of scholarships. This year, the group presented stipends to Terrance Wooten and Dominic Saintfort, both of whom were recommended by Mac A. Stewart, special assistant to the president for diversity and vice provost at OSU.

Although Corporate Connections was organized solely by African-Americans, its mission has the support of Jerry Jurgensen, Nationwide’s chief executive officer.

Speaker Christopher Washington, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Franklin University, said that Corporate Connections is fortunate to have such a strong advocate.

Jurgensen talked about the strides the company has made in its diversity efforts, but urged folks not to rest on their laurels.

The only thing that exceeds our success is how much farther we have to go,” Jergensen said.