Ballard Spahr Chair Mark Stewart Named Diversity Leader

Ballard Spahr and firm Chair Mark Stewart have been recognized in Profiles in Diversity Journal as recipients of the magazine's 2015 Diversity Leader Award. The award honors business organizations, their leaders, and diversity officers who advance diversity and inclusion in the workforce.

Mr. Stewart and the firm are among seven businesses honored, along with their leaders, in the small to mid-sized company category (fewer than 3,000 employees). The magazine also recognized 19 large companies and governmental agencies, along with diversity leaders from each. Profiles of the winners of this year’s seventh annual awards are featured in Profiles in Diversity Journal, a bimonthly magazine that promotes diversity and inclusion in the corporate, government, nonprofit, higher education, and military sectors.

"I’m honored to be included among this impressive group of advocates," Mr. Stewart said. "The work of advancing diversity is important not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it’s the best thing. Diverse perspectives drive creativity and innovation, which are essential to the success of our firm and any company that wants to succeed in a competitive environment."

As Chair, Mr. Stewart appoints diverse lawyers to firm leadership positions, ensures diverse client teams, recruits diverse partners, and regularly speaks to high school students as the firm develops a pipeline of diverse students interested in legal careers. Mr. Stewart is the past chair and a current member of the firm’s Diversity Council. In 2012, he received Profiles in Diversity Journal’s CEO Leadership in Action Award.