NSM expands diversity efforts

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – National Seating & Mobility is activating several initiatives to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion at the company, including appointing more women and minorities in senior leadership positions, says CEO Bill Mixon.

The company is also conducting sensitivity training and involving employee resource groups in ongoing plans to enhance DE&I, he says.

“The most critical of our four business pillars (people, growth, operational excellence and culture) is culture,” he said. “Building a culture of diversity and inclusion will better align us with the client communities we serve and will, ultimately, make us a better business. Diversity and inclusion are not just the right things to do, they are also good for business.”

In the last several months of 2020, NSM engaged a consultant to help guide the company’s strategic plan around diversity, equity and inclusion. The consultant facilitated employee focus groups and online surveys to help develop guiding principles.

Those guiding principles are:

• Culture: NSM will be intentional in cultivating a culture of inclusion, with a focus on employee development and retention.
• Commitment: NSM will prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion, and reinforce accountability at the highest levels of the company.
• Communication: NSM will be transparent in our approach to DE&I by reporting progress and thoughtfully listening and responding to employee feedback.
• Community: NSM will strengthen the communities we serve through proactive engagement and partnerships.

“Measurable initiatives support each of these areas of focus,” Mixon said.

Another such initiative planned for this year: Diversity Advisory Groups to share feedback.

“We recognize that diversity, equity and inclusion is a long game,” Mixon said. “The work of expanding diversity, ensuring equity and facilitating inclusion is not a destination but a dynamic process.”