Gale King Receives Award during National Urban League Centennial Celebration

(BLACK PR WIRE) (August 5, 2010) COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Gale King, executive vice president and chief human resource officer for Nationwide, is a National Urban League Woman of Power. She accepted her award Saturday, July 31, 2010, at a special luncheon tribute during the National Urban League conference in Washington, DC.

As a member of my executive cabinet, Gale demonstrates her passion for the company and a commitment to every associate. She helps others reach their professional and personal goals by mentoring others, and by developing policies and practices that provide opportunities for all, said Steve Rasmussen, CEO of Nationwide.

The National Urban League’s Woman of Power award honors women for outstanding leadership in the arts, government affairs, politics, technology, corporate, community service, and more. In addition to King, this year’s honorees include the following:

• Laila Ali Professional boxer, actress and daughter of Muhammad Ali
• Angela Bassett Actress of stage and screen
• Roslyn K. Brock Chairman, NAACP
• Melanie Campbell President/CEO, National Coalition of Black Civic Participation
• Angela Conyers-Benton Founder, Black Web 2.0
• Dr. Beverly Mitchell-Brooks President/CEO, Urban League of Greater Dallas and North Central Texas
• Ambassador Susan E. Rice U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations
It humbles me to receive this honor from the National Urban League, and it inspires me to do more as I join such an exceptional group of women for this recognition, said King. The National Urban League challenges us all to work for the empowerment of all people, and has been doing so for the past 100 years. I am proud to receive this award, particularly as we celebrate the centennial year of the Urban League movement.

About Gale King
As executive vice president and chief human resources officer for Nationwide, King is responsible for developing the company’s human resources strategy. This includes the full range of tools, policies and programs for the company’s nearly 34,000 business leaders and associates throughout the United States. She leads talent management, compensation, performance management, associate and leadership development, organizational effectiveness, change management and diversity and inclusion.
King began her insurance career as a claims representative, then served in various leadership roles, including administrative officer office of the president property & casualty, vice president for Nationwide Insurance human resources and senior vice president for property & casualty human resources.

Understanding the importance of education, in 2007, King established a scholarship fund in the name of her late grandmother and mother. This fund provides four college scholarships annually.
She is active in the community and currently serves on the boards of the Columbus Urban League and Franklin County Children’s Services. She is also a member of two national organizations, the Executive Leadership Council and Insurance Conference Group. King graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in public administration.�

About the Urban League
The National Urban League is an historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy. Today, there are more than 100 local affiliates in 36 states and the District of Columbia, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than 2 million people nationwide.�

About Nationwide
Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by A.M. Best. The company provides a full range of personalized insurance and financial services, including auto insurance, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life insurance, farm, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health and productivity services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.
Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark and On Your Side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

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Source: Nationwide