FOR  immediate    release   

Leffler    Agency    Selects  Good  Word  Reputation  Digital  Media 

Leffler  Agency,   Inc.  a  Baltimore  and  Tampa  based  full-­‐service    advertising  and  marketing  firm    with  a    specialty  for  representing  professional  and    collegiate  sports  teams,  has  selected  Good   Word  Reputation    Digital  Media  (GoodWRD    Media),    a  digital  media  company  founded  by  J.  Russell  Fugett, to    be  the    agency’s  digital  media    partner  in  the    area    of  online  reputation   management  for    Leffler    Agency’s    University  and  sports  clients. 

“Russell    comes  from  a    great  family  that  I   have  known  well    for  many  years.    I    was  very  much    impressed  with  the  capabilities  and  approach  that    he  and  his  team  can  provide  for    our    clients”,  said    Bob  Leffler  the  Founder  of  the    Leffler  Agency.  

The  Leffler  Agency,  founded    in    1984  by  former    Baltimore  Colts  marketing  and  sales  director,  Bob    Leffler,    specializes    in  strategic    revenue  acquisition  planning,  budget  expansion,  promotional  networking,    and  strategic    creative  imaging.    It  is  now  in  its  30th  year  of  business. 

GoodWRD  is  a  digital    media  company  that  specializes    in  working  with  Businesses  and    Brands,    Campaigns  and  Causes,  Institutions  and  Individuals  to  promote  and    protect  their  online  reputations.  With    a  special    emphasis  on  mobile  applications  and  online    reputation  management,    GoodWRD  provides    communication  services    across  all  media. 

GoodWRD    has  unique  understanding   of  business  as  well    as  Collegiate  and  Professional  sports.      Russell  spent  over  6  years    at  George  Washington  University  in  Multicultural  Student  Services  where  he    conceived  and  implemented  campus    wide  marketing  initiatives.    Russell’s  partner  and  father,  Jean    Fugett,    Jr.,  is  the  former  All-­‐Pro    tight  end  for  the    Redskins  and  Dallas  Cowboys  and  the  former    chairman  and  CEO  of  TLC  Beatrice    International  Food.    Jean  previously  served  on  a  number  of    University  Boards  including  Harvard,  George   Washington  University,  and  the  University  of  Maryland. 

Russell’s  uncle  Reginald    F  Lewis  acquired  Beatrice  international  25  years  ago.     GoodWRD  and  the    Leffler  Agency  came  to  their  agreement  on  the  same  date  25  years  later.        

http://www.leffleragency.net/index.php    

www.TheGoodWRD.com    

www.GoodWRD.com                                                                            

@TheGoodWRD  Twitter  &  Facebook  

FINRA Diversity Summit

February 27, 2013

One World Financial Center, New York, NY

By:  Fields Jackson

On Feb 27 I had the unique opportunity to attend the 1st FINRA Diversity Summit.  The summit’s objective was to provide a forum for diversity practitioners from firms, financial regulators and other organizations to share best practices that link business goals to the workplace and the marketplace.

The program kicked off at 8:30 am with a welcome address from Julie Crotty, Deputy Director, Mediation and Business Strategy, Co‐Chair, Diversity Summit Planning Committee, FINRA and Yolanda Trottman, Examination Director, Risk Oversight and Operational Regulation, Co‐Chair, Diversity Summit Planning Committee, FINRA.  Julie and Yolanda briefly stated the objectives of the program – to explore a variety of corporate practices, strategies and outreach efforts intended to leverage the benefits of diversity and inclusion and introduced Richard G. Ketchum, Chairman and CEO, FINRA.

 

Richard who has been featured on the cover of Racing Toward Diversity magazines Winter 2012 issue –  “FINRA WORKS TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE AND EXPAND DIVERSITY. “

http://bit.ly/UY4RRT, clearly communicated not only his personal diversity and inclusion journey, but his commitment to the business case for diversity and inclusion that has spanned the past 10+ years during his tenure at FINRA and his previous employer NYSE.

Richard then introduced to the standing room only crowd of over 100+ participants representing over 15 states and Washington DC, the keynote speaker James Weddle, Managing Partner, Edward Jones. James discussed “Making the Business Case for Diversity and Inclusion Practices”. James who serves as a member of the Financial Industry Regulating Authority (FINRA) Board of Governors stated, “Diversity and Inclusion it is the smart thing to do. It’s all about talent acquisition and finding the best talent / associates who mirror the markets we serve.

Panel 1 which started at 9:30 am – featured Robert Marchman, Executive Vice President, Market Regulation, Legal, FINRA (moderator), Sheila Clark, Director, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Federal Reserve Board, D. Michael (Mickey) Collins, Director, Office of Diversity and Economic Opportunity, FDIC and Pamela Gibbs, Director, Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission focused on Updates on Office of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI).

Robert Marchman-FINRA, Sheila Clark-Federal Reserve, Mickey Collins-FDIC, Pamela Gibbs-SEC

The panel provided an overview and update of the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, established in July 2011, as required by Section 342 of the Dodd‐Frank Act. Panelists discussed the role and responsibilities of the federal agencies’ OMWIs, particularly as it relates to the irinternal diversity programs and the diversity policies of the regulated entities.

Panel 2 which started at 11 a.m. featured Tyronne Stoudemire, Principal, Senior Diversity Consultant, Mercer (moderator), Jennifer Brown, Founder and CEO, Jennifer Brown Consulting, Erika Irish Brown, Senior Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion, Bank of America, John Kalohn, Vice President, Registration and Disclosure, Co‐Chair,Diversity Leadership Council, FINRA and Nate Saint‐Victor, Executive Director, Legal and Compliance, and Chair of the Legal and Compliance Division Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Morgan Stanley.

Tryonne Stoudemire-Mercer, Jennifer Brown-JB Consulting, John Kalohn-FINRA, Erika Irish Brown-Bank of America, Nate Saint-Victor-Morgan Stanley

This panel focused on Diversity and Inclusion Best Practices and in this session, diversity officers and practitioners shared their perspectives on how to effectively build a business case for implementing diversity and inclusion practices. Panelists also shared their views on the “best of the best,” including which best practices are the most effective and why.

Overall a strong and thought provoking dialogue and an important first step with the FINRA Diversity and Inclusion summit. My take away, in the highly competitive financial, government and regulatory agencies in which all the firms in attendance operate – how do you attract and retain a diverse workforce and leadership team. Talent is what separates those leading companies and institutions – and as James Weddle stated in very stark business terms –“Diversity and inclusion – it is the smart thing to do”.