Two Williams employees are honored for their efforts to support the growth of their colleagues and create a workplace culture where everyone feels welcome and included.
Watch this video with Leave the Ladder Down recipients Nick Muñoz and Suzanne Wong.
Williams is pleased to announce the 2024 Randy Barnard Memorial Leave the Ladder Down award winners, Nickolaus Muñoz and Suzanne Wong. This long-standing annual award recognizes employees for their intentional efforts to foster the development of others and cultivate a workplace where everyone feels included.
Muñoz, a Pittsburgh-based director of operations is the award recipient in the leader category, and Wong, a Tulsa-based technical specialist is the award recipient in the individual contributor category.
The award is named in honor of Randy Barnard, who received Williams’ Leave the Ladder Down Award in 2008. Barnard served as the President of Williams Gas Pipeline Company until he passed away in 2012 after battling cancer.
“Nick and Suzanne uphold the legacy of the late Randy Barnard by consistently demonstrating a genuine dedication to inclusion,” said Mikeale Campbell, program manager, Diversity and Inclusion. “By celebrating differences, Nick and Suzanne promote a culture where sharing unique perspectives and experiences are encouraged.”
The selection committee noted that Muñoz’s empathetic approach to leadership and consistent demonstration of ensuring every team member has a voice earned him immense respect from his peers.
“I’ve always seen having people from different backgrounds in the room as valuable because we’re able to get diversity of thought,” Muñoz explained. “Beyond being the right thing to do, creating an inclusive workplace benefits the organization by removing blind spots, leading to better, more effective decision making in the business.”
The selection committee said Wong’s dedication to diversity and inclusion is evident through her leadership of the Asian Pacific Islander Employee Resource Group (ERG). ERG events help increase awareness of other cultures and their unique contributions, providing a welcoming space for employees to learn and connect with one another.
“Participating in inclusion initiatives at Williams has been incredibly rewarding for me,” Wong said. “I’ve had the chance to connect and collaborate with peers I might never have met otherwise. I’ve gained friendships and created a work family where I feel safe, accepted and welcome.”
Muñoz was recognized at a board of directors meeting and Wong was recognized at an executive officer team meeting in honor of their achievements. Additionally, a $5,000 Williams’ charitable donation will be provided in Muñoz’s honor to Highmark Caring Place, an organization focused on providing a safe place for grieving children, adolescents and their families. A donation of $2,500 will be made in Wong’s honor to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, a food pantry providing resources and programs in the fight against hunger.
For more information on Diversity and Inclusion at Williams, visit our website.