GCI introduces new ‘Black Leaders and Allies Championing eQuality’ (BLACQ) Business Resource Group

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — GCI’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council has announced the company’s newest Business Resource Group – Black Leaders and Allies Championing eQuality (BLACQ). The new BRG’s goal is to help with the professional development of its members, advancement of inclusivity at GCI, and to create a sense of belonging for GCI employees of the Black and African American community.

“I have seen firsthand the difference that the Business Resource Groups have made at GCI and I can’t wait to see what opportunities and fun come out of our new group,” said GCI Senior Manager of Lifeline Quality & Data Control Tanisha Rice, acting chair of the BLACQ BRG. “I think the name symbolizes exactly what we want the BRG to be about, Black Leaders and Allies working with each other to form not only a sense of togetherness, but also help with professional advancement.”

The BLACQ BRG joins three other BRGs at GCI – GWeN, PRIDE and Indigenous. The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program launched in 2021 at GCI and has been making waves ever since. The BRGs have not only created strong bonds between employees within the company, but also allowed the GCI team to better serve its Alaska customers by amplifying the voices of historically underrepresented communities.

“The employees of GCI are what make me proud to work at this company,” said GCI Senior Vice President of Law and Corporate Advocacy and the BLACQ BRG’s executive sponsor Becky Windt Pearson. “Now that we are a predominantly remote workplace, I think it’s even more important to bring our employees together in as many ways as possible and to continue to proactively work to support and foster a diverse workforce. The Black Leaders and Allies Championing eQuality BRG is an important addition to our ongoing DEI work, and I can’t wait to see what great things come from the group.”

Business Resource Groups, sometimes called employee resource groups, have been identified as a best practice for companies that want to make their organizational culture more inclusive. Members of the BRG work to support each other, gain networking opportunities with other members of the community and with allies, reduce silos around the company, and inform business decisions through a unique lens. The BRG also works with GCI executive leadership to ensure that policy, procedure, marketing and products take the community into consideration and remain authentic.

"When we launched our first BRGs, the goal was clear – create a greater sense of inclusivity and belonging,” said GCI Senior Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Deborah Ferrell. “Now, a few years later, I can confidently say that we are accomplishing our goal and the BRGs are making a positive impact on our employees and company culture.”

GCI, Alaska’s largest telecommunications company, formed its DEI Council in 2021; it’s a nomination-based, employee-led initiative to address DEI efforts in the workplace. To learn more about GCI’s Workplace Culture and DEI initiatives, visit https://news.gci.com/topic/workplace-culture.

About GCI

Headquartered in Alaska, GCI provides data, mobile, video, voice and managed services to consumer, business, government, and carrier customers throughout Alaska, serving more than 200 communities. The company has invested more than $4 billion in its Alaska network and facilities over the past 40 years and recently launched true standards-based 5G NR service in Anchorage, now the nation’s northernmost 5G service area. Learn more about GCI at www.gci.com. GCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP). Learn more about Liberty Broadband at http://www.libertybroadband.com.