Upwardly Global Honors Two High Profile Executives for Outstanding Leadership

PRLog (Press Release) - Oct. 17, 2012 - New York, October 17th, 2012 – Upwardly Global (http://www.upwardlyglobal.org/), a national nonprofit organization with a mission to eliminate employment barriers for skilled immigrants and refugees and integrate this population into the professional U.S. workforce, today announced it will recognize two high profile executives at its annual 2012 Passport to Possibilities Gala on October 17th at the Edison Ballroom.

Randel K. Johnson, Senior Vice President for Labor Immigration, and Employee Benefits of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Suzette Brooks Masters, Immigrant Integration Advocate and Funder, will receive Upwardly Global’s prestigious Outstanding Leadership Award for their leadership and impact on the integration of skilled immigrants into the U.S. workforce.

Mr. Johnson brings more than two decades of immigration experience to his role at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he promotes legislative changes and workforce integration to meet the needs of U.S. employers and immigrant job seekers. Mr. Johnson has shown a personal commitment to improve the lives of the U.S. refugee population as well, through his service on the Boards of national refugee service organizations.

“Mr. Johnson generates important research on the advantages for businesses that hire immigrants and the positive results for our economy,” said Nikki Cicerani, Upwardly Global Executive Director. “He also brings a humanitarian concern for refugees who must reconcile the America they saw in the pictures with the America of real life—where employment barriers can block those beautiful views for a lifetime. He wants the U.S. to come through for them.”

Suzette Brooks Masters spurs innovation and collaboration in the growing field of high-skilled immigrant workforce integration. Her advocacy and grant making have positioned exemplary integration initiatives involving foreign professionals, such as those of Upwardly Global, for significant growth and national impact.

Recently, Ms. Masters seeded a collaboration of five organizations focused on high-skilled immigrant integration—called IMPRINT, with Upwardly Global as a founding member. Together, these organizations stand more forcefully on behalf of the nearly 2 million immigrants who are underemployed and unemployed in the U.S. “Ms. Masters’ knowledge and instincts about this issue are remarkable—her leadership is invaluable to those of us who are determined to put this hidden talent pool in touch with U.S. employers who need their skills,” said Ms. Cicerani.

Mr. Johnson and Ms. Masters will be honored before more than 350 attendees at Upwardly Global’s 2012 Passport to Possibilities Awards & Gala Event at the Edison Ballroom on Wednesday, October 17 in New York City. All funds raised from this event will support Upwardly Global’s mission and programs.

Austin T. Fragomen Jr., Chairman and Managing Partner of Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP and an Upwardly Global Honoree in 2011, and Kaniaru Wacieni, Vice President of J.P. Morgan and a strong supporter of Upwardly Global will serve as co-chairs for the event.

About Upwardly Global

Upwardly Global, founded in 2000, is a national, award-winning nonprofit organization with offices in San Francisco, New York, and Chicago. Upwardly Global helps work-authorized, skilled immigrants rebuild their professional careers in the U.S. by providing professional job-search training and access to employers with global talent needs. To date, the organization has coached more than 3,800 skilled immigrants and has assisted more than 1,300 professionals back into their career field. For more information about the organization, please visit http://www.upwardlyglobal.org