Machelle Williams, general manager of organizational development and diversity for Volkswagen Group of America, has been named Woman of the Year by the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD). Williams was selected for her industry leadership and outstanding contributions to advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Solera National Bank has received the 2012 Diversity Corporation of the Year Award by ColoradoBiz. Solera is Denver’s first and only Hispanic-, minority- and small business-focused community bank. The Minority Businessperson of the Year Award was presented to Tim Marquez, CEO of Venoco, Inc.

DiversityInc has announced its Top 50 Companies for Diversity. The list is based on a survey of 4 key areas of diversity management: CEO Commitment to Diversity Management; Workforce Diversity & Human Capital; Corporate/Organizational Communications; Supplier Diversity. For the complete list of winning organizations, click here.

The Walter Kaitz Foundation has honored Cox Communications with its 2012 Diversity Champion Award and the Healthy Media Commission for Positive Images of Women and Girls with its Diversity Advocate Award.

The multi-ethnic Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire is the recipient of Actors’ Equity Association’s Extraordinary Excellence in Diversity on Broadway Award for the 2011-12 season. The award, presented by Equity’s Eastern Regional Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, “honors and encourages those who actively promote the goals of diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity for all who work in the theatre.” Actors’ Equity Association represents more than 49,000 professional stage actors and stage managers nationwide.

The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) has honored Cheryl Stevens, vice president of supplier diversity at Energy Future Holdings, with the William J. Alcorn Award for her outstanding leadership contributions in opening the doors of opportunity in corporate contracting to certified women’s business enterprises.

DiversityBusiness.com has announced the honorees for its Champions of Diversity Award for 2012. The award is given annually to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to solutions in diversity issues on a regional and national level. This year’s list includes Terry Lundgren, Macy’s, Floyd Pitts, American Red Cross, Marion Gross, McDonald’s USA and Indra Nooyi, Pepsico Inc. For the complete list of this year’s recipients, click here.

Black Enterprise has announced the top 40 organizations on this year’s Best Companies for Diversity. For the complete list,  click here.

The Annual Transformative Award honors the empowerment and diversity of general counsel and law firm partners who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing women in corporate law. The 2012 winners are Vicki O’Meara, Pitney Bowes Services Solutions,  (Pamela L. Carter Award); Christine A. Edwards, Winston & Strawn, (Mary Ann Hynes Award); Janet Langford Kelly, ConocoPhillips, (Anastasia D. Kelly Award); Thomas Sabatino, Walgreens (Thomas A. Mars Award); SNR Denton (Firm Wide Policies Award); and Lawrie Demorest, Alston & Bird,  (Rainmaker Award).

Erica Enders has become the first female to win a national event in the National Hot Rod Association’s Pro Stock class. Enders, a 28-year-old who started in Junior Dragster at age 8, defeated 4-time champion Greg Anderson in the finals of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Ill.  She is only the 6^th woman to compete in the class and only the second to win a round.

The Association of Diversity Councils has released its list of the 2012 Top 25 U.S. Diversity Councils. The award is designed to honor the outstanding contributions and achievements of council groups that lead diversity processes in their organizations and demonstrate results in their workforce, workplace and marketplace. For the complete list, click here.