Corp! Magazine Recognizes Spectrum Health Chief Diversity Officer Ovell Barbee

Magazine honors businesses and individuals who battle systemic and institutional racism.

October 12, 2020

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 12, 2020 – Corp! Magazine recently recognized Spectrum Health’s Ovell Barbee with its Diversity Business Leader Award for his efforts to improve diversity and inclusion programs and to battle systemic and institutional racism.

Barbee is a senior vice president for human resources and was appointed as Spectrum Health’s first chief diversity officer in 2019.

“We have to be willing to engage in conversations regarding racism, discrimination and harassment. Silence will not lead to change,” Barbee said. The Corp! article is available here.

A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Barbee joined Spectrum Health in 2016. He previously served as human resources leader of two start-up organizations established by Fortune 50 companies and in human resource leadership positions at Blue Cross Blue Shield, Motorola, OnStar, General Motors and Canadian National Railway.

Barbee earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in human resources and labor management from Michigan State University. He is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) by The HR Certification Institute and holds the Society of HR Managers’ Senior Certified Professional (SHRM – SCP) certification. Barbee was previously named one of the Top 50 Executives in the Country Under the Age of 50 by the National Black MBA Association.

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