New Member - January 2016

With over twenty years professional industry experience and various Board engagements, Michele Howell has created both market and community impact. Michele presides as VP Business Development, Aon Cornerstone, leading business development efforts across the US central region.  In this role, Michele is responsible for creating innovative three-way partnership opportunities between: minority / small business firms, private / public sector entities and Aon’s risk and human resource solution experts.  Michele’s efforts foster expanded visibility and economic gains for under-utilized diverse firms in the professional services arena while enabling clients to engage suppliers in a new spend vertical with high-value outcomes:  utilization of top talent diverse firms, project savings / efficiencies, economic impact to local communities and enhanced social sustainability.

Michele has maintained a long-standing commitment to driving a cultural shift that embraces diversity and inclusion.  Prior to joining Aon in 2014, Michele held senior management roles across both private sector and non-profit organizations, including Johnson Controls, Bristol Myers-Squibb and the Indiana Minority Supplier Development Council. Michele’s leadership activities resulted in expanded supplier participation, meaningful supplier / procurement programs, greater organizational and marketplace engagement through diversity education / training, the creation of new markets / channels, and increased revenue potential through expanded industry relationships. Through a business approach centered on integrity and a “partnership win-win” strategy, Michele has implemented forward-thinking joint venture models, exceeded business targets and consistently delivered strategic and operational value within a national and global framework. 

Education:  B.S. Organizational Management, Oakland City University;  certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute; Six Sigma Greenbelt Training; LEED Associate Training; Supply Chain Management Basics, APICS; Diversity Leadership Academy, Greater Indianapolis Graduate.

Affiliations: Hispanic Business Council – Indy Chamber (Board member); Indiana Construction Roundtable (Advisory Board member, Mentor / Protégé); ABC National Diversity Committee member; 40 North HOA (Board Member); Project Management Institute Central Indiana Chapter (PMICIC) (Board member). Prior engagements: Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (Board member);  Diversity Lecture Series (Board member); Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED); Veolia Water M/WBE Review Committee; NAPM