Nationwide to be honored by American Bar Association

American Bar Association President Deborah Enix-Ross awarded a Presidential Citation to Nationwide, the insurance and financial services company based in Columbus, Ohio, for its longstanding commitment to civics education and recent work with the ABA to promote civics, civility and collaboration in the workplace.

The award was presented at the ABA House of Delegates meeting Monday morning, Aug. 7.

With leadership from Nationwide’s Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer Mark Howard, the company worked with the ABA to present a workplace program on civics, civility and
collaboration on July 13. The program also included educational videos produced by Nationwide explaining the Electoral College and how a bill becomes law. A panel featured two members of the Congressional Civility and Respect Caucus — Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) and Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH) — and other Ohio election officials and politicians who discussed how respect and civility can exist in politics.

“The role of the business community in promoting civics, civility and collaboration – the Cornerstones of Democracy – cannot be overstated,” said Enix-Ross. “Nation­front of making sure its employees are informed and engaged. Doing so makes our democracy and our society stronger.”

Nationwide’s Civic Action Program, which has been in existence for 45 years, exposes employees to the voting process and to the issues involved in elections in a nonpartisan fashion.

Howard accepted the award at the House of Delegates meeting, along with other Nationwide officials Bonnie Wolf, associate vice president of staff administration, Steve English, senior vice president of external affairs and Natosha Prolago, director of political programs.