Diversity Gala

Santa Clara Law Social Justice and Human Rights Award Winners - 2011

Simão J. Ávila

Simão (Sim) J. Ávila, was born in the island of São Jorge, Azores (Portugal).  He immigrated to the United States as a teenager with his parents and five siblings to join his father’s side of the family who already lived in California for many years. Mr. Avila was the first of his family to attend college.  He earned his Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Philosophy from Saint Patrick’s College in 1977.  He then joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) where he worked at Casa de los Niños in Tijuana and Tecate, Mexico.  This experience led him to become a lawyer instead of a priest. Mr. Avila obtained his JD degree from the University of Santa Clara, School of Law in 1983.  He began his practice with the National Labor Relations Board in San Juan, Puerto Rico representing workers, unions and employers alike as a field attorney for Region 24.  Mr. Avila then returned to the Bay Area where he practiced for 16 years at Littler Mendelson and became a shareholder.  He represented many private and public sector clients on nearly all aspects of employment and labor law during that period. In 2001, Mr. Avila became labor and employment counsel for the Office of General Counsel, University of California. He is currently Senior Counsel, Legal & Government Relations for Kaiser Permanente, a position that he accepted in 2007.  At Kaiser Permanente, Mr. Avila serves in the Diversity Committee where he and his colleagues continue that company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the practice of law. Mr. Avila lecturers at Stanford University, School of Law and at University of California, Boalt Hall, on negotiations and ADR.  In furtherance of his commitment to community service, Mr. Avila has been a board member with Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, the Alameda County Community Food Band and St. Vincent’s Day Home, which offers comprehensive child development programs and services for children in East Oakland.

The Honorable Judge Risë Jones Pichon

Judge Risë Jones Pichon has been a Superior Court Judge of the County of Santa Clara, State of California since 1998.  She previously served as a Judge of the Municipal Court from 1984 to 1998 when the trial courts unified, and as a Court Commissioner from 1983 to 1984.  She received a Juris Doctor Degree from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1976 and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics in 1973 from Santa Clara University after having transferred from Xavier University in New Orleans in 1971.

Judge Pichon is a member of the following organizations: The California Judges Association, the American Bar Association, the American Leadership Forum and the American Inns of Court, William A. Ingram Inn. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the St. Thomas More Society as its President and is a member of the Santa Clara University Markkula Center for Applied Ethics Advisory Board.

Judge Pichon was appointed by the California Supreme Court to the California Commission on Judicial Performance and served from 1999 to 2007.  She was Chairperson from 2002-2004.  She was appointed to the Judicial Council of California by the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court and served from 1994-1997, and she served on the Archbishop Mitty High School Board of Regents from 2000 to 2006.  In 2008, Judge Pichon served on the ABA Accreditation Self Study Committee for the Santa Clara University School of Law and the 2009 Strategic Planning Committee for the University. Judge Pichon has taught in the California Judicial College, the National Judicial College, at several local community colleges, and has been a guest lecturer at universities and law schools in the area. She has served as a panelist and as a speaker on numerous occasions on a variety of topics related to the judiciary, the administration of justice, and career development. Judge Pichon has also served as a mentor to aspiring lawyers and law students throughout her career.

She served as Supervising Judge of the Palo Alto Court Facility from 2006 to 2009, as Supervising Judge of the Sunnyvale Court Facility from 1999 to 2001, as Presiding Judge of the Municipal Court from 1999 to 2001, and is presently serving her second term by election on the Santa Clara County Superior Court Executive Committee.  She is currently the Supervising Judge of the Criminal Division of the Santa Clara County Superior Court for the term of 2011 - 2012, the Chairperson of the Superior Court Jury Standards Committee and is a member of a number of other Court Committees.

Judge Risë Pichon has been married to Ulysses Pichon for 37 years, and they have one adult daughter.

Santa Clara University Diversity Gala Organization of the Year Award - 2011

Intel Corporation and Diversity

Intel Corporation and Intel’s Legal and Corporate Affairs Department are pleased to accept the Organization of the Year award presented in conjunction with the 2011 Santa Clara Law and the Law Career Services Office 8th Annual Diversity Gala. We are extremely honored to be recognized with such esteemed recipients as Santa Clara Law Social Justice and Human Rights Award winners Simão J. Ávila ’83 and the Honorable Judge Risë Pichon ’76.

Through collaboration, capacity-building initiatives, creative application of technology, and strategic giving, Intel strives to transform education, increase economic opportunity, and make the communities where we operate better places to live and work.  Diversity is a critical component of that work. We are grateful for this acknowledgement and are heartened by the progress in driving diversity efforts in the legal profession it represents for all the honorees.

Intel is known for its technology, but the people behind the technology are what make the company great.

Intel believes its ability to innovate depends on ideas, and great ideas come from great people. The wide range of perspectives that are gained by hiring and developing talent from a diverse, global labor pool gives us a better understanding of the needs of our customers, suppliers, and communities, and helps us advance our leadership in both technology and corporate responsibility. Studies show that employees working in a diverse environment tend to feel more fulfilled, creative, and productive on the job, resulting in increased productivity, efficiency, and innovation.

Intel has improved the diversity of Intel’s workforce in several key categories in recent years. Since the creation of Intel’s Women’s Initiative in 2004, for example, the number of women in technical mid- to senior-level Intel jobs has grown by 24%. Additionally, 30% of the members of the Intel Board of Directors are women. Still, Intel continues to work on increasing the number of under-represented minorities and technical females in managerial and senior leadership positions. As such, Intel has key initiatives designed to improve recruitment, retention, and development of African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and technical women in leadership positions.

Intel encourages employees—from recent college graduates to Intel veterans—to join one of 20 chartered Intel employee affinity groups. These groups are organized around racial groupings, national origin, religious beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity, as well as other affinities such as parenthood and disability. They provide a powerful means of support and integration for employees, and opportunities to participate in a variety of programs, such as cultural awareness events, mentoring, and community involvement activities.

Intel also provides a variety of development experiences, including site-based leadership training and a networking series targeted for African American, Hispanic, and female employees. Internal and external research has validated the importance of providing experiences for various populations who might be isolated in the environment.

Intel is active on the boards and industry committees of national diversity organizations, such as the Anita Borg Institute, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers, American Indian Society of Engineers and Scientists, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, National Urban League, and National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. By establishing Intel as a trusted advisor and by building strong relationships with external organizations, we continue to enhance our own learning, help to achieve our diversity goals, share our best practices with others, and advance diversity beyond our own organization.

Diversity is an integral part of Intel’s competitive strategy and vision. Our goal is to continuously advance a work environment that honors, values, and respects all of our employees.

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