Bruce S. Gordon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bruce Gordon
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| President and CEO of the NAACP | |
| In office 2005–2007 |
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| Preceded by | Dennis Courtland Hayes (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Dennis Courtland Hayes (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Bruce Scott Gordon
February 15, 1946 Camden, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Education | Gettysburg College (BA) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MBA) |
Bruce Scott Gordon was born on February 15, 1946. He is a very successful American business executive. Bruce Gordon spent most of his working life at Verizon, a large phone and internet company. Today, he helps lead several big companies as a corporate director. These include CBS, Northrop Grumman, and Tyco International.
In 2005, Bruce Gordon was chosen to lead the NAACP. This is a very important civil rights organization in America. He served as its president until March 2007.
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Bruce Gordon's Early Life
Bruce Gordon was born in Camden, New Jersey. His parents were both actively involved in the civil rights movement. This means they worked to make sure all people had equal rights.
He graduated from Gettysburg College in 1968. Later, in 1988, he earned a Master's degree in Management. He got this from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
His Business Career
Bruce Gordon started his professional career at Bell of Pennsylvania. This company later became part of Verizon. He moved up in the company, taking on more important roles. When he retired in December 2003, he was the Head of the Retail Markets Division at Verizon.
Other leaders at Verizon have said that Bruce Gordon helped a lot. He encouraged diversity and a focus on customer service. Diversity means having people from many different backgrounds working together.
Awards and Recognition
Bruce Gordon has received many honors for his work. In March 2007, he was added to the Advertising Hall of Fame. This is a very special award in the advertising world.
Ebony magazine named him one of the "100 Most Influential Black Americans and Organization Leaders." This was in May 2006. Fortune magazine also recognized him. In July 2002, they ranked him #6 on their list of the "50 Most Powerful Black Executives." In 1998, Black Enterprise magazine named him their executive of the year.
Current Roles and Contributions
Today, Bruce Gordon is a member of the boards of several major companies. These include CBS Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and Tyco International, Ltd. He also works as a consultant, helping big companies improve their diversity.
He is also involved with many non-profit organizations. He is a trustee for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. He also serves on the boards of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and Newport Festivals Foundation. He helps advise the New York Urban League and the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys.
Leading the NAACP
The NAACP stands for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. It is one of the oldest and most important civil rights groups in the U.S. It works to ensure equal rights for all people.
Bruce Gordon was chosen as NAACP president on June 25, 2005. This choice was seen as unusual. Most past presidents were well-known politicians or civil rights leaders. Bruce Gordon came from the business world. The organization's board voted for him unanimously. He took office at the NAACP convention in July 2005. He followed Kweisi Mfume, who had resigned earlier.
Working with the White House
President George W. Bush spoke at the NAACP on July 20, 2006. This was the first time he had addressed the organization during his presidency. A White House spokesperson said that Gordon's "moderate" views helped make this appearance happen.
Why He Resigned
Bruce Gordon resigned from his role in March 2007. He said there were disagreements with the board. He explained that he wanted to bring new ideas and strategies. These ideas were not always in line with what some board members wanted. He felt he couldn't make the changes he believed were needed.
