1. Bridging the gap between community and business
May 2, 2018
Bridging the gap between community and business
Patrick Yates
Manager Diversity & Inclusion ~ TDS Telecom
Director Program Growth & Community Engagement ~ Justified Anger
Confidential and Proprietary

2. Confidential and Proprietary
Background
About TDS Telecom
Resides under the corporate umbrella of Telephone & Data Systems.
Telephone & Data Systems has 10,000 employees are TDS Telecom employees.
7th largest local telephone company in USA.
Sister company of US-Cellular.
Operating entities
OneNeck IT Solutions
TDS Baja Broadband
Bend Broadband
A little about me. Me
Telephone & Data Systems
Founded 1969
Located in Chicago, Il
Employs over 10,000 employees
Fortune 500 company
TDS Telcom
Employs over 3400 people
7th largest telephone company in the USA
Sister company to US Cellular
Confidential and Proprietary

3. Confidential and Proprietary
How did this partnership arise?
A conversation w/ Vice President of Human Resources.
We can improve they way we do business.
How about you help us?
Grassroots diversity efforts ~ Fall of 2014 – Fall 2015
Pastor Gee & Justified Anger
Previous relationship.
Completion of “Our Madison Plan” roll out.
What’s your thoughts?
Meeting w/ Dave Wittwer, President of TDS Telecom.
Call from VP of HR.
Confidential and Proprietary

4. Confidential and Proprietary
The Agreement…
Year 1.
Relocate departments. Network Services to Human Resources.
60% working outside TDS for Justified Anger
40% work to further Diversity & Inclusion efforts for TDS.
Year 2.
100% in Human Resources at TDS
Confidential and Proprietary

5. Confidential and Proprietary
Why TDS partnered with J.A.?
Focus on community Involvement
Always had a focus on community engagement
Part of Mission and Shared Values
Volunteer time.
Primarily within service areas.
A new and innovative approach.
Recognize the importance of business in the community to resolve issues.
Broaden the funnel of diverse applicants.
Providing gainful employment.
Intentional in educating employees on Diversity & Inclusion.
Make the internal TDS community resemble the community externally.
Confidential and Proprietary

6. Confidential and Proprietary
Why should businesses engage the community?
Positive outcomes of involvement.
Public Relations.
Draw talent to the organization.
Impact the bottom line.
Businesses should feel an obligation to the community it resides in.
Businesses must command courage!
The business community has the ability to get at root causes.
More than just donations.
Education
Poverty
Homelessness
It should be the mantra; the call to action for every business to command courage and be an agent of change when comes to racial justice and diversity.
The community wins if businesses are intentional of addressing racial injustice.
Confidential and Proprietary

7. Confidential and Proprietary
The Challenge.
Be a catalyst for change where you are!
What do you see within your business that is out of place?
What thoughts and ideas do you have?
Speak up and speak out!
When the business community reaches broadly to the city it can make “Our Madison” equitable for all
Confidential and Proprietary