SBC among top 25 firms for women executives

SBC Communications Inc. is among the nation's Top 25 Companies for Ex-ecutive Women, according to the Na-tional Association for Female Execu-tives.

This marks the third consecutive year SBC has been singled out for its commitment to providing opportunities for women at all levels of the company, according to an SBC press release.

SBC ranks 12th on this year's list, and it is the only telecommunications company to make NAFE's top 25 ranking. The list recognizes companies that provide the best opportunities for women among Fortune 1,000 companies.

"Promoting opportunities for women has been fundamental to our success. There's no doubt that women will continue to play an important role in driving the future of this company," said Edward E. Whitacre Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of SBC Communications, in the release. "Diversity in our employee and management ranks makes us more responsive to our customers and employees."

To make the Top 25 list, a Fortune 1,000 company must have at least two women on its board of directors, a high proportion of women at all levels of the organization, and a steadily increasing percentage of women in senior management.

NAFE also analyzed how companies measure women's progress and hold managers accountable, particularly with financial incentives. Other considerations included the existence of programs that groom women for upper management, mentoring initiatives, networking, and flexible work arrangements and child-care benefits.

"When companies conscientiously transform their environments so women can succeed, they deserve recognition," said Dr. Betty C. Spence, president of NAFE.

SBC Southwestern Bell's work force is 50 percent female, with 6,600 female employees in Missouri. Nationally, 26 percent of SBC's corporate officers are female, with women making up 29 percent of SBC's board of directors.

The most recent Catalyst Census of Women Corporate Officers and Top Earners shows that SBC's female representation among its executive ranks is more than double that of the average Fortune 500 company.

The Top 25 Companies for Executive Women, previously published by Work-ing Woman magazine, will now continue under NAFE's auspices. Other Fortune 1,000 companies to make this year's list include Fannie Mae, IBM, Merck & Co. Inc. and Hewlett-Packard.