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Groat Award Winner

An executive for a specialty retailer known worldwide will receive ILR's Groat Award in 2012.

Eva Sage-Gavin '80 will be recognized for contributions to the school and university, and for professional success.

The award will be made March 29 at the Pierre Hotel in New York City as part of the school's annual Groat & Alpern Celebration.

As executive vice president, Global Human Resources and Corporate Affairs, Gap Inc., Sage-Gavin sets strategy for the company's internal and external communications, government and public affairs, social and environmental responsibility and foundation.

She also oversees human resources operations for 134,000 employees worldwide. The corporation's brands include Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta.

Gap Inc.'s net sales in fiscal year 2010 were $14.7 billion. Products were available for purchase in more than 90 countries through more than 3,000 stores and e-commerce sites.

Sage-Gavin joined Gap Inc. in 2003. Previously, she worked at Sun Microsystems and at Disney Consumer Products as Senior Vice President, Human Resources. She has served in senior human resources leadership positions for PepsiCo Inc. and Xerox Corp.

Active in national education and workforce development initiatives, Sage-Gavin is a member of the Skills for America's Future Advisory Board, working with the White House, Aspen Institute, community colleges and corporations to build skilled work forces. She is a member of the HR Policy Association board and chairs its Workforce Development committee.

In 2005, "HR Executive" magazine recognized Sage-Gavin as one of the 25 most influential and prominent women leading human resource organizations.

In 2006, she was named a fellow by the National Academy of Human Resources in recognition of her professional achievements. She is the author of a chapter in "The Chief HR Officer: Defining the New Role of Human Resource Leaders," published in 2011.

Sage-Gavin serves on the boards of the Center for Advanced Human Resources Studies, the President's Council of Cornell Women and the University of Southern California’s Center for Effective Organizations.

A life member of the Cornell University Council, she is a guest lecturer at Stanford University, the University of Southern California and Cornell.

The Groat Award is named for Judge William B. Groat. He served as counsel to the New York State Joint Legislative Committee on Industrial and Labor Relations and played a pivotal role in founding the ILR School and drafting its charter. He later served as a New York Supreme Court Justice.

The annual award was established in 1971 in honor of Groat's vision and in tribute to his professional accomplishments.

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