Cari Dominguez: 1949—: EEOC Chair

Initially planning a career as a foreign service officer, Dominguez was first hired by the U.S, Internal Revenue Service. She then worked at the Veteran's Administration before joining the U.S Department of Labor. In 1983 Dominguez left Washington, D.C., for San Francisco, joining the Bank of America Corporation.

Dominguez first gained notice when, hoping to showcase her ability, she volunteered to coordinate a Bank America fundraiser. She brainstormed a talent/variety show and recruited performers from the financial arena. The event's fantastic success caught the attention of Bank America Chair and CEO Samuel Arma-cost, and, as Dominguez told Hispanic Business, "The next thing I knew, my career took off." She remained with Bank America for several years, holding two vice presidential positions, including vp and director of executive programs and vp and corporate manager of EEO and affirmative action. The company also presented her with its highest honor, the Eagle Award for excellence.

In 1988, after George H. W. Bush's election to the presidency, Dominguez returned to Washington, D.C. as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment Standards and director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. During her time at the U.S. Labor Department, she spearheaded the Glass Ceiling Initiative, a program intended to clear the barriers against professional advancement for minorities and women. One of the Initiative's first steps toward this goal was to establish a pilot study to examine how U.S. corporations filled mid- and upper-level management positions.

With the 1992 turnover in the presidency, Dominguez returned to the private sector to work for two executive search firms, first the San Francisco-based Spencer Stuart, and later the Washington, D.C. office of Heid-rick & Struggles. At Heidrick & Struggles, Dominguez served as a diversity issues consultant, traveling to businesses across the nation.