The Michaels Organization is pleased to announce teammates Courtney Zaccardi and Tatiana Rodriguez as this year’s Jackie Jones Award winners.
Created in 2021, Michaels’ Jackie Jones Award honors an individual or group of teammates who have been integral to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion at Michaels and in their communities. The honorees are those acting as catalysts for change, whether through internal efforts to improve DE&I within the organization, or through their contributions outside of the company to further transform their specific geographic region, neighborhood, or in the real estate/property management industry at large.
The award is named for Jackie Jones, a long-time Michaels teammate and the Founding Director of Michaels’ social services program — now its own independent non-profit organization, Better Tomorrows.
Click here to watch a special video highlighting Jackie’s life and legacy
This year’s awardees are two remarkable individuals who perfectly exemplify the spirit of Jackie Jones.
Courtney Zaccardi, Corporate Marketing Specialist, has been an active member of Michaels’ DE&I Council since 2021, rising to the position of Vice Chair in 2022. As part of the DE&I Council, Courtney is responsible for creating educational resources, planning webinars, and handling communications related to DE&I initiatives. She also runs the Council’s Book Club where she uses books to create a safe, open space for participants to explore courageous conversations on topics like race, sexual orientation, gender, age, and national origin.
In addition, Courtney champions partnerships with local nonprofits and small businesses, ensuring DE&I efforts extend beyond the workplace to uplift underserved communities, including in Camden, NJ – Michaels’ corporate hometown.
Tatiana Rodriguez, Social Services Coordinator at Courtyard Apartments in Philadelphia, has created several programs and initiatives for Courtyard residents including an ESL program that supports non-English-speaking residents and a mentoring program aimed at empowering young women to pursue education and career goals. Tatiana has also partnered with local immigrant-owned businesses to provide culturally relevant resources and with healthcare workers to address the disparities experienced by diverse populations.
In her nomination for the award, Tatiana’s colleagues also spoke of the beneficial “Community Conversation” series Tatiana has spearheaded, which has “facilitated numerous courageous conversations around sensitive topics, creating safe spaces within the workplace and the community where individuals can openly discuss these issues without fear of judgment.”
In the workplace and within their local communities, Courtney and Tatiana are both committed advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion who actively work to uplift underrepresented voices and foster inclusivity throughout The Michaels Organization.
