The Committee for Economic Development honored National Gypsum CEO Tom Nelson with its Leadership in the Nation’s Interest award as part of the group’s Spring Conference in Washington, D.C., which draws business leaders from major companies throughout the United States.
The award is given annually to one corporate executive who leads his or her company with integrity and purpose and champions policies for the common good. Nelson is the second recipient of the award.
The CED is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, business-led public policy organization that delivers well-researched analysis and reasoned solutions to the nation’s most critical issues. The CED’s research falls under four areas: fiscal health, education, global competitiveness and democratic institutions.
The organization was founded 70 years ago to help the U.S. economy transition from war to peace-time prosperity. The CED’s accomplishments include working to successfully garner support among the American business community for the Marshall Plan after World War II and helping develop the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
In addition to the CED, Nelson is involved in several business organizations including The Business Council, The Business Roundtable and the Council on Foreign Relations. He is a member of the Board of Dean’s Advisors at Harvard Business School and a past chair of the Policy Advisory Board at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. He is also a director of Belk Inc., Carolinas HealthCare System, Yum!Brands, Inc. and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
