AURORA, CO, October 22, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Steven Thomas has been recognized for achievement in human resources.

Dr. Thomas has established himself as a distinguished expert in organization design and development within the field of human resources, with more than two decades dedicated to advancing strategic planning and aligning internal processes with business priorities. In his current capacity as Global Manager for Inclusion and Belonging at Terumo BCT, Inc., which he began in 2025, Dr. Thomas leads the company's comprehensive strategy for inclusion and belonging. He is responsible for setting the vision for these initiatives, communicating their value throughout the workforce, and expanding the reach of these programs beyond North America to every region where Terumo BCT, Inc. operates. His leadership extends to overseeing five Associate Resource Groups and spearheading efforts to launch a sixth group focused on the Latin Hispanic community. Additionally, Dr. Thomas plays a pivotal role in supporting and guiding action planning for the company's annual Voice of the Associates Survey, ensuring that survey results are translated into meaningful organizational improvements.

Prior to joining Terumo BCT, Inc., Dr. Thomas served as Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Teva Pharmaceuticals from 2023 to 2024. During this period, he navigated a rapidly shifting corporate landscape marked by significant changes in diversity, equity, and inclusion structures across the industry. The elimination of his role at Teva Pharmaceuticals prompted his relocation to Colorado, where he continued his commitment to advancing inclusive workplace cultures.

From 2021 to 2023, Dr. Thomas held the position of Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Talent Programs at PhRMA Trade Association in the Washington, DC- Baltimore area. In this capacity, he expanded his impact on talent management and organizational effectiveness at an industry-wide level. Earlier, between 2019 and 2021, he was a Senior Manager, Human Resources Business Partner at Lockheed Martin in Bethesda, Maryland, where he further honed his expertise in strategic human resources leadership.

His career also includes serving as a Talent Strategy and Organization Effectiveness Consultant at LMI from 2018 to 2019, where he provided guidance on optimizing workforce strategies. Concurrently, from 2018 to 2020, Dr. Thomas served as an adjunct professor at Strayer University in the Washington, DC, metro area, sharing his knowledge with students pursuing careers in human resources.

From 2017 to 2018, Dr. Thomas worked as Program Manager at Apogee Engineering LLC in Washington, DC. Prior to Apogee Engineering, he was at RGS Inc. in Arlington, Virginia, as Principal Consultant from 2011 to 2017. His earlier roles included Talent Management Manager at Raytheon in Dulles, Virginia in 2011; Talent and Organization Development Manager at Lockheed Martin in Gaithersburg, Maryland from 2009 to 2011; Human Resources Business Partner at Lockheed Martin in Rockville, Maryland from 2008 to 2009; and Organization Development Consultant at Lockheed Martin in Bethesda, Maryland from 2005 to 2008.

Throughout his career, beginning in 2005 at Lockheed Martin Corporation, Dr. Thomas has been recognized for driving impactful change through organizational design and development. His work has consistently focused on supporting executives and frontline managers by equipping them with practical skills necessary for effective leadership within diverse global teams. He has championed diversity initiatives since the 1990s, when such efforts were known as diversity, tolerance, and multiculturalism. Today, Dr. Thomas finds fulfillment in helping organizations create environments where every individual belongs and every voice is valued.

Dr. Thomas's professional affiliations include membership with SHRM nationally and Mile High SHRM locally. He is also engaged with Rocky Mountain People and Strategy Organization — a Denver-area association for C-suite-level leaders — reflecting his ongoing commitment to advancing best practices within human resources.

His academic background has played a foundational role in shaping his expertise and approach to organizational leadership. Dr. Thomas earned his Doctor of Philosophy in organizational development and organizational leadership development from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2005. This advanced study provided him with both theoretical grounding and practical insights that proved instrumental during his transition from academia into corporate environments.

He previously completed a Master of Arts in higher education student affairs at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, in 1996. This degree fostered his early passion for supporting students' growth in higher education before he pivoted to corporate training and organizational design. Dr. Thomas began his academic journey by earning a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, in 1993.

Dr. Thomas credits much of his success to a combination of focus, intentionality and determination supported by family and friends who have encouraged him throughout his career.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Dr. Thomas is actively involved with several civic organizations that reflect his dedication to community engagement. He has been a member of Rocky Mountain People and Strategy since 2025 and partners closely with the Rocky Mountain Total Rewards Association through extensive volunteer work, collaborating with local entities throughout Denver. His contributions also extend to The Action Center in Lakewood and the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless in Denver — organizations through which he supports efforts to improve lives across Colorado.

Born in Atlanta, Dr. Thomas now resides in Denver, where he enjoys hiking and reconnecting with personal interests that bring him fulfillment outside of work. An avid traveler who enjoys exploring destinations worldwide, he also finds joy singing with a local church choir and praise team — continuing a lifelong passion for music that began when he was five years old. Broadway theatre remains central to his life as well.

Looking ahead, Dr. Thomas is focused on building a robust foundation for inclusion and belonging within Terumo BCT, Inc., aiming to expand these initiatives globally by making all programs accessible across diverse regions including APAC (Asia-Pacific), LATAM (Latin America), EMEA (Europe-Middle East-Africa), India, Costa Rica, Ireland and North America through an Inclusion and Belonging Council comprised of business leaders worldwide. Although currently operating as a team of one in this function, he leverages his influence through collaborative councils and associate resource groups while seeking opportunities to contribute further, both professionally and civically, within the Denver community.

Dr. Thomas's enduring commitment to strategic human resources leadership continues to shape organizations by fostering inclusive environments that thrive on a global scale.

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