IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 20, 2026, Lorna Coury Named 2026 ERG Leader of the Year at National Faith@Work Conference
Washington, DC — The Religious Freedom & Business Foundation (RFBF) is pleased to announce that Lorna Coury, Executive Director at Consumers Energy, has been named the 2026 ERG Leader of the Year. The award was presented on May 20, 2026, at the annual Dare to Overcome (DTO) Faith@Work ERG Conference, held at The Busch School of Business in Washington, DC.
The Faith-ERG Leader of the Year Award recognizes exceptional leadership in advancing faith-friendly and belief-inclusive workplaces. The honor is presented annually among peers, including Fortune 500 ERG leaders and global executives, who are shaping the future of workplace inclusion through research, innovation, and practical leadership.
Coury was recognized for her visionary leadership in founding and growing the Interfaith Employee Resource Group (ERG) at CMS Energy and Consumers Energy, an initiative that has become a model for faith inclusion across corporate America.
“Few leaders embody the spirit of this award as consistently and courageously as Lorna,” said Brian J. Grim, President of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation and Global Chair of Dare to Overcome. “She has not only built a thriving interfaith community within her organization, but has also helped create a blueprint for other companies seeking to foster respect, belonging, and collaboration across differences.”
Founded in 2022 after nearly two years of research and development, the Interfaith ERG has grown to more than 500 members and continues to expand. Under Coury’s leadership, the group evolved from a startup initiative into a structured, sustainable program with measurable impact, including the development of bylaws, strategic goals, and ongoing programming.
A hallmark of Coury’s leadership is her innovative “Faith and Belief Communities” model, which supports distinct religious and belief identities while fostering unity across differences. These communities include Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, and other groups, and they provide meaningful opportunities for connection, education, and celebration while remaining open to employees of all faiths, as well as those who identify as atheist or agnostic.
Through initiatives such as interfaith learning sessions, leadership outreach, prayer and meditation spaces, and company-wide celebrations, Coury has helped normalize conversations about faith at work and strengthen a culture of respect and belonging. Her efforts have also advanced organizational practices aligned with leading benchmarks for religious inclusion.
Beyond her company, Coury has become a trusted resource for organizations across industries seeking to establish faith-oriented ERGs. Her willingness to share best practices and mentor others has contributed to a growing movement of workplace inclusion grounded in respect for religious diversity.
“Lorna’s leadership demonstrates that faith inclusion is not only possible in today’s workplace, it is essential,” Grim added. “Her work strengthens organizations by fostering empathy, engagement, and a deeper sense of shared purpose.”
The Dare to Overcome conference, now in its seventh year, brings together leaders from Fortune 500 companies, global organizations, and academic institutions to explore how faith-inclusive cultures drive innovation, resilience, and ethical leadership.
Past recipients of the ERG Leader of the Year Award include leaders from Google, American Airlines, Dell Technologies, and Equinix.
About the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation
The Religious Freedom & Business Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the global business community on the positive contributions of religious freedom to the workplace, marketplace, and society.
Media Contact:
Brian J. Grim, Ph.D.
President, Religious Freedom & Business Foundation
email
+1.410.268.7809