On behalf of Honda North America's (HNA) Law Division, Catherine M. McEvilly, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Honda North America, Inc., accepted the "2016 Diversity Counsel of the Year" award at the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Southern California's 21st Annual Gala Dinner on May 13.

McEvilly has been instrumental in helping Honda to maintain a diverse culture and workforce in North America. In addition to heading the legal division of HNA, McEvilly's responsibilities also include membership on the Company's Diversity Steering Committee. She played a key role in the development of the company's 2020 Diversity Vision Statement:

"To be a company that maximizes the strength of diversity, creating one inclusive team that powers Honda to Excellence. We are committed to becoming a leader in diversity and inclusion in order to be a company that society wants to exist."

During her 21-year career at Honda, McEvilly has supported the activities of virtually every division of the company, handling a wide variety of matters ranging from dealer relations, antitrust issues and employment matters to compliance and corporate governance issues.

"I take pride in the values and principles that were put in place by Mr. Honda," said McEvilly. "Mr. Honda did not set limits but instead nurtured his associates' ability to create and innovate. I do my best to follow those same values today."

About Honda in North America Honda established operations in America in 1959 and now employs more than 40,000 associates in its North American sales, R&D and manufacturing operations with total capital investment in North America exceeding $22 billion.

Based on its longstanding commitment to "build products close to the customer," Honda operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America producing a wide range of Honda and Acura automobiles, automobile engines and transmissions, Honda all-terrain vehicles, power equipment products, such as lawn mowers, mini-tillers and general purpose engines, and the HondaJet advanced light jet.

Nine Honda auto plants in the region, including five in the U.S., have the capacity to produce 1.92 million automobiles each year. In 2015, more than 99 percent of the Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. were produced in North America. Those plants today manufacture 15 different models, including eight passenger cars and seven light trucks using domestic and  globally sourced parts. Honda also operates 14 major research and development centers in the U.S. with the capacity to fully design, develop and engineer many of the products Honda produces in North America.

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