For the second consecutive year, Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC) has been ranked on the Forbes Best Employers for Diversity list. With a ranking of 89 out of 500, MPC improved from last year’s position of 185 out of 250.

“We’re excited to make this list again because it shows our program continues to move in the right direction,” said Jaime De La Cruz, director of Organizational Capability. “That’s essential for MPC, because diversity and inclusion helps to drive high performance among our teams by creating a work environment where everyone feels their contributions are valued.”

In developing its list, Forbes used data compiled through employee interviews and other sources to gauge the effectiveness of a company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.

De La Cruz noted that while MPC is honored to be named a Best Employer for Diversity, the company’s focus is on continuous improvement. “The more diversity we have on our teams, the more ideas and perspectives we have – which leads to more creativity and innovation – and when we have that, we’re best positioned to outperform our competitors,” he said.

To further its diversity and inclusion companywide, MPC has a robust structure in place that includes both executive sponsorship and grassroots initiatives. MPC is working to adopt best practices learned from its recent acquisition of Andeavor, such as employee networks with potential to have chapters companywide. In addition, plans are in place to strengthen diversity and inclusion efforts around recruiting to help ensure that MPC is attracting a broad range of talented people to meet the company’s evolving business needs.