Inclusive Leadership Remains Key Business Imperative Despite Economic Uncertainties

(AANEWSWIRE)Alexandria, VA, October 15, 2008 - The Executive Leadership Council, the preeminent organization that recognizes the strengths, success, contributions, and impact of African-American corporate business leaders, will host its 2008 annual recognition activities beginning Wednesday, October 15 through Friday, October 17, 2008 at the Hilton New York Hotel in New York City. The Council's mission, which is to build an inclusive business leadership pipeline and to develop African-American corporate leaders, will be highlighted by three days of events.

According to president and chief executive officer Carl Brooks, "the commitment of our member companies to foster business excellence through inclusion is as strong as ever and will be quite evident during our three-day event, despite present economic uncertainties for the business sector." More than 35 Fortune 500 CEOs will participate in the 8th Annual CEO Diversity Summit, a half-day, "top-to-top" meeting that focuses on issues of diversity in corporate America. Participants come from a wide variety of industries to share and discuss issues, insights and best practices for making the business case for diversity as a business imperative globally.

This year's activities also will include the 2008 Annual Recognition Dinner, which will play host to more than 85 Fortune CEOs, boasting the larger attendance from chief executives to-date, and will honor Ernest Green, Ingrid Saunders Jones, and ExxonMobil for their commitment to diversity. This year's dinner theme is Diversity Leadership: The Wealth of Our Nation and will be emceed by James "JB" Brown and Soledad O'Brien. Special musical guests Deniece Williams and Fourplay will entertain dinner attendees. As in previous years, the event will recognize the contributions of corporations and honor the achievements of African Americans in corporate America along with winners of The Council's student higher education competitions. The lead sponsor for this year's dinner is PricewaterhouseCoopers. Supporting dinner sponsors include Verizon and contributing dinner sponsors are Caterpillar, HP, JPMorgan Chase and MasterCard Worldwide.

During the final day of activities, The Council will host its 14th Annual Mid-Level Managers' Symposium. The theme of year is Ramping Up: Multidimensional Approaches to Career Enhancement. The symposium helps African American corporate mid-level managers develop the professional, personal, and intellectual skills necessary to excel in the corporate arena. Panels comprised of the Council members, CEOs, and other leaders engage in dynamic, open discussions and learning activities, moderated by experts in the field of executive leadership development and diversity management. This year's keynote speakers are Donna Brazile (unconfirmed) and Angela McGlowan and the lead program sponsor is The PepsiCo Foundation. Supporting sponsors include The Principal Financial Group and ING.

In the tradition of The Council's longstanding support of higher education achievement and excellence, 18 undergraduates will be awarded scholarships through the Alvaro Martin Scholarship, Ann Fudge Scholarship, and National Business Composition Essay Competition. An additional 4 graduate students will receive scholarships through the Annual Business Case Competition. This year, The Council will also announce a charitable contribution to Granville Academy from PricewaterhouseCoopers, the lead sponsor for the Annual Recognition Dinner.

Founded in 1986, The Executive Leadership Council is the nation's premier leadership organization of the most senior African-American corporate executives in Fortune 500 companies. With more than 460 members, one-third of them women, The Executive Leadership Council represents well over 270 major corporations. The Council represents senior executives in positions one to three steps from the Chief Executive Officer of Fortune 500 companies, CEOs themselves, and other entrepreneurs. Working from the classroom to the corporate boardroom, its mission is to develop the pipeline of African-American senior corporate leaders. For more information about the Executive Leadership Council, visit www.elcinfo.com.

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