NEW YORK CITY - The launching of the eight-city Business Exchange: 2004 Tour for Success presented by Volvo Cars of North America and produced by the Global Diversity Group begins in New York City on April 29, 2004 at the New York Marriott Marquis hotel. The New York event, which is also sponsored by Citibank, Foxwoods Resort Casino and Office Depot, brings free seminars, workshops and networking opportunities to emerging minority entrepreneurs and small business owners across the country. Tour headliners for New York City include: Entrepreneur, Restaurateur and Author B. Smith, Ramon Rodriguez, Host of Hispanics Today and CEO of US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Shin Choi, Designer and Owner of Shin Choi Designs. Renowned lawyer Willie E. Gary, owner of MBC Network in Atlanta will be the guest speaker at the Legacy Award Luncheon. Noreen Carro of LNM Printing and "The Queen of Soul Food" Sylvia Woods will be honored with the Legacy Award recognizing their achievements in running successful family businesses.

Strategic Partners include the IRS, WBLS, Interracial Council For Business Opportunity, Chinatown Manpower Project-Business Outreach Center, National Association of Women Business Owners-NYC, Women's Venture Fund, Harlem Business Alliance, Harlem Renaissance EDC, Asian Women In Business, Minority Supplier Development Council of NY, NY State Federation of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, Bronx Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hispanics in Information Technology & Telecommunications, New York Urban League, KIP Business Report, Project Enterprise, National Minority Business Council, Northern New Jersey Black Chamber of Commerce, and Urban Financial Services Coalition.

The Global Diversity Group Business Exchange: 2004 Tour for Success begins at 9 a.m. (registration opens at 8 a.m.) with free interactive workshops focusing on key business issues and trends including: "Winning at the Contract Game", "Marketing Your Way To Success" and "Gaining the Competitive Edge via Technology," There are also workshop tracks focusing on issues that concern mature businesses as well as Business Basics workshops for startups.

"We want to provide minorities with business solutions to meet the challenges of the new economy and help lead them to success," said Melodie Cunningham, event producer and President of Global Diversity Group, Inc. "The event will offer participants invaluable information that they can utilize to launch, grow and successfully manage their businesses."

"On behalf of Volvo Cars of North America, once again we are extremely proud to participate with Global Diversity Group as the title sponsor of the Tour for Success. Volvo cares about the development of the Minority Business Owners and we are inspired by their efforts to become successful contributors within the diverse communities in which they operate," says Yvonne Porter, Diversity Manager, Volvo Cars of North America. "Seminars such as these will help to provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to receive additional insight from keynote speakers and give them the chance to network with other business owners in their community. Volvo is proud to provide the participants and the speakers a platform to further develop their businesses and invest in the future."

"We believe that minority entrepreneurs add tremendous value to the business world, so our partnership with 'Global Diversity Group Business Exchange: Tour for Success' is a natural one," said Denise Durham Williams, Citibank National Director of Community Relations. "At Citibank, we strive to help make each community where we do business a better place. We know that this small business initiative will contribute to that goal."
The workshops are free and open to the public, but registration is required. Information on tickets for the Economic Empowerment Networking Reception and the Legacy Luncheon is available at www.mpbnetwork.com or by calling 1.888.265.6480.

ABOUT GLOBAL DIVERSITY GROUP
Headquartered in Columbia, MD, Global Diversity Group, Inc. is a unique network community that focuses on minorities interested in a "self-help" approach to starting and expanding businesses. Founded by Melodie Cunningham in January 2002, Global Diversity Group specializes in bringing together entrepreneurs, professionals and industry experts to share business concepts and network through the utilization of various media outlets. Global Diversity Group produced its first "Business Exchange: Tour for Success" in 2002 with Mr. Earvin "Magic" Johnson as a keynote speaker in 10 cities. Mr. Russell Simmons was the keynote speaker for 10 cities in 2003.
For more information on the "Global Diversity Group Business Exchange: 2004 Tour for Success™", please contact Global Diversity Group, Inc. at 1.888.265.6480 or 410-730-6906.