ATLANTA- The Global Diversity Group's National Business Conference, "Tour for Success" will be held in Atlanta, GA on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. The conference offers a range of activities from free workshops to business networking events, as well as the Legacy Awards Luncheon (12:30 pm) with keynote Willie Gary, MBC Network/Black Family Channel. The Legacy luncheon will honor Herman J. Russell and The H.J. Russell & Company, one of the largest minority-owned enterprises in the U.S. The conference will also host: "The Art of Networking" (5:45 pm - 6:15 pm) session with author and networking guru George Fraser, as well as "Success Stories" Session (6:30 pm - 7:30 pm) with basketball great Dominique Wilkins and an Economic Empowerment Networking Reception (7:30 pm - 9 pm).

The Global Diversity Group Business Exchange: 2004 Tour for Success, is FREE; with the exception of the Legacy Award Luncheon and Economic Empowerment Networking Reception. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. Integral components are free interactive workshops that begin at 9:00 a.m. and run throughout the day. Sample workshops, led by representatives of the public and private sectors are: "Winning at the Contract Game", "Marketing Your Way To Success", "How To Develop A Competitive Edge and "Cash Management Strategies."

The Tour for Success/Business Exchange - Atlanta also features a vendor showcase for attendees to network with event sponsors including Volvo Cars of North America, as well as Delta Airlines, Foxwoods Resort Casino and Office Depot. Strategic partners are: The Atlanta Black Agenda Business Resource Center Atlanta Business League, Black Enterprise Magazine Clark Atlanta School of Business, Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce, Governor's (Georgia) Small Business Center, Cox Radio Group Atlanta-97.1 JAMZ Internal Revenue Service, Professional Business and Financial Network, Overtime Magazine, UnityFirst.com U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency, and WSB-TV.

About the H.J. Russell & Company
The H. J. Russell & Company, one of the nation's top Black-owned businesses, will be receive the Global Diversity Group's Inaugural "Legacy" Award, Tuesday, August 24, 12:30 p.m., at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. The "Legacy" Award recognizes companies who have successfully transcended to second generation leadership. The H.J. Russell & Company, one of the largest minority-owned enterprises in the U.S., operates as a general contractor, construction manager and environmental contractor. Founded in 1953 by chairman Herman J. Russell, the company is now led by son, Michael Russell, who worked for the organization as a child, along with his siblings. The H. J. Russell & Company has worked on arenas and stadiums, commercial buildings and public works projects handles more than 12,000 apartment homes and public housing units.

About Willie Gary
They keynote speaker for the Legacy Awards Luncheon will be Attorney Willie Gary. Attorney Gary is chairman and chief executive officer of the MBC Network, a 24-hour digital cable network. The MBC Network is available in 24 million homes and airs family-inspired programming, catering to African-Americans.

About George Fraser
The conference will also feature "The Art of Networking", featuring George Fraser from 5:45 pm to 6:15 pm. This session will focus on ways entrepreneurs can develop networking tips to successfully promote their businesses. Fraser, authored the best seller "Success Runs in Our race: The Complete Guide to Effective Networking in the African Community" and created the award-winning "Success Guide: The Networking Guide to Black Resources." His latest book, "Race for Success: The Ten Best Business Opportunities for Blacks in America" was selected as one of the "ten best books of the year" by Booklist Magazine.

Tour for Success: Added Value for Atlanta Area Businesses
Melodie Cunningham, event producer and President of Global Diversity Group, Inc. says, "We want to provide them with business solutions to meet the challenges of the new economy and help lead them to greater success."

"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 minority business owners and we are inspired by their efforts to become successful contributors in the diverse communities they are operating," said 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 the chance to network with other business owners in their community. Volvo is proud to provide the participants and the speakers the platform to further develop their business and invest in the future."

"Foxwoods Resort Casino, which is owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, is tremendously pleased to be a major sponsor of the 2004 Business Exchange Tour for Success. Given the quality and range of seminars, guest speakers and workshops, this event affords every participating minority business owner and entrepreneur the opportunity to engage in an outstanding educational and networking agenda", says Bob DeSalvio, Executive Vice President of Marketing at Foxwoods Resort Casino. "We at Foxwoods fully embrace the impact these inspirational individuals have upon their communities, and the diversity and awareness that they bring to the general business landscape as a whole. Diversity has always been a cornerstone of Foxwoods ideology, and our continued growth and success is a testament to that belief. As this tour finds its way through eight cities across the nation, the communities and people that will benefit from it will be multiplied many times over. Strong character builds strong communities and to that end Foxwoods is a committed partner".

"Office Depot is committed to be the resource for office products and services as well as ideas and information to help business-minded people succeed, which is why we are a national sponsor of Global Diversity Group's Small Business Exchange" tour, says Julian Acosta, Multicultural Marketing Manager.

The workshops and luncheon (lunch is on a limited first come, first serve basis with pre-registration required) are free and open to the public, but registration is required. Information on tickets for the Economic Empowerment Networking Reception 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 to network through the utilization of various media outlets. Global Diversity Group produced its "Business Exchange: Tour for Success" in 2002 with Earvin "Magic" Johnson as a keynote speaker in 10 cities. 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.

For media or press check-in/registration, or interviews, contact: Janine Fondon via email jfondon@unityfirst.com or phone: 800-286-3659.