Pfizer, GM and UAW/BCBSM Capture Top Honors At 7th Annual Arbor Awards

    NORTHVILLE, Mich., Feb. 4 -- Three Michigan-based companies
and the UAW will be honored for their innovative human resources practices at
the Seventh Annual Arbor Awards for Excellence ceremony on Thursday,
February 6, 2003 at the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn from 7:30-9:30 a.m.
    Recipients of the 2003 Arbor Award for Excellence include: Pfizer Global
Research & Development, GM University Human Resources Labor Relations College,
and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in partnership with the UAW.
    The Arbor Consulting Group and the Eastern Michigan University Master of
Science HR/OD Program sponsor the awards.  The Arbor Awards, now in their
seventh year, recognize best practices and innovations in human resources.

    The 2003 Arbor Awards for Excellence winners include:
    * Pfizer Global Research and Development in Ann Arbor for the total
      reformulation of their pharmaceutical sciences operation into a "PFast
      Company."  Pfizer integrated operations from New Jersey and other cities
      into a single location resulting in a new collaborative culture that has
      increased Pfizer's productivity and ability to bring life-saving drugs
      to patients faster;
    * An "e-learning" program for GM's Human Resource staff worldwide
      that has created a common language and skill set among GM's 2,500-member
      HR staff at 10% of the cost of traditional classroom training; and,
    * A joint values-based leadership program developed by the UAW and Blue
      Cross Blue Shield of Michigan involving 1,400 union and management
      leaders that has resulted in a 13% increase in employee satisfaction
      with direct leaders.

    "Human resources is a critical, strategic partner that plays a leadership
role in every successful organization," says Joan Moore, J.D., SPHR, president
of The Arbor Consulting Group, Inc.  "Whether you are a company that wants to
create a new culture, a common platform for operations, or embrace new
leadership values, you can adopt a best practice from this year's awardees."
    Additional award-winners receiving Arbor Special Tribute Awards are:
Borders Group, Inc., Campbell & Company, Domino's Pizza and HarleyEllis.
    Celebrating 20 years in business, The Arbor Consulting Group, based in
Northville, Michigan, is a national human resources management consulting firm
specializing in employee relations and retention, affirmative action,
compliance and cultural due diligence for mergers and acquisitions.