Savoy Professional Magazine and DaimlerChrysler Convene the Nation's Leading Diversity and Technology Executives in Detroit
DETROIT--June 11, 2003--Savoy Professional3rd Annual Diversity Leadership Summit Includes Excellence in
Diversity Awards Honoring Some of the Motor City's Leaders in
Diversity
Vanguarde Media announced that Savoy Professional, the nation's largest diversity and recruitment publication dedicated to African American professionals, will present the third annual Diversity Leadership Summit in Detroit, Michigan on Thursday, June 18, 2003.
This leading business-to-business conference will convene some of the country's leading diversity, marketing and human resources executives, and will be sponsored by DaimlerChrysler.
This year's summit will include a full day of intensive sessions for business leaders addressing the challenges of meeting diversity goals in recruitment, retention and marketing, as well as the Excellence in Diversity Awards Banquet, honoring companies and executives who exemplify the best practices in diversity disciplines.
"We're excited to continue to provide a forum for senior-level leaders in diversity to exchange knowledge about their challenges and triumphs," said Leonard Burnett, Vanguarde's Group Publisher. "Companies must recognize the shift in the demographics of the American marketplace in order keep their brands relevant and to grow. Savoy Professional is excited to once again highlight the best in the field of diversity."
A highlight of this year's Summit will be a "town hall" debate on the future of affirmative action, with noted conservative political pundit, Armstrong Williams, facing off against corporate leaders from organizations such as IBM, and the University of Michigan, which is anticipating a landmark Supreme court ruling on race-based admissions to institutions of higher learning.
Participants at this year's Summit will include executives from such organizations as DaimlerChrysler, Motorola, Lockheed Martin, Starwood Hotels, L'Oreal and Verizon. Additionally, a number of companies and individuals will be honored with Excellence in Diversity Awards during the Awards Banquet.
Among this year's awardees are:
| -- | From the Top to Dr. Dieter Zetsche, President and CEO, DaimlerChrysler, for the corporate CEO that best demonstrates that effective diversity programs began and end in their seat with their personal commitment; |
| -- | Supplier Diversity to Ford Motor Company, for demonstrating measured success in the procurement of products and services from minorities and underrepresented groups; |
| -- | Automotive Initiatives to DaimlerChrysler, for exemplifying a commitment to diversity through the support of internal and external diversity programs. These can include minority dealership programs, multicultural and multiethnic advertising and marketing as well as supplier diversity programs; and |
| -- | Minority Advertising & Marketing Agency to GlobalHue, for the minority-controlled agency that demonstrates its excellence through the landing and retention of major accounts and the creation of innovative advertising and marketing campaigns. |
| -- | Bridging the Digital Divide to Microsoft, for best implementing programs, products and services that increase the technical competence of communities of color. |
The summit will take place at The Townsend Hotel in Birmingham, MI on Wednesday, June 18. Summit registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. and sessions will end at 4:30 p.m., with the Awards Banquet scheduled for 6:00 p.m. The event is open to professionals for a registration fee of $250 to attend both the Summit and Awards Banquet.
Vanguarde Media, Inc. (VMI) creates and distributes world-class media for the urban marketplace. The company owns HONEY, a fashion and entertainment magazine aimed at stylish urban women, heart & soul, a vibrant living magazine for black women, SAVOY, a general interest life and style magazine, and Savoy Professional, highlighting workplace diversity. VMI's flagship publications have a paid circulation of over 1 million readers monthly, and the company's total advertising revenues for these three publications rose 54% in 2002. VMI also owns and manages the impact! Super Summit, an annual entertainment industry conference, and the impact! Marketing Retreat, a forum for senior level marketers. VMI's investors include the Provender Capital Group, LLC and Robert Johnson of Black Entertainment Television. For more information visit www.vanguarde.com.