General Motors to Host 9th Annual Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference

Nation's Leading Minority Business Leaders to Gather in Dallas, Texas May 12, 2004-16

NEW YORK, March 11 -- BLACK ENTERPRISE announced today that General Motors (GM) will serve as title sponsor of the 9th annual Black Enterprise/General Motors Entrepreneurs Conference, marking the first time the world's largest vehicle manufacturer and worldwide marketer of cars and trucks has signed on as host. This year's event, themed Taking Business Beyond Boundaries, will be held May 12-16, 2004, at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas and is expected to draw up to 2,000 African American entrepreneurs and business leaders.

"General Motors is pleased to partner with BLACK ENTERPRISE on a program that allows us to get further involved with entrepreneurs, businessmen and women who are full of creative ideas and enthusiasm. These are the types of individuals with whom GM wants to do business," says Gary Cowger, President, GM North America. "As a corporation, GM stresses the importance of valuing diversity as good business, and African Americans figure prominently into that equation, whether it's the billions of dollars in purchases from suppliers; the many employees who design, build, and market GM cars and trucks; or the dealers who sell our products."

For more than 34 years, BLACK ENTERPRISE has addressed the needs of the African American entrepreneur, both in the pages of the award-winning magazine, and through workshops and seminars for established and emerging businesses. "We are excited about the opportunity to bring on General Motors as the title sponsor of our Entrepreneurs Conference. GM has been an instrumental component to the success of the conference since its inception. Their participation as title sponsor for 2004 is further demonstration of GM's commitment to the growth and development of black-owned businesses," says Earl G. Graves Sr., Chairman and Publisher of BLACK ENTERPRISE.

The Black Enterprise/General Motors Entrepreneurs Conference is designed to provide business owners with the tools they need to compete and thrive. The event is also a celebration of the nation's largest black-owned businesses, the B.E. 100s, and it will recognize other notables with awards such as company of the year, rising star, and business innovator of the year.

For more information and a complete schedule of events for the Black Enterprise/General Motors Entrepreneurs Conference, visit www.blackenterprise.com.

BLACK ENTERPRISE, your ultimate guide to financial empowerment, is the premier business and investment resource for African Americans. Since 1970, BE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. The publication provides 3.4 million readers with monthly information on entrepreneurship, careers, and financial management. As the definitive source of information for and about African American business markets and leaders, BLACK ENTERPRISE is the authority for business news and trends. The magazine is published by Earl G. Graves Publishing Co. Inc.

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