Bernard Shaw to Speak at Toyota's 15th Annual Opportunity Exchange

Annual Business Conference, Trade Fair Has Generated Over $95 million in Contracts for Minority Suppliers

Thursday, November 4 - Cincinnati Convention Center

ERLANGER, Ky., Oct. 14 -- Bernard Shaw, former anchor of CNN, will serve as keynote speaker during Opportunity Exchange 2004, a minority business conference and trade fair hosted by Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TMMNA). The event will be held Thursday, November 4 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Cinergy Center (formerly known as the Cincinnati Convention Center).

Toyota's Opportunity Exchange, now in its 15th year, is a forum designed to provide minority business enterprises (MBEs) across the nation the chance to network and develop relationships with over 250 of Toyota's suppliers. Toyota's Tier I suppliers, those who supply parts directly to Toyota, attend the event as exhibitors for the purpose of doing more business with minority- owned companies. Toyota expects more than 700 MBEs to attend this year's event.

"We are proud to celebrate the 15th year of Opportunity Exchange with Bernard Shaw, one of the most respected journalists in the country," said T. Williams, manager of supplier diversity for TMMNA. "Each year, Opportunity Exchange continues to grow and provide the introductions and tools MBEs can use to succeed."

In 2001, Bernard Shaw stepped back from his daily routine as CNN's principal anchor. His reporting and anchoring duties had taken him to 46 countries spanning five continents. He has been elected a Fellow of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) -- the highest distinction the Society gives to journalists for public service -- in addition to winning numerous other national and international awards for his work. Among these other honors are the David Brinkley Award for Excellence in Communication, the George Foster Peabody Broadcasting Award for distinguished service and the Golden Award for Cable Excellence -- the industry's most prestigious award. He has also received the Chairman's Award for Outstanding Journalistic Excellence from The NAACP.

In addition to the trade fair and keynote address, there will be two educational sessions at this year's Opportunity Exchange:

   - The How-To Jam Session on Designing Your Future through Joint Ventures
     and Alliances.  Led by Dr. Robert L. Wallace, founder and Chairman of
     the BiTH Group, Inc., an information technology consulting firm, this
     program will outline the significance of collaborative alliances in
     today's global economy.
   - Teaming to Win: MBEs, Tier 1 Suppliers, Toyota.  A group of
     knowledgeable panelists including representatives of MBEs,
     Toyota Tier 1 suppliers and Toyota's Purchasing Department will share
     insight and advice on the value of Tier II in the supply chain and the
     lasting impact of strategic partnerships.

The day before Opportunity Exchange, Wednesday, November 3, Toyota will offer a session aimed at the development of the local Cincinnati-area MBE community entitled "The Power of Getting Connected." This session will be led by Eric M. Ellis, President and CEO of Integrity Development Corporation and diversity consultant for TMMNA. MBEs can expect to hear from a panel of knowledgeable people on how to successfully get their businesses "connected" with respect to potential clients, capital funding and human resource development.

Since the first Opportunity Exchange in 1990, the event has grown from 100 participants and $350,000 in resulting MBE contracts to more than 1,600 participants and over $95 million in new contracts through last year. In 2002, TMMNA announced a target of 7.5% annual minority Tier I purchases by 2005. When TMMNA's Tier II requirements of its suppliers are added to this goal, minority business spending will exceed $1 billion by 2005.

For more information about Toyota's Supplier Diversity Program or to register for Opportunity Exchange 2004, visit http://www.toyotasupplier.com/ .