Chrysler Group Partners with NAMME to Develop Minority Media Executives

- Automaker commits $15,000 to establish fellowship for the National Association of Minority Media Executives - Chrysler Group continues its commitment to broaden the scope of the communications industry through training and development

CHICAGO, July 14 -- Chrysler Group has announced a new partnership with the National Association of Minority Media Executives (NAMME) as part of its Leadership in Diversity and Communications (LIDAC) fellowship program. The announcement was made during NAMME's 15th Annual Conference that took place July 12-14 in Chicago.

The fellowship comes under the auspices of Chrysler Group's newly created LIDAC fellowship program, which provides diversity and communications training to seasoned communications professionals to increase the number of minority communications executives and owners. The first fellowship was announced earlier this year in partnership with the National Association of Black-Owned Broadcasters (NABOB).

"LIDAC was created to offer competitive training and mentoring resources for people of color to help increase their representation in executive management and ownership in the media industry," said Jason Vines, Chrysler Group, Vice President - Corporate Communications. "For 15 years, NAMME has been at the forefront of providing this valuable training to minority media executives. Chrysler Group is proud to partner with this visionary organization to ensure that this opportunity continues."

Chrysler Group LIDAC Fellowships will be offered under NAMME's Leadership Development Institute (LDI), which is managed by the NAMME Foundation. LDI is a three-day, hands-on program for new and middle managers of color in which participants sharpen their leadership skills, learn how to develop their careers, and successfully contribute to the goals of their organizations. Through group interaction and discussion, the participants also share their experiences of trying to achieve personal and professional goals in a race- sensitive society.

The first two Chrysler Group LIDAC Fellowships are slated to be announced this fall. Chrysler Group will also host a "Fellows Retreat" at its corporate headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich., where all of the fellowship recipients will have an opportunity to meet with company executives and glean from their corporate knowledge.

"People of color should be represented in boardrooms as well as top ranks of senior management in news rooms and every media department throughout the industry," said Toni Laws, Executive Director of the National Association of Minority Media Executives (NAMME). "Our partnership with the Chrysler Group will help us prepare more media leaders for the future."

Celebrating its 15th anniversary, NAMME is an influential organization of media managers and executives of color working in newspapers, broadcasting, magazines and online media. Its 400 members range from middle managers to newspaper publishers and broadcast general managers, as well as media entrepreneurs. More than 90 percent of its membership is African-American, Hispanic, Asian American and Native American.