DaimlerChrysler Senior Manager of Diversity Receives 'Advocate Award' from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth

* 2005 Advocate Award to be presented to Jethro Joseph of DaimlerChrysler * Joseph recognized for his contributions and commitment to the minority business community * Award ceremony to be held in Dallas during National Minority Supplier Development Council Conference

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 21 -- Jethro Joseph, DaimlerChrysler senior manager of Diversity Supplier Development, will receive the 2005 Advocate Award from the Tuck School of Business at the Dartmouth Minority Business Executive Program (MBEP). The award will be presented during the 2005 National Minority Supplier Development Council Conference on October 23, 2005, in Dallas, Texas. Joseph is being recognized for his contributions and commitment to the minority business community.

"Jethro Joseph has been a role model in developing opportunities within the diversity field, and brings significant value to the DaimlerChrysler enterprise," said Peter Rosenfeld, Executive Vice President - Procurement & Supply, DaimlerChrysler. "It is a great honor to have the Tuck School of Business recognize Jethro for his contributions to DaimlerChrysler and minority business advancement."

Since 1998, the Company has doubled dollars spent with minority suppliers, from $1.7 billion in 1998 to $3.4 billion in 2004 -- making DaimlerChrysler among the industry leaders with 12 percent of its business going to Minority Business Enterprises (MBE). The growth in the Company's minority purchasing represents the highest year-over-year increase for minority suppliers and demonstrates Chrysler Group's long-term commitment to the economic development and growth of its minority suppliers.

At DaimlerChrysler, Joseph's duties include identifying qualified minority suppliers, developing existing minority suppliers, verifying credentials and expanding the number of DaimlerChrysler minority suppliers. In addition, Joseph oversees minority sub-contracting with first tier suppliers, monitors progress toward annual minority supplier participation, provides minority supplier access to the DaimlerChrysler procurement and supply community, and monitors second tier participation and interfacing with the community.

"Jethro's commitment to diversity and supplier development is unprecedented. He has supported minority education programs at Tuck by providing scholarships to DaimlerChrysler minority suppliers," said Dean Paul Danos, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth.

Joseph has been in his current position at DaimlerChrysler since 1996, and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Diversity Information Resources, Michigan Minority Business Development Council, The Business Consortium Fund, Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Native American Business Alliance, DaimlerChrysler's African American Network, Morris Brown College National Alumni Association and Hartford Memorial Baptist Church. He is also a member of the National Association of Purchasing Managers, Michigan Association of CPAs and Detroit Inter Alumni Council -- United Negro College Fund. Joseph was honored as the Minority Business Enterprise Coordinator of the year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council in 2000.

Danos added, "He is a man of great integrity and leadership and richly deserves this recognition from Tuck."

The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth was the first institution of higher learning in the country to offer courses tailored to the needs of minority businesses. In 2004, the Tuck School of Business celebrated 25 years of providing world-class minority business programs. MBEP teaches business owners how to develop and implement a customer focused strategic plan and how to use financial tools to perform cost analysis and implement control systems. Participants also learn how to develop effective operations strategies, manage human resources productively, and refine leadership skills as they strive for management excellence and competitive advantage.

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