DaimlerChrysler and National Association of Minority Media Executives (NAMME) Award Fellowships to Develop Minority Media Leaders

- Tina Cartagena and Milt Norton become first recipients - Fellowship designed to increase minority leadership ranks

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 21 -- DaimlerChrysler Corporation and the National Association of Minority Media Executives (NAMME) have named Tina Cartagena and Milt Norton as the first fellows to participate in the NAMME/DaimlerChrysler Leadership in Diversity and Communications (LIDAC) Fellowship -- a program that provides diversity and communications training to seasoned communications professionals with the aim of increasing the number of minority communications executives and owners.

"We are pleased and honored to welcome Ms. Cartagena and Mr. Norton into the first class of NAMME/DaimlerChrysler LIDAC Fellows," said Jason Vines, Vice President - Communications, DaimlerChrysler. "We believe this fellowship will provide a challenging and enlightening experience for minorities seeking advancement in the communications industry."

The NAMME/DaimlerChrysler LIDAC Fellowship is a far-reaching educational program established by the automaker designed to increase the number of minorities in executive leadership positions in the communications industry. It specifically targets minority managers working in broadcast media -- television and radio -- and covers the full cost of participation in NAMME's Leadership Development Institute (LDI), a three-day, hands on program for new and middle managers of color.

"The LDI program provides exposure to top media executives of color who will help them develop strategies to leverage professional strengths and transform weaknesses in critical ways that will lead to career advancement," says Toni Laws, Executive Director of the National Association of Minority Media Executives (NAMME). "We are very excited about this partnership with DaimlerChrysler and the caliber and potential of this first class of LIDAC fellows!"

As Development Director for KUVO Public Radio in Denver, Colorado, Cartagena has 22 years of managerial experience, including a background in sales and marketing, recruitment, public relations and development. She currently has responsibility for two departments and five individuals and manages all of the station's fundraising and marketing activities. Cartagena has two undergraduate degrees -- one in marketing and education from Wichita State University and one in bi-lingual and bi-cultural education from the University of Northern Colorado.

Norton currently supervises 25 engineering operators at KUSA-TV in Denver, Colorado. He has worked as a master control tape operator and operations team member, and is experienced in television production. He has a bachelor of arts degree in speech communication and radio and television production from Colorado State University.

As NAMME/DaimlerChrysler LIDAC fellows, Cartagena and Norton will participate in activities to 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

will share their experiences of trying to achieve personal and professional goals in a race-sensitive society.

DaimlerChrysler 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.

"We are very excited about this program and about working with NAMME to help this very valuable and far-thinking organization fulfill its mission to prepare more media leaders for the future," said Vines. "We believe we have two very strong candidates in Ms. Cartagena and Mr. Norton, and we're looking forward to great things from both of them."

Celebrating its 15th year, 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.

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