Mercedes-Benz Financial and the Entrepreneurs' Organization Will Host a Media Briefing August 17, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at the Fairmont Chicago Hotel

  *  Introducing 2006 Global Student Entrepreneur Award (GSEA) finalists and
  *  Previewing the GSEA finalists' competition taking place November 1-2,
     2006 at the Grand Hyatt McCormick Place

WHAT: Media briefing and coffee to introduce two of the 10 Global Student Entrepreneur Award (GSEA) finalists for 2006, a past GSEA winner, and preview the upcoming GSEA finals competition in Chicago at the Grand Hyatt McCormick Place November 1-2, 2006. Regional competitions take place in 10 regions around the world with the finals competition taking place in Chicago. The GSEA program recognizes exceptional entrepreneurial spirit, skill and creativity among undergraduate college students who are already running their own businesses.

Additionally, the briefing will preview plans for the October kickoff of the Accelerator Program in several United States cities. This program is designed specifically for first-stage entrepreneurs and small business owners. Both of these initiatives, the GSEA Awards and the Accelerator Program, are sponsored by Mercedes-Benz Financial.

WHO: Chris Hvasta, Chicago Region Manager of Mercedes-Benz Financial, and Jade Bourelle, Chairman, Global Student Entrepreneurs Award (GSEA) committee, Entrepreneurs' Organization. 2006 GSEA Finalists: Ben Anderson, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.; Paul Scheiter, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Mo. Plus, 2005 GSEA winner David Hauser, a graduate of Babson College who runs a voice mail company with $15 million in annual sales, will be at the briefing.

WHEN: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Thursday, August 17, 2006

WHERE: Fairmont Chicago Hotel, 200 North Columbus Drive, downtown Chicago.

OTHER: Members of the media who are unable to attend the morning briefing are cordially invited to an Entrepreneurs' Organization VIP reception at the Fairmont Hotel at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, August 17, 2006. This is an opportunity to meet and greet Mercedes-Benz Financial executives and members of the EO Board of Directors.

About Mercedes-Benz Financial

Mercedes-Benz Financial provides financing for Mercedes-Benz dealers' inventories and their retail customers. Currently, 350,000 drivers in the United States enjoy the benefits of leasing or financing their Mercedes-Benz vehicles through Mercedes-Benz Financial, which is part of DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Americas LLC. DCFSA's group of companies operates in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and South America. DCFSA is part of the DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Group, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, which operates in 39 countries and has an employee base close to 11,000 and a global portfolio of approximately $147 billion. DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Group is one of the leading financial services enterprises worldwide. For more information visit http://www.mercedesbenzfinancial.com/

About the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO)

The Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) -- for entrepreneurs only -- is a global community that enriches members' lives through direct peer-to-peer learning, connections to experts and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. EO is the catalyst that enables entrepreneurs to learn from each other, leading to greater business success and an enriched personal life. EO is comprised of more than 6,400 members in more than 40 countries, with an average member age of 38 and average annual revenue of $13 million. The organization is committed to building the world's most influential community of entrepreneurs. For more information, or to apply for membership, visit http://www.eonetwork.org/ or call (703) 519-6700.

PRNewswire -- Aug. 14