Sears CEO Named Chairperson for 1998 Natl Urban League Conf.
3 August 1998
Sears Chairman and CEO Arthur C. Martinez Named Chairperson for 1998 National Urban League Conference; Four-Day Conference to be Held in Philadelphia Aug. 2 - 5
CHICAGO--Aug. 2, 1998--Vice President Al Gore to Speak on Aug. 4 at NUL Business and
Labor Luncheon
Arthur C. Martinez, Chairman and CEO of retail giant Sears, Roebuck and Co., has been named Conference General Chairperson for the National Urban League's (NUL) 1998 Annual Conference to be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Aug. 2 - 5, 1998.
"I am proud to serve as the National Urban League's Conference General Chairperson," said Martinez. "Sears is a friend and long-time supporter of the League. I applaud the League's accomplishments and the positive impact it's had in uplifting the lives of people of all colors," stated Martinez.
The Conference, entitled "Economic Power: Leveling the Playing Field," has an impressive line-up of speakers, panelists and guests for its many plenary sessions, workshops, caucuses, luncheons and receptions.
Martinez, along with NUL President and CEO Hugh Price and NUL Chairman and Vice Chairman of American Express Jonathan Linen, will speak during the Conference's Keynote Session on Sunday, Aug. 2 at 6 p.m.
On Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 9 a.m., Martinez will be a panelist on the "What is the Corporate Commitment to Real Diversity?" plenary session along with three other panelists, including Peter Bijur the Chairman and CEO of Texaco Inc.
Also on Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 12:30 p.m., Martinez will be the keynote speaker for the Business and Labor Luncheon and will be joined by Price and Vice President Al Gore. During the luncheon, Martinez will discuss "The Six Lessons of Diversity in the Transformation of Sears, Roebuck and Co." The reasons that Sears is a leader with this issue is ... "First, I dispel the old notion that undertaking a diversity initiative was difficult or expensive. Creativity and commitment are the primary requisites. Secondly, our diversity initiative at Sears is successful because everyone is responsible." Martinez will also make a major donation to NUL at the luncheon on behalf of Sears.
Martinez, a long-time advocate of diversity and economic empowerment, joined Sears in 1992 and is the 12th chairman for the 111-year-old company, which has retail as well as other merchandising operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Martinez has been in his current position since 1995. Prior to that, he was Chairman and CEO of Sears Merchandising Group, the company's retail arm. In that capacity, Martinez was responsible for all domestic and international retailing activities. In February 1995, he was elected to Sears' Board of Directors.
Before joining Sears, Martinez was Vice Chairman of Saks Fifth Avenue and was a member of its Board of Directors. Martinez received his B.S. from Polytechnic University and an MBA from Harvard University. He is a member of several national and Chicago-based boards.
Sears, Roebuck and Co. is the leading U.S. retailer of apparel, home and automotive services, with annual revenues of more than $41 billion. For more information about Sears, visit our website at www.sears.com.