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Conyers-Riverside Ford Auto Dealer Receives National Business Award

11 February 2000

Conyers-Riverside Ford Auto Dealer Receives National Business Award

    DETROIT, Feb. 11 -- Nathan G. Conyers, President and founder
of Conyers-Riverside Ford in Detroit, was one of eight businessmen and women
nationally to be recognized by Northwood University as one of America's
"Outstanding Business Leaders," on February 4, 2000 at the Breakers Hotel in
Palm Beach, Florida.
    Mr. Conyers began his career in the 1960s in the legal profession, both in
private practice and as an attorney with the Small Business Association, the
Veteran's Administration and as a special Assistant to the Attorney General of
the State of Michigan.
    In 1970, he established Conyers Ford (now Conyers-Riverside Ford), which
remains the only African-American owned auto dealership in the city of
Detroit.  During the years since, the dealership has prospered and Mr.
Conyers, who is often referred to as the "Dean of America's Black Owned
Automobile Dealerships," has helped more than two dozen other African-
Americans to become owners of their own dealerships.
    Nathan Conyers has been frequently recognized for business excellence and
community service, most notably by President Jimmy Carter and with keys to the
city of Atlanta, New York, Chicago and Detroit.  Most recently, Mr. Conyers
was awarded a Jaguar Motorcar Franchise, only the second black-owned Jaguar
franchise in the company's history.
    Since 1981, Northwood University has annually recognized eight to ten men
and women for their business achievements and for their support and exemplary
leadership in the communities in which they live and work.  Northwood
University offers Associate's, Bachelor's and Graduate degrees in many
business management disciplines and has an enrollment of 12,000 students on
three campuses in Michigan, Florida and Texas.