Announcing Southeastern Consulting Group, LLC - Five South Florida Business and Community Leaders Form New Consultancy Practice.

Business Editors

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 20, 2003

Southeastern Consulting Group, LLC, a new venture, has been formed by five well-known and experienced South Florida business and community leaders. The diversified consultancy provides professional services to private, public and not-for-profit sectors. The founding principals are Elaine T. Azen, Hayward J. Benson, Jr., Ed.D., Jean Fitzgerald, Jack Latona and Roy Rogers.

"We have broad experience in civic and governmental affairs, transportation, cultural, social service and diversity programs, maritime management, environmental program development and issues management. Across the board, our past services have been known and recognized as enhancing the quality of life in the South Florida region," explained Azen, who serves as managing director.

-- Roy Rogers - A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, served on nuclear submarines under the famed Admiral Hyman Rickover. Most recently, Rogers was senior vice president of governmental relations and planning for Arvida's South Florida Division and was instrumental in the successful planning and development of Weston, the 10,500 acre mixed-use community in Broward County. His interests and expertise focus on environmental, ecological issues and economic development. Rogers chairs The Nature Conservancy for the State of Florida and previously served as a Governor's appointee on The Commission for a Sustainable South Florida. He was vice chair for the Florida Community Trust and past co-chair of Broward Days.

-- Jack Latona - Holds three degrees from Yale University in history, political science and law. He served as a Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner for nine years. He was deputy director for social programs for the Mayor of San Francisco, project director for the New York State Urban Development Corporation and has taught at universities in New York and California and at Florida Atlantic University. Latona was vice president and general counsel to Houdaille Industries, a Fortune 500 corporation. Most recently he organized The Center for Creating the Future, a think tank and forum for strategic thinking and planning.

-- Jean Fitzgerald - A retired naval officer, most recently served as chairman, president and CEO of Hvide Marine Incorporated, an international shipping firm based at Port Everglades and now known as Seabulk International. He is a co-founder and former executive director of the Port Everglades Association, the port's business association, which is now in its third decade of operation. He has also served in leadership positions with Frederick R. Harris, Inc., an international consulting engineering firm, and with Tracor Marine. Fitzgerald is a graduate of the University of Maryland and the National War College and has a masters degree in public administration from Harvard University. He was a commissioner and chairman of the former Port Everglades Authority.

-- Hayward J. Benson, Jr., Ed.D. - A Fellow of the University of Florida, he received his doctorate of education from Florida Atlantic University and graduate degrees from the University of Arizona and Florida A & M. University. Benson has had Army service and has served extensively in both public and private sectors as a teacher, principal, and the director of the Broward School Board's Office of Comprehensive Planning for Equal Opportunities. He also served as director of the Broward County Public Service Department. Benson was the president/CEO of Airocar, Inc. and GrayLine of Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. He was a member of the Lauderhill City Council and is currently a member of the board of City National Bank of Miami.

-- Elaine T. Azen - A University of Pittsburgh graduate, she moved from Pittsburgh, where she and her husband had owned women's specialty stores. They owned and operated Prospect Hall College prior to Elaine Azen founding Azen & Associates, a full-service public relations firm. The firm was recognized as one of the largest in Florida for over 20 years. She has served as advisor to the Broward Cultural Affairs Divisions for the past 15 years founding and producing several arts publications. Azen was on the founding boards of the Miami City Ballet, the Broward Library Foundation, the Performing Arts Foundation, ArtServe and the Greater Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. She is a Fellow of the Florida Humanities Council.

Southeastern Consulting Group, LLC intends to maximize its varied expertise by assisting clients with major business and civic programs in the areas of strategic planning, public and private education, management and administration, real estate, transportation, business relocation, marketing and branding. Other strong areas of the consultancy's interests will be in communications, public affairs and public information programs. In addition, the group works with an extensive resource network of professional associates.

For more information, please contact Elaine T. Azen, Managing Director, Southeastern Consulting Group, LLC, 21218 St. Andrews Blvd., #307, Boca Raton, Florida 33433, 561/447-7188 - 561/447-4262 Fax - [e-mail]