Business Volunteers Strike Deal To Promote International Economic Stability; IESC and WEO to Collaborate.

Business Editors

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 7, 2002

The International Executive Service Corps (IESC), one of the world's largest managerial and business development non profits, and the World Entrepreneurs Organization (WEO) in Seattle announce they are working together to implement international consulting assignments.

To promote international economic stability, the two organizations are dispatching volunteer consultants to assist entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses in the developing world.

"IESC and WEO have a mutual interest in promoting business development services and information technology in developing countries and emerging market economies," said IESC President and Chief Executive Officer Hobart C. Gardiner. "Economic stability fosters peace and ensures our national security."

Through the Seattle chapter, WEO is launching a pilot program. If it is successful in Seattle, other U.S. chapters could roll it out. As the graduate division of the Young Entrepreneurs Organization, which has nearly 4,200 members in 94 chapters around the world, WEO includes entrepreneurs age 40 and over. Members are founders, owners and major shareholders of companies with minimum annual gross sales of $1 million.

IESC is a private, non profit economic development organization, based in Stamford, Connecticut with offices and representatives in 58 countries. IESC's major resource is a registry of volunteers comprised of 12,000 business and professional men and women and high-tech specialists. Supported principally by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), IESC has assisted enterprises in 120 countries around the world since its founding in 1964 as a private sector Peace Corps.

"It is a common criticism throughout the developing world that Americans don't care enough about the problems experienced by poor countries," said Patricia Chase, WEO Seattle learning chair. "WEO is an organization that hopes to change that perception by working with IESC to help businesses in developing countries create more jobs with better opportunities. WEO members are entrepreneurs with substantial business skills in a variety of fields. We are committed to giving back to the community - local or global. We believe that IESC is our ideal partner."

For information, visit IESC's web site at www.iesc.org. To set up an interview please contact Kathleen S. Failla, IESC director of communications and public affairs by phone at 203-967-6008 or by e-mail at [e-mail].