FEATURE/Elizabeth Dole And Alexis Herman To Address Working Woman 500 Congress.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--May 10, 1999--

Elizabeth Dole, Republican presidential contender and former president and CEO of the American Red Cross and Alexis Herman, U.S. Secretary of Labor will deliver keynote addresses at The Second Annual Working Woman 500 Congress: Leadership for the New Millennium. The conference, cosponsored by Aetna, Arthur Andersen, AT&T, BMW, BellSouth Wireless Data, CIGNA, Merrill Lynch and NASD, will be held May 10-12, 1999 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C and will honor Working Woman magazine's list of "The Top 500 Women-Owned Businesses."

"This conference provides a unique opportunity for woman business owners to meet and learn from the Top 500 as well as from other exemplary women leaders and achievers," according to Jay MacDonald, founder and CEO, MacDonald Communications Corporation. "We are thrilled to to have Ms. Dole and Ms. Herman participating in this event as they serve as superb examples of women whose spirit, determination and leadership excellence has led them to private accomplishment as well as public achievement and recognition. They serve as inspirational role models for many American career women," continued MacDonald.

Secretary of Labor Herman is scheduled to speak at a private dinner reception for those women business owners who have achieved "The Top 500" list. The reception will be held Monday, May 10 at 7:30 PM at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Mrs. Herman will provide an overview of "The Challenges Facing Women in the 20th Century."

Ms. Dole will deliver her address titled "Women on the Path to Power" at a Gala Dinner open to all conference attendees on Tuesday, May 11 at 7:30PM. At this awards dinner, the editors of Working Woman will also honor those businesswomen who have made the Top 500 list. This impressive roster is made up of women who own and manage the day-to-day operations of their business. Last year, companies on the list ranged from $15 million to $5.4 billion in revenue and represented various industries, including technology, apparel and manufacturing, among others. The 1999 list can be found in the May 1999 issue of Working Woman currently on newsstands or online at www.workingwoman.com.

Other conference keynote speakers include William M. Daley, U.S. Secretary of Commerce; and Kay Koplovitz, founder of USA Networks and chairman of the National Women's Business Council. Attendees will also be given the opportunity to hear from members of "The Top 500" list at new "Spotlight Sessions" which will include Bettye-Martin Musham, president and CEO, Gear Holding, Inc.; Alexandra Lebenthal, CEO, Lebenthal, Inc.; Gail Koff, founding partner, Jacoby & Myers; and Dorothy Roberts, chairman and CEO, The Echo Design Group, Inc., among others. Six tracks of programming will focus on planning for strategic growth, executive compensation, gaining and retaining employees, and essential legal and financial information for every woman business owner.

For more information or to register, contact MacDonald Communications Conferences toll-free by phone at 888-735-6192 or 212-445-6192; by fax at 212-445-6238; or by email at [e-mail].

MacDonald Communications Corporation, a publishing and conference concern based in New York, is dedicated to providing intelligent products and services to affluent, professional women. Through its family of resources, including two publications and a conference division, MCC reaches more than 6 million women per month.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Members of the press may receive a complimentary press registration to The Working Woman 500 Congress by contacting Christina Duffney at 212-445-6237 or via email: [e-mail])