LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS.

The corporate landscape is changing and with it, history is being made. Since the 1970s, African Americans have been paving inroads across frontiers that were uninviting and often difficult to navigate. However, perseverance paid off and no longer could the accomplishments of many ambitious, black corporate mavericks be ignored. The past few years have yielded a new black guard that has seized the opportunities and garnered greater rewards, power and authority as a result. These pioneers have also become the standard bearers of the corporate world's African American leadership.

Rising to the top

The most notable member of this coterie is Kenneth I. Chenault, a 20-year veteran of American Express who, in November, rose to the helm of the financial services company. Chenault's ascension has placed him on the short list of African Americans selected to run a Fortune 500 company, Also on that list is A. Barry Rand who became chairman and CEO of Avis Rent A Car, the $4 billion rental car operation. Lloyd D. Ward was named chairman and CEO of Maytag Corp., the $4 billion home and commercial appliances company and John W. Thompson took over as chairman, president, and CEO of Symantec Corp., the worldwide leader in personal computer utilities. In 1999, Franklin D. Raines was appointed chairman and CEO of Fannie Mae, the largest nonbank financial services company in the world. Others handed the CEO reigns were Clifford L. Alexander Jr. of Dun & Bradstreet Corp. and Erroll B. Davis Jr. of Alliant Energy Corp.

"This kind of leadership promotes a diverse corporate culture. That culture brings about a more productive environment," says Camilla McGhee, director of membership and foundation programs at the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) in Washington, D.C. "These executives are role models for the next generation of business leaders. While young people respect the history of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King it's hard for them to relate. They can better identify with these living legends and emulate their career paths." Since its inception 14 years ago, the ELC's membership has grown to include more than 200 African American men and women in senior level, executive positions who are committed to corporate diversity and guiding and mentoring the next generation of African American business leaders.

Cultivating that next generation is a challenge. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Division of Labor Force Statistics, there were 19 million executives, managers and administrators in the U.S. labor force in 1998 (the most recent statistics available at press time). Of that number, 7.2% were black. In 1988, only 5.6% of the nation's executives, managers and administrations were African American; by 1991 that number had grown slightly to 5.7%.

Despite their much-heralded appointments, these "living legends" have not been shielded from the career obstacles and landmines associated with corporate America. Rand will soon face the challenges associated with Avis' potential buyout by Cendant Corp., the franchising giant whose brands include Century 21 realtors and Howard Johnson hotels. In November, Ward announced his resignation from Maytag citing differences with the board over business strategy and direction. Nevertheless, there is no mistaking that the contributions of this CEO espirit de corps and other African American professionals are increasingly being recognized and rewarded. Yet, these spoils come with a price.

Up for the challenge

College students and seasoned professionals alike must recognize that these promotions didn't happen by chance. Career planning is key. Hard work and determination play a critical role in the molding of any career. While the Chenaults and the Raines' may have taken different roads in order to achieve their goals, they undoubtedly applied winning strategies that are intrinsic to building a successful career. The three-pronged approach to any career success includes having a distinct and thorough knowledge of the career desired; it requires the ability to chart a path to get there and then there needs to be the motivation and devotion necessary to put the plan into action.

More than a quarter of a million African-American men and women hold varying levels of managerial and executive responsibility in corporate careers around the globe," notes authors Price M. Cobbs and Judith L. Turnock in their recently released book that profiles 32 members of the ELC, Cracking the Corporate Code: From Survival to Mastery, Real Stories of African American Success." The rising numbers stem from many factors, chief among them, societal changes, the opening of higher education, the new economy and, of course, their own steely determination to succeed against all odds."

That determination is what counts. If time and chance have their way, the number of African Americans in the executive suite will increase as their numbers in the corporate workplace continues to grow. However, in the evolving corporate culture, African Americans must be risk-takers with strong management skills and technical savvy. Social and professional networks play a critical role in career development. Success requires confidence, the ability to solve problems, practice independent thinking, make decisions making and eventually find the answers. It also demands a thorough assessment of one's values, skills, interests and abilities. It then requires focus. Only by focusing can true career success and fulfillment be achieved.

Turn the page and read about other successful African Americans at leading U.S. corporations. Learn about educational tools/paths available as foundation for a successful career path.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS: DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS

THE DUKE MBA - WEEKEND EXECUTIVE

The Duke MBA - Weekend Executive program equips professionals with a competitive edge essential in today's rapidly changing, global business environment - without interrupting their careers.

Ranked #4 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report's 1999 annual survey of executive MBA programs, Duke combines top-ranked academics with a network of established executives from many different industries. The carefully orchestrated 20-month curriculum maintains classroom continuity without sidetracking the student's ongoing contributions in corporations. Solid academics, combined with a world-class cohort of fellow students, distinguishes The Duke MBA - Weekend Executive program.

The Weekend Executive program is specifically designed for rising executives with, preferably, 7 years professional experience and a demonstrated steady career progression with increased responsibility. Meeting every other weekend for twenty months, students gain the necessary skills to anticipate and meet an ever-widening range of business challenges. Graduates benefit from a solid foundation designed to serve a lifetime.

Since it began in 1984, Duke's Weekend Executive program has continued to grow in reputation, applicant quality and company support. It has provided more than 1,000 managers from 25 states, Canada and Puerto Rico an unsurpassed grounding in the fundamentals of business.

Whether employed by a Fortune 500 company or an entrepreneurial start-up, students in The Duke MBA - Weekend Executive program develop the ability to:

* Think strategically in the face of increasingly competitive challenges.

* Lead, as well as, work effectively in teams.

* Understand the total organization.

* Think globally.

To learn more about how The Duke MBA - Weekend Executive can help you and your company gain competitive advantage. Contact us today:

Tel [phone]

Fax [phone]

E-mail [e-mail] www.business.duke.edu

GOIZUETA BUSINESS SCHOOL - EMORY UNIVERSITY ATLANTA, GA

The Goizueta Business School MBA Program offers students the opportunity to pursue an MBA in a flexible, innovative environment. Students are encouraged to work closely with professors, to individualize a course of study, and to customize career goals. The core curriculum includes "flex-core", allowing students to take electives earlier in the program. In addition, our new seminar, Goizueta Plus, is designed to enhance entrepreneurial leadership skills. With locations and specific modules that vary from year to year, focus modules involve trips such as to Wall Street, South Africa and Beijing or may zero in on a key business or industry issue.

Goizueta B- School students have the opportunity to study abroad in exchange currently offered with twenty-seven universities in such countries as Austria, Costa Rica, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Venezuela, Korea and China.

The mission of the Office of Career Management is centered around assisting students in pragmatically focusing particular abilities, experiences, and interests toward a career goal and helping the student develop an individual strategy for marketing himself or herself to conduct an effective job search. Workshops, speakers, internships, mentors and alumni are some of the resources available to Goizuetta Business School students.

Admission to the MBA program is highly selective. Each candidate is evaluated on the basis of his or her ability to perform in an academically rigorous environment as well as con. tribute to classroom discussions based on work and/or life experiences, Leadership, diversity and international perspectives are valued in the admission process.

For more information call the Admissions Office at [phone] or visit our website at www.emory. edu/BUS/

HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL 

For more than 50 years, top international business minds have worked together to build an Executive Education experience at Harvard Business School that is unmatched in the marketplace. What sets HBS apart is the fusion of three crucial elements-a renowned faculty, world-class participants, and distinctive learning methods-in and out of the classroom. Together, these forces comprise the infrastructure of this powerful environment where ideas are created, shaped, explored, and refined.

Executive Education programs are designed and taught by HBS faculty-international business leaders with a wealth of real-world expertise. Harvard Business School's often-imitated case study approach gives participants the opportunity to explore a variety of real-life business scenarios-often with the added perspectives of the faculty who developed the cases and know the actual outcomes. Putting themselves in the positions of the managers involved, participants analyze case studies to define problems, compare options, formulate solutions, commit to action plans, and sell colleagues on the merits of their respective positions.

In addition to case studies, faculty members use a variety of methodologies-from lectures and guest speakers ... to multimedia presentations, computer simulations, and Internet explorations ... to group discussions and special exercises.

Harvard Business School understands that executives learn best from one another-in an atmosphere that stimulates teamwork and collaboration. To foster ongoing interaction, participants are housed in suites of private rooms arranged around a common area, offering both privacy and access to colleagues.

The value of the Harvard Business School Executive Education experience to sponsoring organizations is long term and incalculable. Over 40 open enrollment programs are designed with the philosophy that the participants' time in the classroom is simply the launching point of their educational experience. They return to their companies reinvigorated and prepared for the challenges ahead.

For more information call 1-800-HBS-5577 X4066 or visit our web site at www.exed.hbs.edu.

MIT GRADUATE SCHOOL

For more than a century, MIT had been a unique institution; a community of faculty and students who, in their collaborative efforts, face difficult world problems thoughtfully, responsibly and forthrightly.

The MIT Graduate School has assumed a leadership role in addressing such tough problems. Our graduate students are in fields from architecture to aeronautics, economics to electrical engineering; from music to mechanical engineering, new media to management, from chemistry and physics to bio - everything. The five schools include: School of Architecture and Planning; School of Engeering; School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; Sloan School of Management and School of Science. They are the levers that shift the great rock of research. The continuing mission of the MIT Graduate School is to provide the highest quality programs and to do so with a strong commitment to public service and to a diversity of backgrounds, interests, and points of views among faculty, students and staff.

For additional information, please contact the Admissions office at: [phone].

SLOAN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

At MIT Sloan, where technology and management coverage, we understand that the future belongs to those who can recognize potential in a changing world and respond with creativity, innovation, and leadership. We select the very best students from around the world and provide them with the special skills and intellectual underpinnings to succeed in global business.

Sloan offers close ties to the other academic departments at MIT, the world's leading technological institution. MIT is organized into five schools (noted above) that contain 21 academic departments, as well as interdepartmental programs, laboratories, and centers whose work extends beyond traditional departmental boundaries. These connections provide a wealth of expertise in the full range of scientific and engineering disciplines. At MIT Sloan School of Management, we are helping to lay the foundation for change and opportunity, while forging new paradigms in education.

For additional information, please contact: MIT Sloan School of Management at:[phone], or email: http://mitsloan.mit.edu

FISHER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY OHIO STATE

Fisher College of Business -- Recipient of the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) Outstanding Educational Institution Award for 1999 A Tradition of Excellence

With more than 50 years of experience in delivering executive education programs, the Fisher College of Business has built a strong foundation for professional development that top business leaders have grown to rely on throughout their careers. Bringing together faculty and industry leaders in dynamic learning environments, Fisher executive education programs support the needs of business by anticipating and responding to issues of importance to the practice of business management.

The New Fisher Executive MBA

Building on that tradition of excellence, the Fisher College is now offering an Executive MBA degree program. Uniquely suited to the needs of senior executives "on the move," the Fisher EMBA convenes sessions on Ohio State's campus only three days out of every month over an eighteen-month period - a total of 45 days in class -- with interactive web-based instruction between residencies. The combination of classroom and distance learning allows the busy executive to manage job responsibilities with minimal disruption to work schedules. The Fisher EMBA curriculum has been designed to integrate the fundamental languages of business and basic business functions with current management issues to provide a total business perspective. Throughout the program, participants work on projects that let them apply learning experiences to actual job challenges, ending with the preparation of a business plan for their firms. A mid-program global integration course addresses the international dimension of today's management problems.

For More Information

To apply for the 2002 Fisher EMBA program, or to download a copy of the EMBA application form, visit the Fisher EMBA website at fisher.osu.edu/emba, or contact the Fisher College Executive Education Programs Office at [phone]. For information about other Fisher graduate programs, connect to fisher.osu.edu or call [phone].

UC IRVINE'S MBA PROGRAM

UC Irvine's MBA program is known internationally for a distinctive approach to management education that prepares students to face the challenges and embrace the opportunities of the networked economy. The school's Information Technology for Management (ITM) focus is integrated throughout the MBA curriculum, giving students a thorough understanding of how to use information and technology strategically to lead change in the way business is conducted. The strength of this ITM focus has been recognized with top-10 rankings in such leading business publications as Financial Times, Computerworld and U.S. News & World Report.

An MBA education at UCI combines core courses examining the fundamental theories and challenges of management with electives and ITM labs. We actively encourage students to pursue their ideas for new companies or innovative business practices. Through the Irvine Innovation Initiative (13), the Graduate School of Management has established a 24/7 facility for new venture development that is housed, initially, in a small trailer on campus. Each year, we also hold a New Venture Business Plan Competition that enables students to pursue their ideas with help from business leaders and investors who serve as advisors.

The UCI Graduate School of Management is one of the most technologically sophisticated business schools in the country. Each year, we equip hundreds of students with the necessary tools-notebook computers, networking and software-for their course work. We have created a web-based intranet site called Catalyst that enables faculty and students to continue their dialogue outside of class. Catalyst is so progressive that it has been named one of the top 50 intranet sites in the nation by CIO magazine.

We are located in Southern California's Tech Coast, which has one of the largest concentrations of technology firms and talent in the world. For more information, please call our MBA Admissions Office at (949) UCI-4MBA or visit our website at http://www.gsm.uci.edu.

WALDEN UNIVERSITY 

For many ambitious professionals, the road to earning a graduate degree can be a bumpy one.

There's finding a university nearby with a top accredited program, there's shifting your work schedule to suit your classes, there's saying goodbye to your family while you pursue your degree, there's ... well, you get the idea.

At Walden University, our internationally recognized distance learning programs allow you to pursue a graduate degree at your own pace and from your own location - all without sacrificing career or family. "Walden allows me to have the best of both worlds," said Cynthia B. Burks, a Walden student in the management doctoral program. "First, the flexible program allows me to continue in a successful career.

"Second, I wanted a doctoral program that valued practical experience and application. So the emphasis on scholar-practitioner is very important- pursuing academic learning and putting it into action."

With more than 30 years experience in distance learning, Walden remains committed to its twofold mission: to provide graduate-level education that fosters scholarly inquiry in the social and behavioral sciences, and to prepare scholar-practitioners to be leaders in making positive social change.

Guided by this mission, Walden offers accredited graduate degrees in six academic divisions: education, health services, human services, management, psychology and public health. A master's in business administration is under development.

The diverse student population is one of Walden's strengths: one-third are minorities and 20 percent of that population are African-American.

Although students are from all 50 states and 30 countries, Walden learners are never isolated. Walden's learning model allows students to develop one-on-one relationships with experienced faculty from around the world. Walden also enables students to gain access to top-flight research resources, and to be fully supported by professional student service teams.

To discuss your graduate education, phone [phone] or visit Walden's Web site at www.walden.edu

The Yale MBA - Educating Global Leaders for Business and Society

Our goal at the Yale School of Management is to provide you with the greatest intellectual experience you've ever had. To impart excitement because we opened your mind to new ideas. To challenge you, and for you to challenge us. To teach you how to frame issues in a complex setting; how to make decisions when you only have (50% of the information you need; and most important, to instill in you an enthusiasm to never stop learning because this is just the very beginning of your learning experience.

At Yale you will also have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interact personally with the men and women who are leading major global organizations. Visitors to our Leaders Forum include Michael Dell, Earl Graves, Rajat Gupta, Rupert Murdoch, Franklin Raines, Frank Savage, Kurt Schmoke, George Soros, Martha Stewart, Jack Welch, and many more.

If you are interested in learning more about the special strengths of our program, we invite you to attend our Minority Reception at the Yale Club of New York City, Tuesday, March 20, 2001. For a full schedule of all of our admissions events, and for more information on our program, we encourage you to visit our website (www.mba.yale.edu) and to schedule a personal visit to campus.

ST. JOHN UNIVERSITY

For over seventy years, the Tobin College of Business at St. John's University has offered future business leaders a strong foundation in management education with a focus on developing individuals for the most senior corporate positions in the world.

Grounded in the importance of practical business knowledge and technology, rapid globalization and a (Jeep appreciation for the special ethical challenges of business practice in our contemporary environment, the Tobin College offers unique opportunities for students who are committed to excellence and to deriving the most from their educational experience. With a student enrollment that reflects the cultural diversity present within actual business settings and the very special business center that is in close proximity to Manhattan, the Tobin College has succeeded in launching the careers of over 30,000 business leaders worldwide,

Our early recognition of the important role that the globalization of business holds for future business leaders is represented by our having been one of the very first U.S.-based business schools to establish a presence beyond U.S. shores. Today, our campus in Rome, Italy, is a thriving center for students interested primarily in the intersection of business and international markets.

Our alumni network, talented and dedicated faculty, outstanding resources and commitment to a values based business education all make the Tobin College unique in providing not just management education to masters' candidates and working executives, but business leadership skills for life.

ARMY ROTC Colonel Rodney M. Davis ... A Personal Profile

"As I look back over my life -- at the ups and downs -- I realize my serviceas an officer in the US Army was one of the most important decisions I'd made in my life. In no other profession could I have consistently led who I led, traveled where I traveled, or done what I was able to do -- no other.

ARMY ROTC provides real opportunity. It always has. Check the history.

There are other services and walks of life, but Army ROTC really is about empowering us to become leaders. You'll get something you can one day give back to the community and society at large.

African-Americans understand perseverance. For generations we were taught the importance of being strong spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally and everything I was taught -- the deep beliefs and values were all tested and reaffirmed while serving as an officer.

It all Started with ROTC at Virginia State University. I majored in Business Administration, served in student government and had a great time doing all the things college students do.

I joined ROTC, received a 3 year scholarship which paid for my tuition, lab and book fees. That same offer is available today.

Personally, I wanted to serve as an Infantry officer because I wanted to maximize my opportunity to lead. Other choices were available, but infantry provided me the opportunity to use and sharpen every facet of what made me a person. Once again, that was my choice. I could have gotten out after 4 years but I liked it -- I really liked it.

Some of my friends did get out and are doing great things in corporate America. All of them will tell you it was ROTC and the credibility of serving as an officer that "put them over the hump."

And after seeing what I'd done, countless people have told me over the years, "I wish I'd taken ROTC."

I'm a public affairs officer now and Director of Marketing and Public Affairs for ROTC. I've traveled to many countries and have worked in media operations with everyone from the President of the United States to leaders of practically every European country. Do you think I'd ever have the chance to do that on the outside? -- no way,

I'm so thankful for the successes which kept me on the right path, and the failures which corrected my direction. I'm thankful for the memories and relationships which have sustained me.

Now it's time to give back."

AMTRAK

Wanda Morris Hightower, Vice President and Counsel for Amtrak's Office of Business Diversity & Strategic Initiatives, understands the value of a good education. From an early age, her parents instilled in her and her seven brothers and sisters an appreciation for the flexibility and options that education could provide. Not even Ms. Hightower herself, however, could have predicted the course of her career to date. She could not have predicted that she would leave her "first" career as an accountant to attend Law school. Nor would she have guessed that, after 14 years as a labor and employment attorney and EEO officer, she would become a member of the Amtrak senior management team, reporting directly to George D. Warrington, Amtrak's President and Chief Executive Officer.

I have always believed that one of the great values of an education is that it enables one to keep one's options open" said Ms. Hightower, She maintains that, "While you cannot predict the path that your life will take, you can put yourself in a position to be able to capitalize upon opportunities and rebound from challenges."

As the head of the department responsible for ensuring that Amtrak's commitment to diversity, both internal and external, translates into reality, Ms, Hightower oversees a department of 18 employees. Amtrak's Business Diversity department is comprised of four units.

Corporate Diversity

The corporate diversity group is responsible for developing programs and initiatives aimed at increasing ridership, as well as conducting outreach programs to the various communities that Amtrak serves.

Employment Diversity

The Employment Diversity group is responsible for ensuring that Amtrak's recruitment, hiring, promotion, and retention, training and policies are designed and implemented with a focus on valuing diversity throughout the corporation.

Supplier Diversity 

The Supplier Diversity group is responsible for ensuring that disadvantaged businesses have equal access to the competitive procurement process at Amtrak.

Dispute Resolution

The Dispute Resolution group is responsible for investigating, mediating and resolving Amtrak employee complaints of discrimination.

FOREST LABORATORIES

You opened this magazine because your career matters. You have high expectations and possess the talent and skills to warrant them. You're seeking the company that will recognize your creativity and energy, your contributions and potential. The company that will provide opportunities for personal and professional growth, and that will reward your hard work and commitment.

Forest Laboratories - a highly successful developer, manufacturer and marketer of prescription pharmaceuticals - can offer you all this and more.

Our commitment to building and retaining a skilled, diverse workforce within a rewarding and supportive work. place is matched only by our determination to develop the highest quality drug therapies for the treatment of illness. We currently market key pharmaceutical products for central nervous system, pulmonary, cardiovascular and women's healthcare, and our robust pipeline promises to drive our expansion even further. Our exceptional growth, we recently ranked 23rd on Fortune magazine's list of the 100 Fastest Growing Companies - is a direct result of the creativity and contributions of every individual that works at Forest.

We currently have a wide array of exciting career opportunities, including: Biostatisticians, Statistical Programmers, Medical Writers, Clinical Data Management, Medical Science Liaisons, Product Managers, Assistant Product Managers, Marketing Research Managers, QA Managers, R&D Chemists, PK Scientists, Regulatory Affairs Managers, GCP Auditors, Territory Sales Representatives.

For immediate and confidential consideration, send your resume (with salary requirements) to Human Resources Dept., Forest Laboratories, Inc. 909 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022-4731; or e-mail to [e-mail]; or fax to [phone]. EOE M/F/DA/

Visit our Website, www.frx.com, for more information about our company and current job openings in the New York Metro Area, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and National Sales Territories.

FREDDIE MAC: OPENING DOORS TO OPPORTUNITY

Vaughn Clarke was an All-American college basketball player. Now he coaches teams at Freddie Mac.

As Freddie Mac's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Vaughn is responsible for managing $433 billion in assets. Valuing the importance of teamwork is just one of the many lessons he learned on the basketball court that carried over to the business world.

"Teams win, individuals don't," says Vaughn who teaches the same lesson to his son's middle school basketball team. "You bring what makes you unique to the table. It's the differences in opinion and diversified skill sets that make for better products."

Freddie Mac, a publicly traded, Fortune 100 corporation is made up of individuals from all backgrounds coming together as a team to complete a common goal. That goal is to ensure that as many families as possible have the opportunity to own a home. In fact, more than 25 million families own homes because of financing through Freddie Mac.

Freddie Mac acknowledges that its employees are the key to the company's unparalleled success. They retain talented professionals by offering interesting and challenging assignments.

"Each person at Freddie Mac is given equal access to the opportunity to build a career. The company values each employee's unique experience and background," says Vaughn.

A simple philosophy prevails at Freddie Mac: The more growth opportunities the company provides employees, the greater their contribution will be to the organization and the community. At Freddie Mac, "We Open Doors" is more than just a slogan, it's who they are. To learn more about employment opportunities, visit the company's web site at www.freddiemac.com.

HALLMARK CARDS 

Hallmark Cards, Inc. is the world's leader in the personal expression industry with consolidated net sales of approximately $4.2 billion. In addition to designing and manufacturing greeting cards, the company also produces albums, ornaments, gift wrap, party goods, and other related products. The company's Hallmark Entertainment, Inc. subsidiary is the world's leading producer of movies and mini-series for television; its Binney & Smith subsidiary, maker of Crayola[R] crayons, is the leading producer of student and professional art. Through licensing leadership and joint ventures, Hallmark continues to expand its product formats and distribution avenues.

Hallmark Cards was founded in 1910 when J.C. Hall sold picture postcards to dealers throughout the Midwest. Greeting cards soon followed and the first Hall Brothers designs were published in time for Christmas, 1915. Hall Brothers officially became Hallmark Cards, Inc. in 1954.

Today, Hallmark has three separate brands of personal expression products; Hallmark, Ambassador, and Expressions from Hallmark found in approximately 45,600 retail outlets domestically. Those retailers include specialty shops, mass merchandisers including discount and food stores, department stores, drugstores, college bookstores, and a variety of other distribution points.

Hallmark has an e-commerce platform through hallmark.com where in addition to free e-greeting cards, a variety of gifts and products are sold.

At Hallmark, we recruit for a variety of positions including financial analyst, accountant, inventory controller, HR specialist, I/T analyst, engineer, manufacturing operations, marketing associate, and sales rep.

Whether undergrad or MBA students, we look for talented and energetic individuals who possess excellent communication and teamwork skills, as well as demonstrated leadership potential.

Hallmark Cards, Inc., it's subsidiaries and affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employers.

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) serves the American public by investigating public potential criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code and related financial crimes in a manner that fosters confidence in the tax system and compliance with the law.

Whenever greed leads to crime, from income tax evasion to international money laundering, you'll find an Internal Revenue Service special agent following the financial trail. As duly sworn law enforcement officers, with accounting expertise, IRS Criminal Investigation special agents investigate complex financial crimes including tax evasion, money laundering and other related financial crimes. If you're interested in becoming a part of the team of internationally renowned financial investigators, a career with IRS Criminal Investigation may be right for you.

Candidates for IRS Criminal Investigation special agents must be U.S. citizens, must not have reached their 37th birthday, and must meet education and/or experience qualifications that can be found at http:// www.treas.gov/irs/ci/

We are currently hiring at the Grades 5 ($36,438*) 7 ($41,468*) and 9 ($46,251*) Salary includes an additional twenty-five percent Law Enforcement Availability Pay. Promotion potential, without further competition, is to the GS-12 ($64,909*) grade level.

Candidates must be available for nationwide placement, which includes the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and Guam.

If you like solving puzzles, want to use your accounting skills in a nontraditional way, and if you want to help stop financial crimes around the world, then yes, this is the career for you. To learn more about this exciting position and even apply on line, visit our website at http://www.treas. gov/irs/ci/

MARINES OFFER LEADERSHIP, A CHANGE FOREVER

MARINE CORPS RECRUITING COMMAND, Quantico, VA. - While the world celebrates the arrival of the new millenium, the challenges of an ever-changing, technological society await the leader of the future. With advances in science, medicine and communication replacing old concepts daily, leadership is the one discipline that has stood the test of time.

The United States Marine Corps is looking for those leaders of tomorrow - today. While it may take years to prove one's leadership potential in corporate America. the Marines will give individuals leadership skills in just a matter of weeks. The Marine Corps mentally and physically pushes individuals beyond their preconceived limits to find the leader within.

Astronaut Charles Bolden. Jr., a Marine major general, took his leadership to new heights aboard four space shuttle flights, setting an earth orbiting altitude record of 400 miles in 1990 and commanding the joint U.S. and Russian space shuttle mission in 1994.

Bolden did not have early aspirations of becoming a Marine. "When I went to the U.S. Naval Academy, there were only two things t knew - that I would not be a Marine because Marines were different, and I was not going to fly because flying was inherently dangerous."

So what led men like Bolden to the Marine Corps?

Bolden based his decision on observation. "What started to change my mind was that, during my first year at the Academy, my company officer was a tough but fair Marine major, John Riley. "Over my first three-and-a-half years at the Academy, every Marine officer I saw, without exception, was an excellent leader. So when it came time for deciding what I wanted to do, I decided that I was going to be a Marine, to be like them."

Bolden recalled, "1 let my family know that I had decided to be a Marine while we were at the Army-Navy game in Philadelphia in November, 1967. Everybody cried, including me after a while, because everybody else was crying."

Having already changed course one time, Bolden soon found himself retracting his adamant decision not to fly. "I decided that I wanted to be an infantry officer, but my grades were good enough out of the Naval Academy that I qualified for an aviation slot. I talked to my company commander at The Basic School and told him that I wanted to give up my aviation option to go infantry, but he recommended against that. When I went to training in Pensacola, I fell in love with flying."

The general gave some advice for young men and women who are considering making the Corps a career. "Pick something that you like as far as your occupational field, Really try to qualify so that you can go there. But, whatever you do, find ways to enjoy it, because if you're enjoying it, there is a much better chance that you will do well."

MICHAEL PAGE INTERNATIONAL Business Development Associate New Jersey / Manhattan Excellent Compensation + Profit Sharing 

Want to be on the revenue side of a business rather than "overhead?"

We are a major executive recruiting firm in our 25th year of operation. Due to our expansion plans we are looking to add several high caliber recruiters to our team. With over 1,500 professionals in 70 offices around the world, we are one of the world's leading executive recruitment companies. We have major offices in London, Hong Kong, Paris, Sydney, Madrid, Singapore, Amsterdam, and most recently Brazil, Tokyo and New York. Since we entered the U.S. market in 1998, we have experienced phenomenal growth and have quadrupled in size and are now poised to open another practice in New Jersey.

We specialize in one of five areas - Finance, Banking, Sales and Marketing, Management Consultancy and Operations. Our Finance division is looking for highly motivated Associates to join the team. This team works with many different types of companies in placing financial professionals within Fortune 500 companies, Internet start-ups, and Professional Services Firms.

As an Associate, you will enhance business development as well as service new and existing clients. The ability to work in a team-based environment is essential. This is NOT a commission-based role. A professional salary plus bonus and excellent career opportunities are offered.

Ideal candidates will have 2 to 12 years' professional experience in finance or accounting, an entrepreneurial spirit, excellent communication and presentation skills, and a commercial flair. You must be highly creditable, self-confident, competent and able to manage several assignments simultaneously.

Send your resume to Alistair Robinson at Michael Page International, The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10174. E-mail alistairrobinson @michaelpage.com Fax [phone] or phone at 212-661-4800. Reference job 640837BE.

The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue. 28th Floor. New York, NY 10174 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

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MICROSOFT

Microsoft has a strong commitment to workforce diversity. Indeed, when you create software for 180 million people, in 50 countries, speaking 150 languages, you simply cannot afford to have a single point of view. And so the employees at Microsoft are as diverse as the challenges they face each clay. Microsoft is committed to keeping it that way,

As proof, just take a look at Microsoft's Diversity Advisory Council (DAC). Chartered and run by individual employees, the Advisory Council is comprised of thirteen separate minority organizations. The DAC, and the African-American Group in particular (BAM), helps ensure Microsoft's growth as a culturally-aware, socially-responsible and racially-diverse corporation. The DAC also provides its members with networking opportunities, community events and general supportive services.

But the Diversity Council is just one of the benefits of working at Microsoft. Imagine having the latest tools and technologies at your fingertips, working alongside other passionate people in an entrepreneurial environment. At Microsoft, you'd have the resources you need to explore your best ideas. Plus, you'd have a hand in making the technology that helps people do exciting things, today and in the future.

A wide variety of job opportunities await. From technical support to human resources to software design and development, Microsoft has positions available throughout the country. Possibly even in your own backyard. >To find out more about Microsoft visit: >http://www.microsoft.com/jobs/diversity.htm or send your resume and questions to [e-mail]

PANASONIC Panasonic Personal and Professional Products Co.

Success tips from David Williams-National Marketing Manager-a leader and manager at Panasonic, David holds a B.S. Business Administration from Georgetown University and an MBA from Duke University.

My piece of advice to anyone seeking to move up the corporate ladder is to seek opportunities to expand your skill set.

Pursue an advanced degree: The opportunities that became available to me upon completing my MBA were well worth the investment in time and money. Do not let financial resources prevent you from applying, Scholarship money is available, but only if you apply.

Explore related functional areas: My goal had always been to be a marketing manager, however, I worked in sales and market research prior to my current position. These assignments broadened my perspective in ways that I never would have expected and have made me stronger in my chosen field.

Avoid the "Not My Job" mentality: If it is something worth learning about, take a swing at solving the departmental challenge that effects "everyone", but is "no one's" responsibility. Create your own opportunity for recognition and be viewed as a problem solver.

PITNEY BOWES INC.

When Robbie Narcisse joined Pitney Bowes, she expected to stay for only a few years. That was over eleven years ago, The work environment at the company and the opportunities she's been given have convinced her to stay. Narcisse is now Deputy General Counsel, Corporate, and Assistant Secretary, for Pitney Bowes Inc., a $4.4 billion global provider of informed mail and messaging management. Narcisse oversees legal services for the company's domestic divisions and manages the Corporate Legal Department. She works closely with senior executives from each business unit and reports directly to Sara Moss. Vice President and General Counsel.

Pitney Bowes has been named to virtually every top list on diversity achievement in the country for maintaining diversity as a core value. The company recently received the Diversity 2000 award from the Minority Corporate Counsel Association for implementing innovative programs that promote diversity in its legal department.

Narcisse knew when she joined Pitney Bowes in 1989 that the company valued the contributions of all its employees and was committed to their success. As a staff attorney, she reported to Michael J. Critelli, who is now the company's Chairman and CEO. Narcisse continued to flourish and was promoted to Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary. Guided by Sara Moss, Narcisse was named to her current position. "Sara took a personal interest in my success. I welcome each opportunity to challenge myself. I would advise young professionals to seek new opportunities and take on tough assignments to demonstrate their capabilities."

For more information about Pitney Bowes, please visit our website: www.pitneybowes.com

SUN MICROSYSTEMS OUR VISION

Sun was founded in 1982 with one driving vision - a vision of computer-stalking to each other. While others protected proprietary, stand-alonearchitectures, Sun focused on taking companies into the network age. From the way they create ideas to the way they sell ideas. From processing stock trades in the financial world to selling hits in the music world. From tracking packages to tracking spending, As a result. Sun has become the dot in .com, providing systems and software with the scalability and reliability We achieve and get rewarded. We embrace change. We are a team. We maintain the highest standards of business conduct and foster an environment respectful of each individual's needs, blending cultural and ethnic diversity into a harmonious workforce. Sun is committed to leveraging the understanding and appreciation of differences in the workplace to enable our employees to perform at their full potential. At Sun, we hire the best, treat our employees fairly and empower individuals to make a difference.

Career Opportunities

Sun empowers you with resources to guide and develop your career, helping you move forward with new challenges. Sun provides the tools and training you need to expand upon your expertise to move onward and upward. Positions are available and vary in field offices worldwide. They include sales, pre & post sales engineering, customer service, software/ hardware design engineering, marketing, operations/ manufacturing, human resources, finance and much more.

Where We Are

For Sun, it all began in Silicon Valley, Then is spread all over the world.

Our three main US campuses are in Northern California, Burlington, MA and Broomfield, CO. To final out more about opportunities at Sun, please visit us at www.sun.com/careers.

SAFECO

Insurance, Finance, Mutual Funds, Technology, SAFECO is on top of them ail. So while you may think of us as just an insurance company, take a deeper look. We're anything but. In fact, we're a multi-billion dollar organization with 77-year legacy and one of the country's leading and diverse financial service firms with opportunities that offer ongoing training, resources and support found at few other organizations. So, take your job to the next level and do it with a company that has the reach, vision and desire to get you there. SAFECO, we're more than what you expect.

Diversity is the way we do business, it's that simple. We are striving to create a work environment that mirrors the company's multiculturalism and where everyone feels welcome and respected. Our efforts include creating awareness through education, helping employees realize they're each able to contribute to our initiatives, targeting applicants and customers in markets we've not tapped in the past, and developing business relationships with community organizations in markets where we do business.

As a SAFECO employee, you will enjoy a professional work environment and some of the best benefits including well-established training programs; medica, and dental insurance; college tuition reimbursements; retirement plan and not to mention a business appropriate dress standard and much more:

Nationwide opportunities have never looked better; - openings exist in Accounting, Administration, Claims, Customer Service, Financial Services, Information Systems, Marketing and Underwriting. Please call our national job line at 1-800-753-5330 or visit our website at www.safeco.com We are an equal opportunity employer committed to employing a diverse workforce.

TELCORDIA

Since its founding in 1984, Telcordia Technologies has remained an integral part of the telecommunications industry. We have not only remained the frontrunner of emerging technologies, we have shaped the telecommunications industry, setting a standard of performance and quality unmatched in the industry. Today, 80% of the U.S. telecommunications network depends on software invented, developed, implemented or maintained by Telcordia Technologies. We hold hundreds of patents, including key patents for broadband data communications like ADSL, AIN, ATM, ISDN, Frame Relay, SMDS, SONET, and video-on-demand. We provide the core software that allows U.S. telecommunications companies to handle more than 150 million service orders annually. We develop the software that administers every 800/888 call made in the U.S. We work with over 500 companies in 55 countries to incorporate our software into their network systems.

We realize that telecommunications is hot about accumulating accolades, it's about communicating. As the leading consultants to the telecommunications industry, we offer a broad range expertise, from systems integration to local number portability, from network integrity and reliability to pricing and cost analysis. Everyone benefits when we share our knowledge.

Our parent company is Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), one of the world's largest providers of systems integration and program management. Our theme line is Performance from Experience.

In 1994, Telcordia Technologies launched an all-encompassing quality initiative that resulted in a defined methodology known as the Quality Method Of Operation (QMO). We not only provide our traditionally high standard of service and innovation to an even wider range of customers. We help our customers anticipate how their business will evolve. Because nothing may be more instrumental to your success than the quality of the software packages and customized programs that run your network systems and business applications. All of our software organizations are required to follow our proprietary methodology.

While Telcordia Technologies has played a crucial role in the development of the telecommunications infrastructure within the U.S., and influenced the global infrastructure of the industry, we realize the importance of developing and nurturing out employees. Our Flexible Benefits Program and Employee Ownership Program continue to hot only attract the best talent available, but to raise the standard on the industry's employee benefits.

SUPER STORES

In 1914, the Rabinovitz family founded the Economy Grocery Stores Company in Somerville, MA. Four years later, family member Sidney Rabb introduced an idea new to retail? the self-service modern supermarket.

In 1996, Stop & Shop became a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Ahold NV, the fourth largest food retailer in the world. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Royal Ahold NV has supermarket companies in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia. Worldwide, the company employs more than 300,000 people and owns 4,000 stores with annual sales of approximately $35 billion (US$).

In the 1990s, Stop & Shop once again offered its customers a novel grocery shopping option - online grocery ordering and delivery services. Today, Stop & Shop is a multibillion-dollar corporation and the largest food retailer in New England. Stop & Shop employs 41,000 associates in its network of stores, distribution centers, manufacturing plants and offices, which stretch across more than 180 communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island.

Furthermore, Stop & Shop has had a long-standing commitment to its communities. For example, Stop & Shop is committed to the fight against hunger, and donates over $12 million annually in product, cash and services to food banks, Through its fund-raising efforts, Stop & Shop has also taken a leadership role in the fight against childhood cancer. Since 1991, with the help of associate volunteers, supplier donations, and customer contributions Stop & Shop has raised millions of dollars for the Jimmy Fund, the fund raising arm of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. These contributions provide research and treatment in hopes that a cure for cancer eventually will be found, and help fund the Stop & Shop Family Pediatric Brain Tumor Clinic. This commitment to health extends into the community through other projects, such as supporting local health-related charities and offering free in-store publications on nutrition and food safety. Stop & Shop is dedicated to giving something back to the communities where they operate.