Rising star: a spotlight on our clients' top performers.

EDWARD JONES 

Emily Roberts-Pitts Investment Representative

A 20-year veteran to the financial services industry, Emily Roberts Pitts has spent the last nine years of her career as an Invesment Representative with Edward Jones in the Atlanta area. She became a limited partner in 2000 and in 2002 was authorized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) to use the CFP certification mark in accordance with CFP board certification and license renewal requirements. Emily recently accepted an invitation to relocate to St Louis to join the firm's Banking Services area, making her the first African American female general principal. Says Roberts-Pitts, "As a black woman, I've been given opportunity at Edward Jones to maximize my potential and fulfill my personal goal to help others without limitations."

ETC 

Gary Mathews, President

In 1987, Gary Matthews left a lucrative job in corporate America to embark on a total new career in ethnic and diversity communications, as well as develop internships for students of color in the sports media relations field. Gary feels minorities need to become more involved in providing information about ethnic market. "I feel long-term success of African-Americans as well as other ethnic groups depends on our ability to build a team as well as a future that reflects togetherness as it relates to information on our community and in sports media relationship." Gary started Education to Communicate (ETC), which is the gateway to over 810 weekly newspapers with 15 million readers, 210 urban radio stations and many ethnic trade publications. ETC assists advertisers with the planning and implementing of marketing campaigns targeted toward the ethnic community. Utilizing ETC is an efficient and effective way to reach a diversified target audience with customized advertising packages. For more information about ETC, call 410-788-6471.

AMERICAN AIRLINES

Kimberly Michele Tapscott--National Advertising and Promotions Manager American Airlines--Fort Worth, Texas

Kimberly Tapscott plans and coordinates media campaigns and promotions for the African American consumer market and the United States. In addition, Tapscott manages American's community-focused efforts, including The College Fund and Susan G. Komen Foundation relationships. Previous assignments include American's strategic marketing and AAdvantage customer loyalty teams.

Tapscott holds a Duke University MBA and a B.S. in mathematics from Hampton University. She is a member of the Wyndham International External Diversity Advisory Board, the American Advertising Federation's. Council on Multiculturalism, American's AAERG and a director of the Dallas Black Dance Theatre. She, husband David, and daughter Amber reside in Carrollton, Texas.

PITNEY BOWES

Cattle Bilson Director, Product Design & Usability and Technology Support Operations

Carnie Bilson is the Director, Product Design & Usability and Technology Support Operations at Pitney Bowes. The award winning PD&U department includes seven disciplines: Human Factors Engineering, Industrial Design and Graphic Design groups, TSO department includes: Compliance and Competitive engineering, a Rapid Prototyping Center, and Information Technology Center. Carole's departmental mission is to deliver leading-edge global designs, for integrated mail and document management solutions, derived from their research and design expertise, and knowledge of users and customers.

Carole is the holder of two patents and has received numerous awards for her business achievements: Who's Who in America 2000, Women of Color in Technology 2000, Leadership America. Class of 1993, as well as recognition for the "Kodak Picture Maker," voted "Top Product of the Year" in 1998 by Photon Trade News (the business journal for the imaging market).

She also serves or has served on numerous Boards, including: the Connecticut Minority Supplier Development Council (CMSDC), the WORLDESIGN Foundation, and Carole represents Pitney Bowes on an "Industrial Advisory Council" at the University of Michigan, School of Engineering. Carole is also a member of the Fairfield County Chapter of the LINKS, Inc., a community service organization of African American women of accomplishment.