New York, NY, June 1, 2004— National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial announced today that the 35^th annual Conference of the Black Executive Exchange Program will be held June 16 - 19 at the Eden Roc Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla.

The conference will bring together African American professionals and facilitate a dialogue to enhance information sharing, leadership capabilities and networking.

The Black Executive Exchange Program brings successful African Americans from the corporate sector to historically black colleges and universities to share their experience and expertise with students and help them prepare for successful careers. Since 1969, BEEP participants from over 600 corporations and government agencies have reached 900,000 students on 85 campuses.

"In celebrating our 35th year of the BEEP program, we salute the universities, the corporations and more importantly the individuals that make this program an overwhelming success" said Marc Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League. "BEEP has been and will remain an integral component of the League\'s education agenda, helping to advance the achievement of college students beyond the classroom and into the business world."

This year\\\'s plenary sessions will discuss Blacks in the Media moderated by Joyce M. Danford, anchor, WJXT-TV (CBS) Channel 4, Jacksonville, Fla. and Globalization/Job Loss, moderated by William Spriggs, Ph.D of the National Urban League Institute for Opportunity and Equality. Dennis Hightower, former President, Disney Television & Telecommunications will serve as the general session luncheon speaker.

Other noted participants include Alfred Liggins, III, President & CEO, Radio One; Samuel Mathis, Vice President, Office of Diversity, Office Depot; Michael Hill, Assistant General Manager, Florida Marlins; T. Willard Fair, President Urban League of Greater Miami; Carl Brooks, President, Executive Leadership Council and Challis Lowe, Executive Vice President, Ryder, Inc.

Developed within the National Urban League in 1969, BEEP addresses the need for quality education for African-American students interested in high-level industry and government careers. Since its inception, the program has:

• augmented the curricula at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HCBUs) with more industry and government-related courses;
• supplemented college faculty with rotating teams of African-American executives and professionals for business and government;
• enlightened students and faculty about job opportunity, along with current and future business trends, policies and patterns;
• established and maintained a free-flowing exchange between industry and government agencies to attract support for faculty and student development, educational programs and financial endeavors.

The conference opens with a golf and tennis outing and closes with Urban League Nights, an evening of culture, entertainment and information.