New York, N.Y. - Aug. 20, 2007 - Delegates representing more than 3,500 members of the National Urban League Young Professionals (NULYP) recently tapped Houston, Texas, native Cassye D. Cook to succeed outgoing president Nolan Rollins to lead the organization through July of 2009.

Rollins stepped down from NULYP presidency to assume the helm of the New Orleans Urban League as president and CEO. The election took place at the league's recent 2007 annual conference in St. Louis, Mo., where Cook ran on a five-point platform focusing on: organizational effectiveness; leadership development; strategic funding and program delivery; greater focus on a corporate approach to communications, and improved management of talent assets within the membership.

"Let me congratulate and salute Cassye Cook on her election to lead the National Urban League Young Professionals (NULYP). The league's young professionals hold the keys to the future of our movement as well as the future of our nation. I expect only great things to come of our future movers and shakers under her stewardship," National Urban League Marc H. Morial said.

She was also responsible for facilitating the NULYP Annual Awards selection process that recognizes the achievements of standout chapters and members within the organization's network of 65 chapters.

Since joining the Houston Area Urban League (HAUL) YP chapter in 2002, Cook has logged more than 750 volunteer hours and helped raise more than $35,000 to support the affiliate's programs and services. She served as social and cultural committee chair from 2002 to 2003. In 2003, she was elected chapter president, a position she held until 2005.

"The National Urban League Young Professionals, as an organization, is at a critical stage as we seek to put power, leadership and service into perspective," Cook said. "We have accomplished much in our eight years. The time is here for us to solidify our stability through our brand, our programs, our advocacy and our activism. It's an honor to be chosen to lead the organization through this next phase of growth."

The new NULYP president currently serves as vendor manager with SYSCO Corporation, where she is responsible for the management and oversight of software and professional service contracts. She also assumes a lead role in contract negotiations with the company's various solutions partners including Microsoft, IBM and BMC Software. Prior to joining SYSCO, Cook was employed by Amegy Bank of Texas where she drafted and negotiated more than 400 vendor contracts totaling more than $9.3 million. She also served on the bank's Task Force for African American Community Diverse Markets.

A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Cook is a cum laude graduate of Clark Atlanta University, holding a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing. She earned her J.D. degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University.