Speaking Of People - Brief Article

Debra J. Nelson is department manager of corporate diversity for Mercedes-Benz USA. She is responsible for developing and implementing diversity initiatives in human resources, retail network, purchasing, training and marketing. A native of Birmingham, Ala., Nelson earned a bachelor's degree in communications at the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa. She served as assistant director of university relations and director of media relations for the University of Alabama, and worked in community and public affairs for several Alabama news organizations. She lives in Mahwah, N.J.

CRUISE LINES VICE PRESIDENT

Richard T. Adams is vice president of e-business for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.'s RCL.com business unit. As vice president, Adams is responsible for accelerating the company's business strategies by using the technologies and capabilities of the Internet. He earned a bachelor's degree in speech communications and marketing from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., and has completed graduate work at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif. A native of Eden, N.C., Adams now resides in Key Biscayne, Fla.

U.S. NAVY ADMIRAL

Rear Adm. Lillian Elaine Fishburne is the first African-American female admiral in the U.S. Navy. A naval computer and telecommunications expert, she recently became deputy director of fleet liaison, Space, Information Warfare, Command and Control Directorate. The Rockville, Md., native earned a B.A. in sociology from Lincoln University (Pa.), a master's in management from Webster College in St. Louis, and a master's in telecommunication systems management from the Naval Postgraduate School. She and her husband, Albert J. Sullivan, have one daughter, Cherese.

BELLSOUTH VICE PRESIDENT

Lori Groves is vice president of e-commerce and technology architecture for BellSouth, a national communications services company. Groves, who is responsible for utilizing the latest in technology in the company's business initiatives, oversees the development of BellSouth's technological and architectural strategies. She earned a bachelor of science degree in finance from Penn State University. The Middletown, Pa., native lives in Fayetteville, Ga., with her husband Robert. The couple has two children, Tyritia and Robert II.