Ebony honors outstanding women in marketing and communications

Ebony, June, 2004

ELEVEN leaders in advertising, journalism and corporate affairs were honored at EBONY's fifth annual Outstanding Women in Marketing & Communications luncheon in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton New York & Towers.

Johnson Publishing Company President and CEO Linda Johnson Rice told a capacity crowd that the honorees were major players in their field "who are making a mark on American culture and perpetuating positive images in the Black community. We salute and thank them for continually raising the bar and blazing the trails that make it easier for future generations to follow."

Gayle King, editor at large of O, The OPRAH Magazine, was mistress of ceremonies. The dynamic duo of Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson electrified the audience, which was also entertained by Kathy Jordan Sharpton, who sang "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," and the Sherry Winston Band. Minister Vy Higginsen, CEO of the Mama Foundation for the Arts, gave the invocation.

The annual EBONY awards luncheon, which has become a major industry event, attracted a large number of celebrities, including filmmaker Spike Lee and singer Deborah Cox.

At the Hilton New York & Towers, Johnson Publishing Co. President and CEO posed with corporate sponsors (l. to. r.) Lorraine Brock, vice president of Nationwide Insurance; Andrea L. Curtis, president and COO of Verizon Avenue; and Vicky Free, vice president of McDonald's.

Honorees and participants at fifth annual Outstanding Women in Marketing & Communications Luncheon included (seated, l. to r.) Susan A. Mboya, associate director of African-American Business Development for Procter & Gamble; Soledad O'Brien, CNN news anchor; Carole Jackson Munroe, account director for broadcast alliance, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts; Shon Gables, CBS 2 News This Morning co-anchor; Linda Johnson Rice, president and CEO of Johnson Publishing Company; L. Marilyn Crawford, president and CEO of Primetime Omnimedia; Jacque Reid, BET anchor; Linda Jefferson, senior vice president and director of media services for Burrell Communications Group LLC; Debra A. Sandler, worldwide group vice president of marketing for McNeil Nutritionals of Johnson & Johnson; (standing, l. to r.) Vy Higginsen, CEO of the Mama Foundation for the Arts in Harlem; Dana L. Wade, president of Spike DDB; William Lamar, Jr., chief marketing officer for McDonald's USA; Pam Oliver, feature/sideline reporter, FOX sports; Suzanne de Passe, chairman and CEO of de Passe Entertainment; Jeff Burns, Jr., associate publisher, EBONY magazine; Terrie M. Williams, founder of the Terrie Williams Agency and the Stay Strong Foundation, Patrick Gaston, president of the Verizon Foundation; and Gayle King, editor-at-large for O, The OPRAH Magazine.

Madam C. J. Walker Award was presented to Suzanne de Passe (left), CEO, de Passe Entertainment, by President Rice, who said "her career is the embodiment of Madam C.J. Walker's legacy." The Entrepreneur Awards, presented by Associate Publisher Jeff Burns, Jr. (below, l.), were given to Terrie Williams (below, r.), president of the Terrie Williams Agency, and L. Marilyn Crawford (right), president and CEO, Primetime Omnimedia.

Among celebrities attending the luncheon were (below) filmmaker Spike Lee, and entertainers Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, who sang several songs; B. Smith and her husband, Don Gasby (above), and Mistress of Ceremonies Gayle King, editor-at-large, for O, The OPRAH Magazine.

The Advertising Agency Awards, presented by Patrick R. Gaston, president, Verizon Foundation, were given to Linda Jefferson (left), senior vice president and group media director, Burrell Communications Group LLC; and Dana L. Wade (right), president, Spike DDB.

The Corporate Marketing Awards, presented by William Lamar, Jr. (L), chief marketing office, McDonald's USA, were received by Susan Mboya (left), associate director, African-American multicultural business development, Procter & Gamble; Carole Munroe (center), broadcast alliance marketing, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; and Debra A. Sandler (right), worldwide group vice president of marketing, McNeil Nutritionals Worldwide.

The Journalism Awards, presented by Shon Gables (l., left), co-anchor, CBS 2 News This Morning, went to Soledad O'Brien, anchor, CNN, American Morning; Jacque Reid (above), anchor, BET Nightly News; and Pare Oliver (right), feature/sideline reporter, FOX Sports. At left, dancer Maurice Hines and singer Deborah Cox chatted at the luncheon. Kathy Jordan Sharpton (l., below), wife of the Rev. Al Sharpton, was joined by her daughters, Dominique (2nd fr. l.) and Ashley (far right), and WNBA star Teresa Weatherspoon.

Enjoying the celebration of excellence were (above) Dr. Jannette L. Dates, dean of the John H. Johnson School of Communications at Howard University; Omarosa Manigault Stallworth, a doctoral candidate at the school and a former contestant on NBC's The Apprentice; and journalist Ed Gordon of Gordon Media. Also in attendance was A'Lelia Bundles (right), great-great-granddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker.