Ebony salutes Outstanding Women in Marketing & Communications

AT its 6th annual Outstanding Women in Marketing and Communications Luncheon, EBONY magazine honored 12 outstanding women from the fields of advertising, marketing and journalism. The luncheon event was held at the Hilton New York & Towers. Linda Johnson Rice, president and CEO of Johnson Publishing Co., the publisher of EBONY, told the crowd of more than 800 that "EBONY salutes the outstanding women we honor today as well as all women who push beyond their circumstances to shatter glass ceilings everywhere."

Among those honored was Debra L. Lee, president and chief operating officer of Black Entertainment Television, who received the Madam C. J. Walker Award. Entertainment for the festive occasion was provided by Cissy Houston, who sang "Lift Ev'ry Voice," accompanied by the McDonald's Gospel Choir. The Sherry Winston Band performed during lunch. Also in attendance were James Earl Jones, who was a surprise presenter, Janice Combs, Melba Moore, Jacque Reid of BET, author/attorney Tonya Lewis Lee, author/attorney Crystal McCrary Anthony, and Xernona Clayton, executive producer of the Trumpet Awards.

AT THE OUTSTANDING WOMEN in Marketing and Communications luncheon, Johnson Publishing Co. President and CEO Linda Johnson Rice greets sponsors Cherie-lynn A. Whitter, director of tourism, Bermuda Department of Tourism; Tammi Cottom, vice president of retail markets, operations and technology, Verizon; and Carol H. Sagers, director of U.S. markets, African-American and Asian consumer markets, McDonald's.

HONOREES AND PARTICIPANTS at EBONY's 6th Annual Outstanding Women in Marketing and Communications Luncheon include: Dr. Jannette Dates, Howard University; Minister Vy Higginsen; Brenda Blackmon, WWOR/UPN 9; Jeff Burns Jr., associate publisher, EBONY; Shon Gables, CBS 2; Jacqueline McCauley, E. Morris Communications; Vicky Free, McDonald's USA; Debra Lee, BET; Dedra Tate, Flavor Unit Entertainment; Jerri DeVard, Verizon Communications (also above with surprise presenter James Earl Jones); Christina Norman, VH1; Jonelle Procope, Apollo Theater Foundation; Fay Ferguson, Burrell Communications; host Linda Johnson Rice, Johnson Publishing Co.; Gayle King, O, The Oprah Magazine; Jeanine White, Ford Motor Co.; Fredricka Whitfield, CNN; and Rene Syler, CBS' The Early Show.

HOST JOHNSON RICE is greeted by guests Desiree G. Rogers, president, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas; and Pare Alabaster, senior vice president, corp. communications and external affairs, L'Oreal USA. Mistress of ceremonies Shon Gables greets guests. EBONY associate publisher Jeff Burns Jr. congratulates Jonelle Procope, president/CEO of Apollo Theater Foundation, after presenting her the Entertainment Marketing Award.

ENTERTAINER CISSY HOUSTON opened the event with "Lift Ev'ry Voice," accompanied by the McDonald's Gospel Choir. Fredricka Whitfield, CNN news anchor, was presented the Journalism Award by Dr. Jannette L. Dates, dean of the John H. Johnson School of Communications at Howard University.

AMONG THE GUESTS enjoying the luncheon are Cathy Hughes, founder and chair, Radio One and TV One, and television and movie producer Suzanne DePasse. Dedra N. Tate, president and general manager of Flavor Unit Entertainment, was recipient of the Entertainment Marketing Award.

RENE SYLER, anchor for CBS' The Early Show, delights the crowd as she accepts the Journalism Award. Revered advertising veteran Tom Burrell embraces the new team that now manages Burrell Communications: Fay Ferguson, co-CEO and recipient of the Advertising Agency Award; McGhee Williams Osse, co-CEO; and Steve Conner, chief creative officer.

CHRISTINA NORMAN addresses the luncheon crowd as she accepts the Entertainment Marketing Award. Above, Jeanine M. White, multicultural marketing communications manager for Lincoln Mercury (Ford Motor Co.) and recipient of the Corporate Marketing Award, is congratulated by Byron E. Lewis, chairman and CEO, UniWorld Group. Vicky L. Free, director of U.S. marketing, McDonald's USA, and recipient of the Corporate Marketing Award, is congratulated by presenter Cherie-lynn A. Whitter; and Jacqueline D. McCauley, senior vice president, director of client services, E. Morris Communications, is presented Advertising Agency Award by Brenda Blackmon, anchor, WWOR/UPN 9.

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Awards

* MADAM C. J. WALKER AWARD, presented by Linda Johnson Rice, president and CEO, Johnson Publishing Co., was presented to DEBRA L. LEE, president and chief operating officer, Black Entertainment Television.

* ADVERTISING AGENCY AWARDS, presented by Brenda Blackmon, co-anchor, UPN 9 News at 10, were presented to JACQUELINE D. McCAULEY, senior vice president, client services, E. Morris Communications, and FAY FERGUSON , FAY FERGUSON co-CEO and managing partner, Burrell Communications Group.

* CORPORATE MARKETING AWARDS, presented by Cherie-lynn A. Whitter, director of tourism, Bermuda Department of Tourism, were presented to JEANINE M. WHITE, multicultural marketing communications manager, Lincoln Mercury, a division of Ford Motor Co.; VICKY L. FREE, director of U.S. marketing, McDonald s USA; and JERRI DEVARD, senior vice president, brand management and marketing communications, Verizon Communications.

* JOURNALISM AWARDS, presented by Dr. Jannette L. Dates, dean of the John H. Johnson School of Communications, Howard University, were presented to FREDRICKA WHITFIELD news anchor, CNN; GAYLE KING, editor-at-large, O, The Oprah Magazine, and RENE SYLER, anchor, CBS The Early Show.

* ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING AWARDS, presented by Jeff Burns Jr., associate publisher, EBONY Magazine, were presented to DEDRA N. TATE, president and general manager, Flavor Unit Entertainment; CHRISTINA NORMAN, president, VH1; and JONELLE PROCOPE, president and CEO, Apollo Theater Foundation Inc.

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