PEOPLE

Jet, Dec 4, 2000

Leah Burns-Atkins, former director of advertising and sponsorship sales for the National School Boards Association in Alexandria, VA, was named the new director of the National School Boards Foundation (NSBF) in that city. The NSBF encourages and prepares local school board members to become catalysts for educational change and agents for systemic reform in public schools.

Don Thompson, the senior vice president-restaurant support for McDonald's Midwest division, was appointed president of the company's Midwest Division in Oak Brook, IL. Thompson's new post makes him the first African-American to hold this position. He will work with McDonald's U.S. leadership team to help shape business plans that drive growth in the U.S.

O. Lisa Dabreu, former deputy director of the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights in Trenton, NJ, has been named director of the Division. Dabreu is the first African-American woman to hold this position. As director, she oversees the operation of the Division in filling its mandate under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and the New Jersey Family Leave Act.

Vernon S. Wright Jr., a top executive in marketing and advertising who recently served as vice president, general manager at SFX Radio Networks and whose 25-year-plus advertising career played a significant role in strategic marketing, sales and brand awareness of new traditional and non-traditional products, was appointed senior vice president of marketing and sales for American Urban Radio Networks in New York City.

A. Shuanise Washington, former director of relations for Philip Morris Management Corp. in Washington, D.C., has been named vice president of external affairs for Philip Morris Management Corp. She maintains offices in Washington, D.C., and New York City, where she is responsible for directing the company's external relationship strategies with business organizations, public policy groups and agriculture communities.