17^th Annual CareerFOCUS Eagle Awards Gala to Honor Top Ranking National Executives

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Thursday, November 19, 2009, the National Eagle Leadership Institute® and CareerFOCUS Magazine will present the 17^th Annual CareerFOCUS Eagle Awards™ Gala at the Fairmont Chicago at Millennium Park. The event recognizes top ranking national corporate executives that exemplify and inspire leadership in business and community.

To recognize the award winners’ driving spirit and commitment, this year’s theme, LEAD ANYWAY, will set the stage as 11 corporations recognize men and women of color who contribute to their company’s success. The award recipients will join a network of more than 250 nationally recognized Eagle Award recipients saluted for their outstanding leadership.

“This year’s recipients have had to prove their courage, decisiveness and tenacity more than ever before, due to the varied challenges spurred by the state of our nation,” said Georgia L. Clark, founder and president of the National Eagle Leadership Institute. “We are honored to place the spotlight on this inspiring group of executives, who have made a commitment to lead, despite the downturn, as we celebrate a higher standard of leadership achievement.”

The CareerFOCUS Eagle Award™ was launched by CareerFOCUS Magazine™ — The Magazine Leaders Read — in 1993 to recognize exceptional Black/African-American and Hispanic/Latino leaders within corporate America who excel in both corporate and community leadership. In 1995, CareerFOCUS established the National Eagle Leadership Institute^® (NELI) to support the recognition, recruitment and retention of diverse executives.

The 17^th Annual CareerFOCUS Eagle Awards™ Gala will recognize honorees from the following companies: AT&T Affiliated Computer Services, Inc.; Allstate Insurance Company; Baxter International, Inc.; Delta Air Lines, Inc.; Entergy; First American Corporation; SimplexGrinnell/Tyco; Sprint; Verizon; and WellPoint, Inc.

Media Advisory:

To obtain more information about NELI or the CareerFOCUS Eagle Awards Gala visit www.NELI.net. To reserve a press pass for the Gala, or to schedule an interview please contact Lydia Alvarez at lalvarez@neli.net or N. Michelle Paige at nmpaige@neli.net.