WHO'S WHO IN BLACK BIRMINGHAM® PRESS RELEASES

Mayor Larry P. Langford to Pen Foreword for Second Edition
of Who’s Who In Black Birmingham®

Columbus, Ohio – Who’s Who Publishing Company, the nation’s largest annual directory publisher targeting the African-American market, announced today that the Honorable Larry P. Langford, the mayor of Birmingham, will pen the foreword for the second edition of Who’s Who In Black Birmingham®.

On October 9, 2007, Langford was elected mayor of the City of Birmingham with 50.3 percent of the popular vote; a feat many area mathematicians proffered in the days following the election as a “statistical impossibility.” In his first few days in office, he launched the Citizens First initiative. The “23 in 23” plan, an unprecedented endeavor to clean up the city’s 23 communities in 23 days, launched in November to rave reviews.

Who’s Who Publishing Company founder and CEO, C. Sunny Martin, states, “With a political career spanning more than 30 years, Mayor Langford has been an influential force in the Birmingham community. We are incredibly pleased to feature his contribution in this upcoming publication.”

Langford shares, “Who’s Who In Black Birmingham® is such an important publication. It gives us a chance to showcase so many leaders and pioneers in the black community and gives us a record of their accomplishments for future generations.”

A native son of Birmingham, Langford earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham before serving in the U.S. Air Force. After returning to Birmingham, he became one of the region’s first African-American television reporters in the 1970s, winning several awards for his investigative reporting at WBRC Channel 6, now FOX6.

Langford’s political career started in 1977 as a councilor for the City of Birmingham. From there, he served as mayor of the City of Fairfield from 1988 to 2000, and was elected to the Jefferson County Commission in June of 2002, where his fellow commissioners later selected him as president. During his terms as commissioner, he served on the Birmingham-Jefferson County Civic Center board, the Metropolitan Development board, and as part of the elite Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Circle. Langford is married to Melva Ferguson Langford and has one son and two grandsons.

Who’s Who Publishing Company began in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1989 and currently publishes similar annual directories in cities nationwide. The book will be available in bookstores in the Birmingham area.

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Who’s Who Publishing Company Names Yolanda Reynolds as Regional Vice President

Columbus, Ohio – Who’s Who Publishing Company, the nation’s largest directory publisher targeting the African-American market, announced today that Atlanta associate publisher Yolanda Reynolds has been tapped to assume the role of Regional Vice President. In her new role, she will oversee markets in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. Her responsibilities include developing sales teams, writers and photographers in Atlanta, Birmingham and Memphis.

Reynolds is the longest-serving member in the Who’s Who family of associate publishers, serving as the Atlanta associate publisher since 2002. An innovative marketer, she has spearheaded the creation of Who’s Who In Black Atlanta®’s hallmark sections, including the Pink Pages featuring Atlanta’s female powerhouses and, most recently, the Men of Distinction.

Who’s Who founder and CEO C. Sunny Martin states, “I am ecstatic that Yolanda has taken on an increasing role with our company. The measure of success she has achieved in the Atlanta market is remarkable and continues to raise the bar for our other markets. I have no doubt that she will be successful in her new role.”

Reynolds shares, “What an extreme delight it is to share in the continual growth of the Who’s Who family of publications! Each of these southern cities has unique qualities that make it a joy to profile their excellence in African-American achievement. I look forward to being a part of their ever-evolving success.”

Who’s Who Publishing Company began in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1989 and currently publishes directories in 22 cities.

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The Inaugural Edition of Who's Who In Black Birmingham™
set for release!

Columbus, Ohio – The long and highly anticipated release of Who’s Who In Black Birmingham™ is set for release on Thursday, April 27th, 2006 at a special book unveiling reception at the downtown Sheraton Birmingham Hotel beginning at 6:30 pm. Over 200 invited guests and dignitaries, including Birmingham’s African-American leaders and achievers, are expected to be in attendance for the official unveiling ceremony.

C. Sunny Martin, founder and CEO of Who’s Who Publishing Company, the nation’s largest African-American directory publisher states, “We are indeed grateful and extremely honored to have the civic, corporate and community support to add Who’s Who In Black Birmingham™ to the growing list of titles we publish. Rose Walker, our Birmingham publisher, has a great passion for highlighting the significant achievements of Birmingham’s outstanding citizens.”

Local Birmingham publisher Rose Walker states, “Who’s Who In Black Birmingham™ is an essential networking resource for our community and serves as both a historical document and a classroom resource showcasing positive African-American role models right here in our own backyard.”

Contributing the foreword to this inaugural edition is Odessa Woolfolk, founding president of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Says Woolfolk, “Who’s Who In Black Birmingham™ is a formidable network and talent bank with unprecedented access to the mainstream of political, economic and civic power.” Additionally, the book features a special tribute to the late Dr. Albert John Hicks Sloan, II, former Miles College president.

Who’s Who In Black Birmingham™ is a coffee table quality edition that features pictures and biographical data on the achievements of 236 of Birmingham’s outstanding African-American leaders who have made their mark in their careers, professions, or in service to others in the greater Birmingham area. Featured sections include Birmingham’s Most Interesting Personalities, Corporate Brass, Media Professionals, Entrepreneurs, Spiritual Leaders, Community Leaders, Academia, and Birmingham’s Most Influential.

Who’s Who In Black Birmingham™ retails for $24.95 and will be available in the coming weeks at area bookstores and newsstands throughout the metro Birmingham area.

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May 2005, Columbus, Ohio – Who’s Who Publishing Company announced today the selection of Birmingham, Alabama native Rose Walker as the publisher for its upcoming publication titled Who’s Who In Black Birmingham™. The company publishes an upscale brand of “Who’s Who” directories that highlight the significant and outstanding achievements of African Americans in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Indianapolis and St. Louis.

Who’s Who Publishing Company founder and CEO, C. Sunny Martin states, “We are extremely fortunate to have such a seasoned marketing and advertising executive like Ms. Walker as part of our national team of publishers.” Ms. Walker is recognized extensively for serving as vice president of public relations for Booker T. Washington Insurance Company, the largest black-owned insurance company in the state of Alabama. She also serves as general manager for S & G Public Relations, a wholly owned subsidiary of Booker T. Washington Insurance Company.

Walker shares, “It gives me great pleasure to be a part of the birth of Who’s Who in Black Birmingham™. To have the opportunity to showcase the economic, social and professional growth of African Americans in the city that will always be remembered as the mecca of the civil rights movement...what an accomplishment.”

Walker is co-producer and coordinator of The A.G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club Classic Moments in Black History Scholars Bowl, a program designed to challenge high school students in their knowledge of African-American history. In 1979, she began working for the late Dr. A.G. Gaston, who built a Birmingham business empire. Walker began her career in radio advertising and made history by becoming Birmingham’s first African-American female general sales manager of WENN and WAGG radio stations.

The upcoming publication of Who’s Who In Black Birmingham™ will feature pictures and biographical data on a significant number of African-American leaders in the business, academic, religious, media and government communities. The publication will be officially released in the first quarter of 2006, and will retail at local bookstores and newsstands throughout the greater Birmingham area.

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