WHO'S WHO IN BLACK CHICAGO® PRESS RELEASES

Linda Johnson Rice Signs on to Pen Foreword for Second Edition of
Who’s Who In Black Chicago®.

Columbus, Ohio – Who’s Who Publishing Company, the nation’s largest annual directory publisher targeting the African-American market, announced today that Linda Johnson Rice has signed on to write the foreword for the second edition of Who’s Who In Black Chicago®.

Rice is president and chief executive officer of the No. 1 African-American publishing company in the world, Johnson Publishing, Inc., publishers of Ebony and Jet magazines. In her capacity, she also oversees the corporation’s domestic and international business operations, which includes Fashion Fair Cosmetics and the EBONY Fashion Fair.

Who’s Who Publishing Company founder and CEO, C. Sunny Martin affirms, “Linda Johnson Rice is continuing the rich legacy of her father, the late John H. Johnson. Their inroads in the publishing industry has preserved our history, marked our accomplishments and heralded our successes. We are proud that she will contribute to the second edition of Who’s Who In Black Chicago®.”

Rice serves on the boards of directors for Bausch & Lomb, Inc.; Kimberly-Clark Corp.; Omnicrom; MoneyGram International, Inc.; The Art Institute of Chicago; the United Negro College Fund; the University of Southern California; and several others. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communication, and an MBA from Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Who’s Who Publishing Company began in Atlanta, Georgia in 1989 and currently publishes similar annual directories in cities such as: Atlanta, Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio; Indianapolis, St. Louis, Detroit and Birmingham. Inaugural releases for 2007 include Louisville, Houston, South Florida, Dallas and Los Angeles. The book will retail for $34.95 and will be available at bookstores in the Chicago area.

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The Inaugural Edition of WHO'S WHO IN BLACK CHICAGO®
set for release

Columbus, Ohio – Who’s Who Publishing Company, the nation’s largest annual directory publisher targeting the African-American market, will release the highly anticipated inaugural edition of Who’s Who In Black Chicago®, June 8, 2006, at the downtown Hyatt Regency Chicago. The Unveiling Reception gala will feature WLS-TV anchor Cheryl Burton as the mistress of ceremonies and entertainment by the Columbia College Jazz Quartet. More than 450 invited dignitaries and guests are expected to share in the celebration, which starts at 6:30 PM.

With a foreword written by John W. Rogers, Jr., chairman and CEO of Ariel Capital Management, LLC, the coffee table-quality publication is more than 300 pages in length. It offers readers pictures and biographical data on local African-American leaders in the metropolitan Chicago area, including some of Chicago’s Interesting Personalities, Most Influential, Corporate Brass, Spiritual and Community Leaders, and much more.

Chicago publisher Beverly Coley Morris shared, “The inaugural edition of Who’s Who in Black Chicago® showcases the rich cultural diversity and leadership that impacts our community. As we celebrate the achievements of African Americans, it is fitting that we also celebrate this diverse city founded by Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, a black Haitian fur trapper.”

Who’s Who Publishing Company founder and CEO, C. Sunny Martin shared, “We are so excited about this inaugural edition of Who’s Who In Black Chicago® as it represents one of our first efforts to document and highlight Chicago’s history and influential African-American leaders. This city hosts some the brightest and most highly sought after talent in America. In keeping with our mission to make an impact on community youth, we encourage the corporate and educational community to purchase these books and get them into the hands of our youth who are looking for role models and mentors with whom they can connect.”

Who’s Who Publishing Company began in Atlanta, Georgia in 1989 and currently publishes similar annual directories in cities such as: Atlanta, GA; Birmingham, AL; Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, OH; Indianapolis, IN; and St. Louis, MO. In addition to Chicago, releases for 2006 include Dallas, TX; Miami, FLA; and Detroit, MI. The Chicago book will retail for $34.95 and will be available at local bookstores and newsstands in the Chicago area.

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May 2005, Columbus, Ohio – Who’s Who Publishing Company announced today the selection of Beverly Coley-Morris as the publisher for its upcoming publication titled, Who’s Who In Black Chicago®. 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 shares, “I can’t tell you how excited we are that Beverly Coley-Morris has joined us and the possibilities that currently exist within the Chicago market. Her business savvy is a true asset and she joins a strong team of national publishers within the Who’s Who family.” Coley-Morris is president of AlMae Publisher’s Representatives, Inc., the advertising sales arm for nationally distributed publications such as Sophisticate’s Black Hair Styles and Care Guide, American Legacy, American Legacy Woman, and Being Single magazines. Formerly with Essence magazine, Coley-Morris’ sales and marketing career spans more than 25 years.

Says Coley-Morris, “Serving as publisher of Who’s Who In Black Chicago® is the culmination of my entrepreneurial skills and many years of labor promoting African-American publications. Additionally, it is time that we speak to and about the legacy African-Americans have in the city of Chicago, both past and present.”

Coley-Morris is a graduate of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and she began her business in 1990. Previously she served for eight years as manager of the Midwest region for Amalgamated Publishers, Inc., developing new advertising resources for a network of more than 90 African-American newspapers. Coley-Morris is an active member of the DuSable Women’s Board and has received several industry awards including The Kizzy Awards and 100 Top Professional Women awards.

The upcoming publication of Who’s Who In Black Chicago® 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 Chicago area.

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