WHO'S WHO IN BLACK LAS VEGAS™ PRESS RELEASES

Rose McKinney-James to Pen Foreword for Inaugural Edition of
Who’s Who In Black Las Vegas™

Columbus, Ohio – Who’s Who Publishing Company, the nation’s largest annual directory publisher targeting the African-American market, announced today that Rose McKinney- James will write the foreword for the inaugural edition of Who’s Who In Black Las Vegas™.

McKinney-James is managing principal of Energy Works Consulting and McKinney-James & Associates. The firms provide business consulting services in the areas of government affairs, economic development and public policy related to energy, education and the environment.

Who’s Who Publishing Company founder and CEO, C. Sunny Martin, affirms, “The selfless leadership that Rose McKinney-James exemplifies is exactly what we seek to recognize through this publication. We are extremely excited to have her contribute the foreword for this inaugural edition.”

Wendy M. Welch, associate publisher for Who’s Who In Black Las Vegas™, agrees, “The foreword of any book is the window that gives the reader a vivid image of what may lay ahead. Therefore, I was honored that Rose McKinney-James, with her outstanding leadership and pulse on the African-American community, will provide the foreword, introducing the readers to a publication that will connect the Who’s Who of Black Las Vegas™.”

McKinney-James previously served as president of Brown & Partners, president of government affairs for Faiss Foley Merica, and president and CEO of the Corporation for Solar Technology and Renewable Resources. Following her five-year tenure as a commissioner with the Nevada Public Service Commission, she served as the first director of the Nevada Department of Business and Industry. She is currently a registered lobbyist with the Nevada Legislature.

A member of the board of directors for MGM-Mirage, McKinney-James serves as board chair for Nevada Partners. She also sits on the board of directors for Employers Insurance Group, Toyota Financial Savings Bank and the Energy Foundation, among others.

McKinney-James was a candidate for lieutenant governor in 1998, becoming the first African-American to win a Nevada statewide primary election. A native of Detroit, Michigan, she graduated from Antioch School of Law and Olivet College.

Who’s Who Publishing Company began in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1989 and currently publishes similar annual directories in cities nationwide. Upon release the book will be available at bookstores in the Las Vegas area.

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Who’s Who Publishing Names Wendy Welch as Las Vegas Publisher

Columbus, Ohio – Who’s Who Publishing Company, the nation’s largest annual directory publisher targeting the African-American market, proudly announces that Wendy Welch will serve as the associate publisher of Who’s Who In Black Las Vegas™. Welch is president of ConnectWelch, a global leader in management consulting, convention, conference, special events planning, fundraising strategies and entertainment production based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Previously, Welch served as chief marketing officer for Marsha & Associates, a consulting company. She was also president of the Hawkins Foundation and executive vice president of the Hawkins Food Group. The Hawkins Food Group featured Burger King, Pizza Hut, Perkins Family Restaurants and Sweet Georgia Brown with annual sales that exceeded $212 million. Welch is also well known in the advertising industry as a professional voiceover artist. Her credits include Casper, Oprah Winfrey’s The Wedding, and national ads such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Winn Dixie and New York Life Insurance, to name a few.

Her memberships include the Buckhead-Cascade City Chapter of The Links, Inc. and the Democratic National Committee Women’s Leadership Forum. She sits on the board of Women Looking Ahead News Magazine and Cool Girls, and is also a member of the Alumni Association of the Women of Color Technology Awards Conference. Additionally, she serves on the Trumpet Awards selection committee. A consummate businesswoman, community volunteer and fundraiser, she gives her time and talents unselfishly to some of her favorite charities, such as ChildKind, Inc. and Advocates for Children and Youth, to name a few.

Whether she is hosting a reception for former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, or former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke, Wendy’s dedication and commitment remains the same, “to remain an intricate part of the growth and development in the community in which she lives or has an affiliation.”

Who’s Who president and CEO, C. Sunny Martin, shares, “Based on her community service, corporate background and entrepreneurial experience, Wendy is a wonderful addition to our Who’s Who group of associate publishers. Her credentials and service blend well with our mission of highlighting the leadership achievements in major African-American communities across the nation.”

Who’s Who Publishing Company began in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1989 and currently publishes similar annual directories in 16 cities. Upon release, Who’s Who In Black Las Vegas™ will retail in area bookstores and newsstands.

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