The theme of the four-day conference is BEEP 2005: A Forum for Leadership, Development & Growth. This year's conference is chaired by Philip Morris USA, a partner with BEEP for more than two decades.

Since 1969, BEEP participants from over 1000 corporations and government agencies have reached over 600,000 students on 84 campuses. BEEP's mission is to share learning experience across generations, cultivate new leaders and inspire achievements "beyond the possible" through committed involvement and operational excellence.

The Black Executive Exchange Program brings successful African Americans from the public and private sector to historically black colleges and universities to share their experience and expertise with students and help them prepare for successful careers as visiting professors. The conference will facilitate a dialogue to enhance information sharing, leadership capabilities and networking.

"The BEEP program represents the best of partnerships between corporations, government agencies, universities and individuals, said Marc H. Morial. "It is the students who gain by the relationships and interaction with successful executives during classroom and individual sessions that make this program an overwhelming success. BEEP has been and will remain an integral component of the League's education civic engagement agenda, helping to advance the achievement of college students beyond the classroom and into the business world."

Conference speakers include: Lloyd Ward, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO BodyBlocks Nutrition Systems, Inc., and former President of the United States Olympic Committee; Dr. Norman Francis, President, Xavier University (New Orleans, La.); Hazel O'Leary, President, Fisk University; Julian Kauffman, Vice President, Tyco International; Royall M. Mack, retired Vice-President, Gillette Company; R. Fenimore Fisher, Esq., Director, Wal-Mart Stores; Terrie Williams, The Stay Strong Foundation; Dennis Dowdell, Jr., Executive Leadership Council and National Urban League President Marc H. Morial.

Panels and workshops include: Careers in Automotive Industry, sponsored by Nissan; Building Your Personal Brand and Corporate Best Practices, sponsored by Marriott and the second annual Leadership Development Institute; a Student Business Case Competition, sponsored by Wal-Mart Stores and Southwest Airlines and workshops on Strategies for Building Wealth and Marketing Me: The Entrepreneurial Approach.

Other conference highlights include; the 7th Annual Jerry Bartow Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa, sponsored by United Parcel Service; a BEEP family barbecue and a closing banquet and awards ceremony featuring National Urban League President Marc H. Morial as dinner speaker.

Noted panelists and moderators include: Peggy M. Anson, Chair BEEP Executive Advisory Council, The Hartford Financial Services Group; Vernon E. Martin, Jr. and Danielle Robin, Philip Morris USA; Stephanie Valdez-Streaty and Terri Hines, Nissan North America; Lewis Booker, Unilever; Adriana DaCosta, South Beach Marriott, Tim Hart, UPS; Danielle Robinson, Unilever; M. Denise Thomas, IBM; Dr. Albert E. Smith, President, Florida Memorial University; Rob Brown, Southwest Airlines; Lydia G. Mallett, Tyco International; Toyette Dowdell, Verizon Communications; Dr. Norma Givens, Fort Valley State University; Dr. Ruby L. Beale, Hampton University; Kim R. Wells, Howard University and M. Reggie Horne, Rolm & Hass; Myron Gray, UPS; Barbara Palmer, Botsford Health Care Continuum-, Clarion E. Johnson, M.D., ExxonMobil Corporation; David Sampson, Marriott International-; Alonzo Byrd, Enterprise Rent-A-Car-; Michael Rankins, The Hartford-; Robert L. Perkins, SONY BMG Music; Priscilla Johnson Hollman, Marriot International; Theresa Davis, The Hartford Financial Services and Don Wofford, UPS.

"Leadership is what defines the Black Executive Exchange Program, with leaders from all walks of life-including business, technology, government, marketing and entrepreneurship-sharing knowledge with the future leaders of America," said Peggy M. Anson. "We are extremely pleased and excited to welcome the numerous corporations and government agencies, faculty and participants who have continued their support of BEEP. Their commitment will help BEEP celebrate another 36 years and beyond."

The Black Executive Exchange Program's mission is to share learning experience across generations, cultivate new leaders, and inspire achievements "beyond the possible" through committed involvement and operational excellence. The BEEP is the National Urban League's oldest signature program. Established in 1969 through a grant from the Ford Foundation, BEEP was developed out of the need to expose black college students to role models in business and government, and enhance the curricula to the world of work.

The program has several different formats to provide a variety of ways to engage students in career exploration and planning. They range from two-day seminars to semester-long courses for credit. Programs include:

Accredited Lecture Series (ALS)-a semester-long series integrated into an on-going course delivered by a different executive each week.

Career Awareness and Planning Seminar (CAPS)-a two-day activity of career planning exercises, workshops, counseling and lectures that places emphasis on the selection of realistic career choices, the charting of career paths, resume preparation, and the development of good interviewing skills.

Special Business Seminar (SBS)-focuses on social and economic issues and topical events that affect business, industry and government; Innovations for Women uses a team of female executives and professionals to familiarize students with the traditional and non-traditional roles of women in the workforce.