St. Louis, MO. - April 19, 2006 - Today, Mayor Francis G. Slay and by Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League announced that the City of St. Louis has been chosen as the site for the National Urban Leagues 2007 annual conference. James H. Buford, President and CEO, Metropolitan St. Louis Urban League and Andy Taylor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Board Trustee of the National Urban League joined Mayor Slay and Mr. Morial to discuss the major conference which attracts approximately 15,000 attendees and is slated for July 25 - 28, 2007 at the St. Louis Convention Center.

Anheuser-Busch and U.S. Bank will serve as the 2007 annual conference's title sponsors. Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Emerson will serve as conference co-sponsors.

The National Urban League conference is the premier networking, recruiting and issues conference for African American professionals nationwide. The conference highlights includes a career fair with over 100 Fortune 500 Companies and recruiters, top speakers in business, politics and academia, 350 interactive exhibits, the "Influencer Summit" targeted to young professionals under 40 years age, franchise and business development opportunities, career coaching, and interactive sessions on building wealth, entrepreneurism, health, education and entertainment. More than 15,000 participants are expected to attend. This year's conference is being held at the Georgia World Conference Center in Atlanta, July 26-30, 2006."

"We very pleased that the nation's leading civil rights and community based organization, the National Urban League, has chosen St. Louis as the site of its annual conference" said Mayor Francis G. Slay, City of St. Louis. "This major event will bring thousands of visitors from across the country to our city contributing to our local economy and providing job and business opportunities to local residents through its extensive career fair and exhibit hall."

"The National Urban League is excited to bring our largest event to this great American city, business community and the home of one the of Urban League's strongest leadership teams and best run affiliates, operated by President and CEO, James H. Buford and the Metropolitan St Louis Urban League, said, Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League. "Our annual conference will be a powerful showcase of many of America's thought leaders, Fortune 500 companies, top recruiters, entrepreneurial opportunities and the work and impact of the Urban League movement here and across the nation."

"St. Louis is very fortunate to host the Urban League's National Conference," said Andy Taylor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Rent-A-Car. "It gives us a great opportunity to showcase the renaissance that has occurred in our community over the past decade."

"St. Louis' selection as the host city for the 2007 National Urban League Conference speaks to the important work our city has undertaken to address issues important to the African-American community and the work that still lies ahead," said Johnny Furr, Jr. vice president of Urban Marketing and Community Affairs for Anheuser-Busch, Inc. "Anheuser-Busch is very honored to serve as a title sponsor of the conference and excited to support the tremendous opportunities for interaction and collaboration the conference will offer to the citizens of the St. Louis metropolitan community."

"We have enjoyed a long and strong relationship with the Urban League as we have worked together on civic and social initiatives in our community," said Emerson Chairman, CEO and President David N. Farr. "We are pleased to help play a role in making this convention a very special one for the Urban League and for St. Louis."

Joe Imbs, U.S. Bank St. Louis market president, added, "We are delighted to showcase the best of St. Louis and take great pride in promoting the Urban League's message of economic empowerment both here and in many cities where we do business together throughout the United States."

"The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is beaming with pride and enthusiasm as we look forward to the 2007 National Conference," said James H. Buford, President and CEO, Metropolitan St Louis Urban League. "I don't think the National Office could have made a better choice."

Each year, the National Urban League annual conference features many of America's most dynamic and prominent leaders. Past conferences have included speakers from President George W. Bush, and President Bill Clinton to Dr. Cornell West, Tavis Smiley, and poet Maya Angelou. In 2006, the conference will welcome, Richard Parson, Chairman and CEO, Time Warner, CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien, Ambassador Andrew Young, Dr. Johnnetta B.Cole, soul singer Angie Stone, comedian D.H. Hughley and many more. New exhibit features include the Franchise Pavilion for entrepreneurs, career coaching from leading human resource experts and interactive sessions on the new war on poverty, education, community wealth building, media, new technology, health and fitness.

For more information on the National Urban League annual conference, go to www.nul.org

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