Ebony salutes outstanding women in marketing and communications

Twelve leaders in advertising, journalism and corporate affairs were honored at Ebony's seventh annual Outstanding Women in Marketing & Communications luncheon in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton New York & Towers.

Johnson Publishing Company President and CEO Linda Johnson Rice saluted the honorees and told the capacity crowd that their "accomplishments are groundbreaking, and their tenacity to reach for higher heights neverending. I congratulate these women of greatness and thank them for being both innovators and motivators."

Vicki Mabrey, a correspondent for ABC News Nightline, was mistress of ceremonies. Gospel sensation Desiree Coleman Jackson sang "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," while soul singer Freddie Jackson electrified the crowd with a surprise appearance. The Sherry Winston Band and the McDonald's Gospel Choir also entertained guests. Minister Vy Higginsen, CEO of the Mama Foundation for the Arts in Harlem, gave the invocation.

The annual EBONY awards luncheon, which has become a highly anticipated major industry event, attracted a large number of celebrities, including actor/dancer Maurice Hines, entertainer Cissy Houston, editor Gayle King of O, The Oprah Magazine, Al Roker of NBC's Today show, the Rev. Al Sharpton and author/attorney Tonya Lewis Lee.

Awards

MADAM C. J. WALKER AWARD, presented by Linda Johnson Rice, president and CEO, Johnson Publishing Co., was presented to XERNONA CLAYTON, president and CEO, Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc.

ADVERTISING AGENCY AWARDS, presented by Wallace Snyder, president and CEO, American Advertising Federation, were presented to KEISHA N. BROWN, senior vice president and general manager, LAGRANT COMMUNICATIONS, KAY LUCAS, president and CEO, MediaSense, Inc., and FREDIA ROBERSON, senior vice president, director of Multicultural Marketing, Campbell-Ewald Advertising.

CORPORATE MARKETING AWARDS, presented by Brenda Blackmon, co-anchor, WWOR's UPN 9 News, were presented to CANDICE MATTHEWS, president, Soft Sheen-Carson, L'Oreal USA, Inc., BRIDGETTE HELLER, global president, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Baby and Wound Care Franchises, and Evelyn O'Gilvie, director of Multicultural Marketing, the Walt Disney Company.

* JOURNALISM AWARDS, presented by Phil Dixon, chairman, Journalism Department, John H. Johnson School of Communications, Howard University, were presented to DEBORAH ROBERTS, correspondent, ABC News, SUZANNE MALVEAUX, White House correspondent, CNN America, Inc., and SHON GABLES, anchor, WCBS-TV.

* PUBLIC RELATIONS/PROMOTIONS AWARDS, presented by Jeff Burns Jr., associate publisher, EBONY Magazine, were presented to HELEN SHELTON, executive vice president, Ruder-Finn Arts & Communications Counselors, Inc.; and SHEILA ELDRIDGE, president, Miles Ahead Entertainment.

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