For Immediate Release s492

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Diane K. Gray, DLAA Program Coordinator [email protected] (404) 575-2131

DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY OF ATLANTA CELEBRATES THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY 2011 GRADUATION CLASS!

Atlanta, GA (October 28, 2011) – The American Institute for Managing Diversity, Inc is pleased to announce the graduation of the 10th Anniversary Diversity Leadership Acdemy Atlanta class. This year’s successful program was sponsored by Georgia State University and AGL Resources. This year’s class brings the total number of Atlanta Alumni to over 300 DLA Atlanta graduates. The Diversity Leadership Academy (DLA) is the flagship program of the AIMD—which was founded 27 years ago by Dr. R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr.

DLA is a community-based leadership development program in diversity management that brings leaders together from across the community to develop their individual diversity management capability. The Academy was first launched in Atlanta in 2001 with the support of The Coca Cola Company. Since the program’s inception, it has expanded to cities across the country, graduating over 1,200 executives across various sectors, including business, nonprofit, education, government, and religion.

“We are proud to congratulate the 10th Anniversary Class. Their leadership in our city will continue to make Diversity Management a key component in strategic decision making within the corporate, academic, government and non-profit arenas.” says Ralph Cleveland, Executive Vice-President at AGL Resources, Inc. and Board President of the AIMD.

As a class participant, Ms. Ayanna Robinson, Senior Vice President, Health and Social Marketing Practice for Porter Novelli, “..enjoyed learning to broaden my view of diversity. I didn’t realize how much I didn’t know and now have a new vocabulary to have diversity discussions. I plan to use this knowledge to educate others – at work and in my community – about this issue.”

The 2011 DLAA Graduating Class Includes:

 Rafiq Ahmad, Bureau of Alchohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives

 Fabiola Charles, American Red Cross

 Cheryl Cofield, Georgia Institute of Technology

 Camilla Collins, Bank of America

 Tracy Crump, TLC Associates  Wendell Dallas, AGL Resources

 Sallie Daniel, Troutman Sanders

 Sonali Das, Georgia State University

 Michelle Dean, Southern Company

 Andre Dickens, Georgia Institute of Technology, Office of Institute Diversity

 Mary Beth Edwards, Macy’s Systems and Technology

 Edie Egwuonwu, Macy’s Systems and Technology

 Tracy Elliott, AID Atlanta

 Rhom Erskine, Harland Clarke Holdings Corp.

 Gail Greene, Georgia Institute of Technology, College of Management

 Wanda Griffin, Coca Cola Refreshments

 Lani Hall, GE Energy

 William Harris, International Christian Fellowship Ministries

 Ellice Hawkins, The Lovett School

 Sharyn Mack, Prudential

 Errika Mallett, Georgia Tech Black Alumni Association

 Stacye McCall, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

 Stephanie McKenzie, Greenberg Traurig LLP

 Rhonda Neal, Kaiser Permanente

 Joe Piffaretti, Georgia State University

 Kathy Robinson, Centers for Disease Control

 Ayanna Robinson, Porter Novelli

 Aarti Sahgal, Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities

 Andrea Snorton, Southern Company

Be sure to visit www.aimd.org for updates and announcements for the 2012 Diversity Leadership Academy® Atlanta ! About Georgia State University Georgia State University is the Southeast's leading urban research institution. It is on the list of the top 100 public universities for doctoral degrees awarded. More than 250 degree programs within 62 areas of study are offered at the bachelor's, master's, specialist and doctoral levels. Students may enroll in day or evening classes and in part-time or full-time study.

About AGL Resources AGL Resources (NYSE: AGL), an Atlanta-based energy services company, serves approximately 2.3 million customers in six states. The company also owns Houston-based Sequent Energy Management, an asset manager serving natural gas wholesale customers throughout North America. As an 85-percent owner in the SouthStar partnership, AGL Resources markets natural gas to consumers in Georgia under the Georgia Natural Gas brand. The company also owns and operates two high-deliverability natural gas storage facilities: Jefferson Island Storage & Hub near the Henry Hub in Louisiana and Golden Triangle Storage in Texas. For more information, visit http://www.aglresources.com/.

About the American Institute for Managing Diversity (AIMD) The American Institute for Managing Diversity is the nation's first and leading nonprofit think tank dedicated to the advancement of diversity management. Through research, education, and public outreach, AIMD advances the diversity thought leadership. Founded in 1984 by Dr. R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr., AIMD has educated both the public and the business community about the power and the potential of diversity management for over two decades. AIMD will continue to expand the Diversity Leadership Academy in other cities and with other companies. If interested, visit www.aimd.org for more information or call 404-575-2131. ###