LEAD extended a warm welcome to its guests attending its 25th Anniversary GALA Dinner. The event marks twenty five years of growth and accomplishment’s by LEAD in the execution of its important mission to help prepare minority students for challenging careers in business. The evening gala gave an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the achievement’s of LEAD alumni Nearly 6,900 minority men and women now in college and universities, business and professional schools or in corporate positions worldwide.

As the demand for future business leaders from every sector of American society has intensified, LEAD program has grown from a single summer business institute (SBI) with some 30 students in 1980 to 10 SBIs with about 320 students this year. Held at 10 graduate schools of business, each cooperating with one or more LEAD corporate sponsors, SBIs focus on core business discipline’s, vital executive skills, and the opportunity to learn about leadership careers in business. As business and its challenges have changed, LEAD has steadily refined this program. SBIs have introduced or increased their emphisis on the case study method, global business, communications, technology, entrepreneurship, developing business and marketing plans, teamwork and leadership. Where particular diciplines or skills are deemed essential, the LEAD board has added them to the core curriculum, which now includes accounting, economics, finance, marketing and management.

LEAD President/CEO Ric Ramsey and actor keynote speaker Micheal Clarke Duncan.