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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
MEDIA CONTACT:
Margo Williams Handy, MWH Public Relations
281.213.9554 | 832.492.2407 | margo@mwhpublicrelations.com

CNN Analyst Roland Martin to Deliver Keynote Address at 14th Annual African American Business Achievement Pinnacle Awards in Houston


HOUSTON (Aug. 26, 2008) – Roland Martin, nationally renowned, award-winning and multifaceted journalist, will deliver the keynote address to more than 1,000 guests at the 14th Annual African American Business Achievement Pinnacle Awards (Pinnacle Awards) in Houston on Friday, Oct. 17, 2008, at the George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas, Houston, TX 77010. The reception and silent auction, hosted by Jones Magazine, will begin at 6 p.m. The awards dinner program will begin at 7:30 p.m. and conclude at 9:30 p.m.

The Pinnacle Awards are hosted by the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce (HCCC), one of Texas’ oldest and largest African-American chambers of commerce. This year’s ceremony, where the awards will be presented Oscar style, is themed “Honoring Houston’s Entrepreneurial Elite.” Shell Oil Company is the title sponsor for the second consecutive year.

Named by Ebony magazine in 2008 as one of the 150 Most Influential African Americans in the United States, Martin’s "In Conversation: The Senator Barack Obama Interview" won a 2008 NAACP Image Award for best Interview. Martin also is a popular CNN contributor.

He was named one of the top 50 political pundits by the Daily Telegraph in the United Kingdom and was awarded the 2008 President's Award by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) for his work in multiple media platforms.
Martin is a commentator for TV One Cable Network and also host of “The Roland S. Martin Show” on WVON-AM /1690 in Chicago. In Aug. 2007, he joined Essence magazine as a special correspondent, writing a bi-monthly column and a daily blog on Essence.com.
An insightful and provocative analyst, Martin has appeared numerous times on MSNBC, FOX News, Court TV, BET Nightly News, BBC News, National Public Radio, The Word Network, America's Black Forum, American Urban Radio Networks, the Tom Joyner Morning Show, and NPR's News and Notes.

Martin is the author of “Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith.” Additionally, he is a member of NABJ, and a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Martin is a 1987 graduate of Jack Yates High School-Magnet School of Communications, and a 1991 graduate of Texas A&M University, where he earned a bachelor's of science degree in journalism. In May 2008, Martin received a master's degree in Christian Communications from Louisiana Baptist University.
“Roland Martin is a fellow Jack Yates High School graduate, so I was doubly excited to bring him home to Houston for the Pinnacle Awards,” HCCC President and CEO Jeffrey L. Boney said. “Roland will present his insights on the current political climate and what it means for business owners.”

The Pinnacle Awards are the highest award for entrepreneurial excellence presented by HCCC. The Pinnacle Awards spotlight and honor African-American businesses that have achieved success by combining vision, determination, commitment, perseverance and dedication to building strong communities. Pinnacle Award nominees must be 51-percent African-American owned, a for-profit business for a minimum of three years, and located in the Greater Houston Area and surrounding cities. Three nominees will be selected in each category and one winner from each category will win.

Entries will be accepted through Friday, Aug. 29, 2008 in the following categories:

• Healthcare (e.g., doctors, healthcare providers, dietitians, therapists, counselors, veterinarians)

• Construction and Real Estate (e.g., project managers, civil engineers, engineers, architects, building services providers, realtors, developers, interior designers, appraisers, organizers)

• Hospitality (e.g., restaurateurs, caterers, concierge professionals, chefs, housekeeping, hotel ownership/management)

• Professional Services and Sales (e.g., manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, consultants, retail, staffing, barbers, stylists)

• Communications (e.g., authors, print media, speakers, photographers, telecommunication specialists, visual communicators, videographers, marketers, PR firms, graphic designers)

• Information Technology (e.g., hardware/software companies, programmers, designers, robotics, computer scientists, computer repair technicians)

• Financial Services (e.g., CPAs, financial services firms, insurance firms, mortgage companies)

• Legal (e.g., lawyers, paralegals, private investigators, private security guards, forensic scientists)

Two awards introduced last year, The Mack H. Hannah, Jr. Upstart Business Award and the Advocate Award, will be permanent programs of the Pinnacle Awards gala. One winner will be selected for each award.

The Mack H. Hannah, Jr. Upstart Business Award recognizes a burgeoning African-American business with a high potential for success. The award recipient receives resources and a $2,500 cash injection to the business.

The Advocate Award honors an organization that has been a true champion for African-American small businesses in the Greater Houston Metropolitan area by empowering, doing business with or providing business opportunities to African-American businesses.

Pinnacle Sponsors to date include: Title Sponsor Shell Oil Company VIP Reception Title Sponsor Comerica Bank Advocate Award Title Sponsor KBR Advocate Award Presenting Co-sponsor H-E-B Upstart Award Co-sponsors Capital One Bank and DiverseStaff a Lane Staffing Company Official Airlines of the 2008 Pinnacle Awards Southwest Airlines Bronze Sponsors: Chevron, Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo Bank and Table Sponsors George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston Minority Business Council, Nationwide Insurance, Silver Eagle Distributors, Unity National Bank and Washington Mutual Bank and Media Partners KRIV-TV Fox 26, KTXH-TV My 20, Radio One (KMJQ Magic 102.1 FM, KBXX 97.9 The Box and KROI Praise 92.1 FM), The Wash Allen Show, Houston Business Journal, D-MARS.com, I-10 Media Group, Jones Magazine, Rolling Out Magazine, DBA Business Media and The Houston Sun.

Pinnacle Awards sponsorships are still available. To sponsor, purchase a table and to reserve advertising space in the popular Pinnacle Awards souvenir booklet, please print a sponsorship packet from www.hccoc.org or contact Margo Williams Handy, MWH Public Relations at 281.213.9554 or e-mail info@mwhpublicrelations.com.

About Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce:
Founded in 1935, the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce has a mission to help secure business opportunities for African-American business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals and provide them with programs and forums to educate, equip and empower the growth and prosperity of their businesses. For more information, log onto www.hccoc.org or call 713.522.9745.

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