NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE AND ADVANCE AMERICA LAUNCH NEW
CORPORATE BOARD CERTIFICATION INITIATIVE
Program Will Provide Specialized Business Training for African-American Executives
 

WASHINGTON, DC – As a part of its Centennial Celebration, the National Urban League announced the launch of a new corporate board certification program to be offered in partnership with Advance America, the nation’s leading provider of cash advance services. The Director Inclusion Initiative will provide training that will address the serious underrepresentation of African Americans on various NYSE and NASDAQ boards of directors by certifying and assisting in the placement of qualified executives.
 
”We are proud to collaborate with Advance America to provide this initiative for aspiring African-American business executives who deserve an opportunity  to serve on corporate boards,” said Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of National Urban League. “With Advance America’s support, the National Urban League will be able to equip qualified professionals with the tools and training they need to be successful in the boardroom.”
 

Training for National Urban League director candidates will be provided  by the Corporate Directors Group (CDG) through the Director Education Group (DEG) branch of its subsidiary, The American College of Corporate Directors.  CDG is a national organization of over 1000 members which is exclusive to public company directors. Dedicated to providing leadership and competency skills, as well as information on timely topics to board members of public companies, CDG offers a three-tiered American College of Corporate Directors Professional Director Certification credential to those members of both the CDG and the DEG, who have completed extensive and robust director education requirements. The program is led by experts in the fields of governance, responsibility, audit practices, executive compensation and other important public company director issues.  The National Urban League's inaugural class will commence on October 13, 2010, and will accommodate approximately six to eight participants.
 

“We at Advance America believe this is a unique opportunity for publicly held corporations to have a bank of pre-screened, certified, diverse candidates who are capable and ready to serve on their boards,” said William Webster, chairman of the Board of Directors for Advance America. “As a board chairman, I fully appreciate the value of this initiative and I applaud the National Urban League for having the foresight to provide this much needed service to corporate America.”
 
For more information on the Director Inclusion Initiative, contact Tracy Boleware, vice president, Black Executive Exchange Program at the National Urban League, at 202-558-5300 or tboleware@nul.org.

 
About The National Urban League
Founded in 1910, The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment, working to promote elevated standards of living in historically undeserved urban communities.   Today, there are more than 100 local affiliates in 36 states and the District of Columbia, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than 2 million people nationwide. Please visit www.nul.org for more information.
 
About Advance America
Founded in 1997, Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc. (NYSE: AEA) is the country's leading provider of cash advance services, with approximately 2,500 centers and 72 limited licensees in 32 states, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The Company offers convenient, less-costly credit options to consumers whose needs are not met by traditional financial institutions. The Company is a founding member of the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA), whose mission is to promote laws that provide substantive consumer protections and to encourage responsible industry practices. Please visit www.advanceamerica.net for more information.
 
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