The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) was a proud sponsor of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) 42^nd Annual Convention and Career Fair in New Orleans, LA on August 9-13, 2017. The ELC partnered with the American Society of News Editors (ASNE) Emerging Leaders Institute to host the NABJ Executive Suite, which is a robust, convention staple designed to fill the void in executive level/strategic programming for media managers of color. A select group of mid-career and senior level executives who have a strong buy-in from their supervisors are accepted into the program to help ensure a path to greater success once they return to their newsrooms. ELC President and CEO Ronald C. Parker delivered opening remarks that resonated with the 20 aspiring media executives selected for the Executive Suite program. Parker spoke about his journey to the executive suite and recalled his experiences with CEOs and black executives successfully navigating the corporate landscape.

Ronald C. parker, ELC President & CEO, engaged in a “fireside chat” with Neil Foote, president of the National Black Public Relations Society and a facilitator for the NABJ’s Executive Suite.

More than 3,300 journalists, editors, producers, bloggers and executives attended the convention. NABJ recognized April Ryan, White House correspondent for American Urban Radio Network (AURN), as the 2017 Journalist of the Year. Several ELC member companies also served as sponsors of this year’s event, including Lilly, ABC, CBS, The Coca-Cola Company, FedEx, McDonald’s and Toyota.