8/1 Women Of Color Conference Convenes In Vegas

 THE MGM RESORTS FOUNDATION PRESENTS
THE WOMEN OF COLOR CONFERENCE
AUGUST 1-3, 2011

Fifth Annual Conference, To Be Held at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Grows from One-Day to Three-Day Format, Benefits Local Women’s and Girls’ Non-Profit Organizations

LAS VEGAS  – How to climb the career ladder and command a higher salary. What messages body language conveys to others. Successfully walking the professional tightrope. Ways to propel careers forward. For career and professional women seeking insight into these topics and much more, the MGM Resorts Foundation presents the Fifth Annual Women of Color Conference.

The Women of Color Conference (“WOCC”) is open to all women and men and offers a forum for career development and networking, featuring nationally recognized speakers and executive development experts.

Among many featured speakers and panel leaders, this year’s keynote speakers will include Janet Murguia, President & CEO of the National Council of LaRaza; Dr. Robin Smith, motivational speaker and best-selling author of “Lies At The Altar – The Truth About Great Marriages” (Scribe Publications), and Linda Clemons, motivational speaker and self-improvement expert.

Due to popular demand and exceptional attendee turnout in its previous four years, the Fifth Annual Women of Color Conference will feature an enhanced schedule expanding from one to three days, taking place Aug. 1-3 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. The event is considered one of the nation’s prominent annual gatherings of career and professional women. All conference proceeds this year will benefit organizations serving women and girls.

“We’re proud this conference continues to grow, not only in terms of attendees and speakers, but also in the number of days required to cover all of the themes important to today’s professional women,” says Debra Nelson, conference chair and MGM Resorts International Vice President of Corporate Diversity and Community Affairs. “We have expanded the conference because attendees have asked for more and that speaks volumes. They want more topics, more opportunities to network and dialogue with one another. We are pleased to be able to deliver on each of these fronts this August.”

The Fifth Annual Women of Color Conference is presented this year by The MGM Resorts Foundation. “The MGM Resorts Foundation is pleased to be the presenting sponsor of this premier event, which will serve several worthy causes simultaneously,” said Phyllis James, MGM Resorts Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity and Philanthropy Officer. “Not only is our Foundation a strong advocate for promoting education – especially an innovative program like this which is designed to enhance professional as well as social and life skills of conference participants – but the proceeds of the WOCC will in turn support local agencies that nurture the welfare and development of women and girls. ”

MGM Resorts International leads the corporate sponsors of the WOCC this year. In addition, the WOCC has garnered support from the following sponsors: Cox Communications, IBM, Wells Fargo, CBS Radio, Culinary Training Academy, Entravision Communications, Nevada Partners, National Security Technologies, Vegas Inc and Women’s Specialty Care. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, call Kameelah Shareef, MGM Resorts Corporate Diversity, at (702) 650-7424 or kshareef@mgmresorts.com.

The early registration fee for participants is $150. Registration includes the full conference and all workshops, lectures, access to the Career Center where participants obtain advice from certified career coaches and the conference’s signature Empowering Our Future Luncheon. Reduced Student registration (with valid college ID) is available for $75.

ABOUT THE WOMEN OF COLOR CONFERENCE
The purpose of the Women of Color Conference is to offer information, perspectives, strategies, and inspiration regarding issues of concern to women, and men supporting women, to enhance their personal and professional development as individuals and leaders. For information about sponsorships and registration, please visit www.lvwomenofcolor.com.

For attendees outside of Las Vegas , Southwest Airlines will serve as the conference’s official airline and offer a special discount to those traveling to and from McCarran International Airport . For special rates, attendees are encouraged to go to www.southwest.com/woc, promotional code: WCCLAS.

ABOUT THE MGM RESORTS FOUNDATION
The purpose of The MGM Resorts Foundation is to collect and distribute monies and assets donated by employees of MGM Resorts for the aid and support of qualified community nonprofit programs, agencies or organizations designated exclusively by MGM employees. In addition, the Foundation collects and distributes donations to the Foundation by third-party non-employees to support charitable, scientific, literary, religious and educational activities approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and organized by MGM Resorts employees to benefit qualified non-profit charitable organizations designated by the Foundation’s Board.