NEW YORK–(HISPANIC PR WIRE – BUSINESS WIRE)–Feb. 12, 2003– New York: Interep (NASDAQ:IREP) announced today that it has commissioned the Winters Group, a diversity consulting firm, to insure that Interep continues to be on the leading edge relative to understanding diversity and inclusion, both from an internal and external perspective. The Winters Group, a diversity and organizational development firm with offices in Washington, Rochester and Brazil, is considered a thought-leader in the field.
Working with a 12-person internal Diversity Council comprised of male and female professionals including Asian, African-American, Caucasian, Hispanic and Gay/Lesbian representatives, the Winters Group will examine Interep’s culture to insure that everyone has an opportunity to reach his/her full potential. The group will also assess and guide the firm’s ability to respond to external diversity demands. Interep believes that managing internal diversity, as well as understanding the diversity among its clients and customers, is paramount for the future success of the company. According to Ralph Guild, Chairman/CEO of Interep, “We want to represent our clients not just by representing their stations, but by truly representing their varied cultures, ethnic backgrounds, personalities, mindsets, and geographic origins. Going forward, this will be one of the most important areas to assure continued revenue growth in a rapidly diversifying business climate.”
The Winters Group has already conducted several internal focus groups with Interep volunteers who were willing to “share their voices” on diversity within the workplace, and pinpoint areas of potential growth for the company. This is the second time in the past 5 years that Interep has invested in this type of diversity awareness initiative. Prior to hiring the Winters Group, Interep worked with the Connecticut -based Centaur Group, and prior to that, with Alexander & Associates.
Interep’s commitment to diversity and foresight in this area actually dates back several decades. Interep has always been a strong advocate for Urban and Hispanic Radio, and the first “general market” rep firm to actively solicit and sell Urban-formatted radio stations over 20 years ago. Today, of course, the advertising community’s appreciation of, and sophistication in marketing to ethnic consumers has grown enormously. Interep is proud to continue its leadership role in working with advertisers and agencies to improve its ethnic marketing strategies, including the use of ethnic-targeted radio. A key area in its efforts to grow radio’s share of ad dollars is the increasingly important multi-cultural marketplace.
Two of the most recent examples of Interep’s efforts in this area include the Power of Hispanic Radio, held during last October’s Hispanic Heritage Month, and the Power of Urban Radio events, held last year in New York and scheduled for February 13th, 2003 in Atlanta. Interep also employs a VP/Director of Urban Marketing dedicated to the promotion of Urban Radio. This position was created in 1993, and Sherman Kizart has held the position since 1995.
Interep also actively recruits to ensure that it maintains a strong multicultural workforce. Following its strong commitment to education, each year the company participates at Howard University’s Media Sales Institute to build interest in radio, and Interep, from college graduates pursuing careers in media sales. Interep also participates in the several minority career summits, and in 1999 instituted the Zaline Scott McShan Scholarship fund, offered annually to minority students enrolled in historically black colleges and universities who are pursuing broadcast/marketing degrees.
About Interep:
Interep (NASDAQ: IREP) is the nation’s largest independent advertising sales and marketing company specializing in radio, the Internet and complementary media, with offices in 16 cities. Interep is the parent company of ABC Radio Sales, Allied Radio Partners, Cumulus Radio Sales, D&R Radio, Infinity Radio Sales, McGavren Guild Radio, MG/Susquehanna, SBS/Interep, as well as Interep Interactive, the company’s interactive representation and web publishing division specializing in the sales and marketing of on-line advertising, including streaming media. Interep Interactive includes Winstar Interactive and Perfect Circle Media. In addition, Interep provides a variety of support services, including: consumer and media research, sales and management training, promotional programs and unwired radio “networks.” Clients also benefit from Interep’s new business development team, the Interep Marketing Group For more information, visit the company’s website at http://www.interep.com.
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CONTACT:
Interep
Michele Skettino, 212/916-0536
