News Release

AT&T Named One Of Nation's Top Corporations For Multicultural Businesses

BEDMINSTER, N.J. – For the fifth year in a row, AT&T today was named one of America’s top 50 corporations for its commitment and continued support of women- and minority-owned companies.

More than 350,000 business owners had the opportunity to participate in the online election and voted to select AT&T for this special honor.

The award, called the “Div50,” is a list of the top 50 corporate buyers of products and services offered by women- and minority-owned businesses, and is made annually by DiversityBusiness.com, a leading national online portal for diversity businesses and large organizational buyers. 

The award is based on such factors as the volume, consistency and quality of business opportunities a company grants to women- and minority-owned suppliers.  It is a leading indicator of which organizations provide the best and most business for these kinds of companies.

“AT&T’s commitment to diversity is clearly recognized and valued throughout the nation’s multicultural business community,” noted Kenton Clarke, president & CEO of DiversityBusiness.com.  “The Div50 award is formal recognition of the respect you hold among business enterprises in this growing economic sector.”

“Over the years, AT&T has made supplier diversity a priority,” said Stephen M. Brazzell, AT&T vice president of corporate services.  “We continually afford minority, women, and service-disabled, veteran-owned enterprises the ability to participate with AT&T as suppliers, contractors and subcontractors of goods and services.  The Div50 award is a real honor for the people of AT&T, and we’re delighted to receive it.”

AT&T will be honored with other winning companies at a special awards ceremony during DiversityBusiness.com’s Fifth Annual Multicultural Business Conference, March 30-April 1, 2005 in Mashantucket, Conn.

About DiversityBusiness.com

Launched in 1999, DiversityBusiness.com, with over 27,000 members, is the largest organization of diversity-owned businesses throughout the United States that provide goods and services to Fortune 1000 companies, government agencies and colleges and universities.  The site has gained national recognition and has won numerous awards for its content and design.  It is a membership-based exchange platform that facilitates contacts and communication, streamlines business processes and provides vital business news and information.  DiversityBusiness.com is produced by Computer Consulting Associates International Inc. (CCAII) of Southport, Conn.  Founded in 1980, CCAII has garnered many awards by entities such as the Small Business Administration, Ernst & Young and Black Enterprise Magazine.

About AT&T

For more than 125 years, AT&T (NYSE 'T') has been known for unparalleled quality and reliability in communications. Backed by the research and development capabilities of AT&T Labs, the company is a global leader in local, long distance, Internet and transaction-based voice and data services.