MARCH 1, 2007

Michigan business group awards Land
at women and leadership conference

The Michigan Business and Professional Association presented Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land with its Distinguished Leader Award at its annual leadership conference today in Livonia.

The award honors women who have demonstrated successful leadership in workplaces and communities of Michigan. The daylong conference also includes seminars on financial issues, mentoring and networking ideas for women.

"Secretary Land has exemplified the ideals of a true, proven leader, and because of her inspiration to others, we have given her this honor," said Jennifer Kluge, the association's chief operating officer.

Under Land's direction, the department has expanded online and automated services, consolidated office space to save tax dollars, strengthened the state's driver education program and reached the goal of 1 million names on the state's organ donor registry

"I want to thank the association and its members for this honor," Land said. "They should be commended for their continued efforts to expand opportunities available to women in business and professional fields. It's never easy to balance a career and a personal life, but this conference helps women meet that challenge."

Other women awarded at the conference were:

- Sandra Pierce of Charter One bank;

- Cynthia Taueg of St. John Health;

- Sister Rose Marie Kujawa of Madonna University;

- Desiree Cooper, a Detroit Free Press columnist;

- Shirley Stancato of New Detroit Inc.; and,

- Mary Jo Pulte of Uno Restaurants of Southwest Michigan.

The association represents more than 20,000 small- to medium-sized businesses in Michigan employing more than 160,000 people. The association is a sister organization to the Michigan Food and Beverage Association.

For more information about Land and the services and programs offered by the Secretary of State's Office, please visit the department Web site at www.Michigan.gov/sos. Additional information about the Michigan Business and Professional Association can be found at www.michbusiness.org.