Urban Financial Services Coalition Hosts 31st Annual Conference In Atlanta, June 13-19

Urban Financial Services Coalition (UFSC), a nonprofit organization of minority professionals, hosts its national conference in Atlanta, June 13-19, 2005. The conference offers a range of professional development and networking opportunities for those in the financial services industry. UFSC will hold a Diversity Career Fair and Home Buyers Workshop during the conference for the general public.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) March 30, 2005 -- The Urban Financial Services Coalition (UFSC) will host its 31st annual conference Continuing Our Legacy: Creating Wealth Through Education, Economic Empowerment and Diversity" in Atlanta from June 13-19, 2005 at the Hilton Hotel. The conference will bring together minority financial services professionals as well as representatives of major banks and financial institutions from around the country.

This years conference aims to foster the interest and expand the number of minorities in the financial services. It will also present excellent learning opportunities for minority youth interested in pursuing careers in financial services as well as increase the understanding and use of financial services as it relates to underserved communities," said Damita Barbee, national president of Urban Financial Services Coalition, and vice president, The Mechanics Bank. Weve based our overall conference theme on three major points - education, economic empowerment and diversity -- which the UFSC considers vital to its mission. The legacy of our organization is such that we emphasize education by providing scholarships to minority students. As an organization, we support economic empowerment by providing resources for homeownership. And, during our conference, we provide resources to our sponsors in support of their initiatives to maintain a diverse workforce."

Topics slated for discussion at the conference include: Women in Leadership: The Expectations, Sacrifices and Rewards; Careers in Financial Services: The Top Five Segments; Wealth Building: Understanding Portfolio Diversity; Career Opportunities in the Entertainment Industry; Financial Literacy in an Emerging Markets Society; Check 21: Understanding the Act and its Impact; and Economic Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship.

New to the conference this year is the UFSC Professional Training Center and the Entrepreneurial Business Plan Competition. The Training Center offers conference attendees valuable professional development training with breakout sessions that cover diversity, insurance, the Series 6 Pre-test and a seminar dedicated to certified financial planners. The Building A Better Business" business plan competition is the culmination of a robust 30-hour workshop that takes entrepreneurs from the idea stage all the way to a completed business plan, with first, second and third place prizes awarded.

The Urban Financial Services Coalition will hold its annual Diversity Career Fair, the largest event of its type for professionals in the financial services industry, during the conference on Thursday, June 16 from 10 am to 6 pm. Companies that will participate in the career fair include Wells Fargo, Bank One, Citigroup, Bank of America, AmSouth Bank, Countrywide Financial, State Farm Bank, SunTrust Bank, FDIC, KPMG and Washington Mutual. In addition to recruitment opportunities, conference attendees can also take part in a number of workshops focused on resume writing, interviewing techniques and other topics. The workshops are geared toward those at different stages of their career from beginning to executive. The career fair is free and open to the public.

Other activities scheduled during the conference include: the Leadership Institute, Oratorical Competition, CEO Symposium, National Town Hall Meeting, Home Buyers Workshop, Awards Gala and Concert and a Golf Outing. The Home Buyers Workshop will provide information on first-time home buying, refinancing and understanding credit scoring.

Additional information about the conference and registration details are available at the UFSC website: www.ufscnet.org.

About The Urban Financial Services Coalition
The Urban Financial Services Coalition (UFSC) (www.ufscnet.org) is an organization of minority professionals in the financial services industry and related fields. Affiliation with UFSC offers a unique opportunity to influence the shape of the banking and financial services industry. UFSC promotes the personal and professional development of its members as well as the improvement of the financial condition of ethnically and culturally diverse communities through education, home ownership and local economic development.

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