The Unwasted Life

For Immediate Release

Hire DFW First Gains Mayoral and Corporate Support

Dallas, TX, July 3, 2003 - Community and Corporate support continues to grow for CareerConnection’s Hire DFW First, an innovative program that offers DFW companies an invaluable, responsible and cost-effective approach to current traditional and electronic staffing methods. Efforts to raise awareness, increase support and coordinate activities have been boosted by the endorsement of the Mayors of Dallas and Fort Worth.

Dallas Mayor Laura Miller, talking about her endorsement, said, “In these tough economic times, programs such as Hire DFW First are just what this area needs to keep good jobs and good people here in the Dallas Fort Worth area and get the DFW economy back on track.” Mike Moncrief added that “our city needs more agencies which encourage the placement of the professionals currently residing in the Dallas Fort Worth area.”

Diane Weklar, Chairperson for Hire DFW First, said, “we are excited to see our proactive efforts creating a forum to discuss ways to build a stronger DFW economy and stop the ‘brain drain’ that currently exists in this area. By engaging community and business leaders in a dialogue about the issues, we can find creative ways to effect positive change in the Metroplex.”

On the corporate sponsorship front, Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), Countrywide Home Loans, and Inet Technologies have joined Sabre Holdings as Sponsors. For their sponsorship, they receive a variety of customized benefits, ranging from assisted searches and job lead distribution to the CareerConnection database to getting their company name and logo placement on the CareerConnection website.

Carlyn Christy Davis, Director of Recruiting and Diversity for Sabre Holdings, the first sponsor, says that “Our company is excited about using Hire DFW First, a quality, cost-effective resource that immediately connects us with local professional talent.” Davis adds, “The candidates we have to choose from in the CareerConnection database are highly skilled, experienced professionals.”

“It is exciting to gain community and corporate support for our proactive approach to facilitating professional level placement and helping to focus attention to an important challenge we face in the DFW area,” commented Lisa Miller, Executive Director of CareerConnection. “Through active cooperation among businesses, local leaders, and the professional community, we can put a stop to the talent drain that happens when people can’t find work locally. By involving these three groups, we seek to fill local positions with local talent. In fact, since the beginning of the year, nearly 400 members have been connected with DFW companies”.

About CareerConnection: CareerConnection is the largest not-for-profit career management and networking organization in the DFW area, having connected over 14,000 members since 1992. CareerConnection sponsors initiatives such as Hire DFW First to encourage local employers to search for and hire locally qualified talent in order to partner for a better DFW economy.

For more information on Hire DFW First, contact Diane Weklar, Press Contact, direct telephone 214-755-5233 or Email at hireDFWfirst@careerconnection.org, or visit the CareerConnection website at www.careerconnection.org.