Marc Morial and Bert Padell Named NABFEME Men of the Year

The National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment (NABFEME) to honor the achievements of Marc Morial and Bert Padell during their annual international Women's Leadership Summit

New York, NY (BlackNews.com) - The National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment, Inc. (NABFEME), the ultimate network of Black female powerhouses, has named Marc Morial and Bert Padell their 2007 Men of the Year. Both men will received this prestigious honor at NABFEME's annual, star-studded Stiletto Awards ceremony to be held Friday, October 5, 2007 at the Hilton Charlotte Center City, located 222 East Third Street.

"NABFEME selects men of the highest caliber who exemplify the organization's standard of excellence," said Johnnie Walker, president and founder of NABFEME. "Marc Morial and Bert Padell have been intricate forces in the empowerment of Black women in music and entertainment," added Walker.

Former Mayor of New Orleans, Marc Morial is the eighth president and CEO of the nation's largest and oldest civil rights organization empowering African Americans, the National Urban League. In 2003, upon his inauguration, he presented a progressive platform, "The Empowerment Agenda." His agenda emphasizes areas in Education & Youth, Economic Empowerment, Health & Quality of Life, Civic Engagement and Civil Rights & Racial Justice. He created the new quantitative "Equality Index" to effectively measure the disparities in urban communities across these five areas. The index is now a part of the League's annual The State of Black America report. Prior to joining the National Urban League, Morial served two distinguished four-year terms (1994-2002) as Mayor of New Orleans, maintaining a 70% approval rating. He also brought the NBA's Hornets basketball team to New Orleans and was president of the U. S. Conference of Mayors.

Bert Padell is a well-known business manager and accountant to the some of the most famous and important personalities in the entertainment world. He has developed great expertise in many areas of the entertainment industry. He provides extended skills to all of his clients by way of advising clients on business opportunities, personal and business decisions and working with client's managers and attorneys. Mr. Padell has traveled a very unlikely road to success as a prominent business manager and philanthropist. He was a New York Yankee Bat Boy during the DiMaggio era, he has published three volumes of poetry, and he is an avid sports memorabilia collector. The entertainment powerhouse's roster has included Wendy Williams, Swizz Beats, Joan Jett, The Kinks, Eric B & Rakim, Run DMC, DJ Beverly Bond and many more. One of his beliefs is "Knowledge is Power," which has been essential in effectively propelling his firm, Padell, Nadell, Fine, Weinberger & Co., internationally for over thirty years.

About the National Association of Black Females in Music and Entertainment (NABFEME) Since its inception, NABFEME has recognized the achievements and contributions of African-American women in the world of entertainment. Founded by music industry trailblazer Ms. Johnnie Walker, the nonprofit organization supports and empowers Black female professionals at all levels in the music and entertainment industry. More than 6,000 women worldwide have benefited from its mission to promote the entry, development, and career advancement of Black female executives in music and entertainment. For more information about NABFEME visit www.nabfeme.org. For media inquiries contact Kristian Buchanan at (917) 892-9645 or via email at publicity@nabfeme.org.