Fleishman-Hillard Creates Alfred Fleishman Diversity Fellowships to Provide Career Opportunities for Minority College Students

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Fleishman-Hillard International Communications, a leading global strategic communications firm, today launched a program to strengthen the diversity of its staff by actively recruiting minority college students for a structured, high-level career entry program. The Alfred Fleishman Diversity Fellowships, named for one of the company's founders, will offer senior mentoring, professional development and employment opportunities with the firm for minority college students.

"Being the most complete agency in our business isn't just about services and capabilities," said Dave Senay, Fleishman-Hillard president and CEO. "In large part, it's also about the rich diversity of the people who make up Fleishman-Hillard. This new program is a great way to build on that spirit of inclusion and, in the process, recognize a champion of diversity – Al Fleishman."

The Alfred Fleishman Diversity Fellowships focus on identifying and recruiting talented seniors and graduate students at U.S. colleges and universities. Initial Fleishman-Hillard offices participating in the program are Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, New York, St. Louis, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., with additional offices adding fellowships in the future. Fleishman-Hillard recruiters will work with fellowship coordinators in each office and with university faculty to identify talented communications students for six- to 12-month paid fellowships with benefits. Recruiting will begin in the first quarter of 2012, with a target of awarding the first fellowships by summer. Upon successful completion of the fellowship program, participants will be considered for employment with Fleishman-Hillard.

"These are not typical internships," Senay said. "Fleishman fellows will be mentored closely by senior vice presidents or higher and exposed to every aspect of agency life. Our intent is to groom the fellows to be agency-ready upon completion of the program."

For details and information on how to apply for a fellowship, students can visit www.fleishmanhillard.com/careers/diversity.

Alfred Fleishman, a pioneer of modern public relations, was recognized for promoting human rights, supporting the less fortunate, and helping people from diverse backgrounds communicate with and understand one another. In the 1930s, as St. Louis superintendent of recreation, Fleishman was unhappy that black and white youngsters had separate recreational facilities. So he arranged for teams from both communities to play together, reportedly for the first time in a city program. He served as president of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis in the 1940s, and as president of the League's Interracial Board.

During the racially charged 1960s, Fleishman helped sustain a dialogue between black leaders and corporate executives in St. Louis. He also worked with the St. Louis Human Development Corporation on the "Street Academy," an alternative educational and job preparation program for young men and women in the black community. This work led to his book, Dialogue With Street Fighters. For many years, Fleishman taught nonconfrontational communication skills to beginning St. Louis police officers. He retired from Fleishman-Hillard in 1975, although he was a presence in the St. Louis office for many years after that, and died in 2002 at age 96.

The Alfred Fleishman Diversity Fellowship program is one of several initiatives Fleishman-Hillard is undertaking to enrich the diversity of its workforce, including an increased focus on minority student college recruiting and a new diversity council that will work to strengthen retention of minority staff members.

About Fleishman-Hillard

Fleishman-Hillard Inc., one of the world's leading strategic communications firms, has built its reputation on creating integrated solutions that deliver what its clients value most: meaningful, positive and measurable impact on the performance of their organizations. The firm is widely recognized for excellent client service and a strong company culture founded on teamwork, integrity and personal commitment. Based in St. Louis, the firm operates throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Latin America through its 80 owned offices. For more information, visit the Fleishman-Hillard website at www.fleishmanhillard.com

Fleishman-Hillard is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to more than 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

SOURCE Fleishman-Hillard International Communications