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SUNTRUST BANKS, OF FLORIDA PRESIDENT CEO NAMED HONORARY CHAIR FOR DISABILITY MENTORING DAY

George Koehn to Serve as Spokesperson for Job Shadowing Activity for Students with Disabilities

George Koehn, Chairman, President and CEO of SunTrust Banks, of Florida, was named Honorary Chair for Florida’s Disability Mentoring Day (DMD), scheduled for October 20, 2004. During DMD, local students with disabilities from across the state will be matched with local volunteer businesses and spend the day shadowing a business mentor. The program gives the students an opportunity to learn more about the workplace and see the day-to-day responsibilities required of a person in their career field of interest.

“Students with disabilities are often underestimated in their abilities. Having a chance to interact with business professionals gives these students an opportunity to show prospective employers what they can do. SunTrust Banks, of Florida is proud to be a part of this statewide endeavor to expose students to the business world and help employers learn more about working with people with disabilities,” stated George Koehn, Chairman, President and CEO of SunTrust Banks, of Florida.

Florida’s Disability Mentoring Day is organized by a statewide planning committee chaired by The Able Trust. In 2003, more than seven hundred students and three hundred business mentors participated statewide. The Able Trust hopes to increase participation this year to include more students and business mentors, and believes Koehn’s participation will help encourage more Florida businesses to get involved.

Koehn will serve as Florida’s Disability Mentoring Day spokesperson, participating in public service announcements and the DMD kickoff event on October 20. Koehn will assist with recruitment efforts and participate in DMD promotional activities geared toward Florida employers. In addition, SunTrust Banks, of Florida will support DMD by encouraging their employees to serve as business mentors for participating students.

“This is a great way for employers to learn first hand about the benefits of working with people with disabilities, said Kristen Knapp, Vice President of Public Relations for The Able Trust and chair of the statewide planning committee. “The businesses that participated in 2003 expressed a tremendously positive experience, and many plan to take these students on as summer interns or part-time employees. It turned out to be a win-win situation for everyone involved.”

Florida’s Disability Mentoring Day is part of a national effort sponsored by the American Association of People with Disabilities. It began in 1999 as part of a White House effort to increase the profile of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, celebrated every October. Florida sponsors include Clear Channel Radio, Volunteer Florida, Merrill Lynch, Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Polk County Workforce Board.

Visit our Disability Mentoring Day page For more information or call toll-free 888.838.2253.