Press Room

MOBILE WORKS INC. ELECTS NEW BOARD OFFICERS
Friday, Oct 20th, 2006

MOBILE, Alabama - October 20, 2006 - Mobile Works Inc. recently held its annual meeting and elected new board officers for the 2006-2007 fiscal year. The announcement was made by Sydney G. Raine, President of Mobile Works. Ralph Buffkin will take the lead as Chairman of the Board, with Steve Perry elected to the Vice Chairman post. Richard Davis will act as Treasurer and Yolanda Richardson will serve as Secretary.

Charles E. (Charlie) Story, 2005-2006 Chairman of the Board, said, "We are extremely pleased to have Ralph Buffkin lead our Board this year. Ralph and our other new officers, Steve Perry, Richard Davis and Yolanda Richardson, all bring tremendous expertise in corporate strategy and business knowledge to the Board and their election reflects our continuing efforts to develop and maintain a skilled and diverse Board of Directors." Continued Story, "I feel confident that our new officers will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of Mobile Works���they have all been board members for some time and they know the vital importance of Mobile Works to the Mobile business community and to Mobile area jobseekers."

"I appreciate the past leadership provided by Charlie Story as our previous chairman and I look forward to working closely with my fellow officers. Mobile Works is fortunate to have such widely respected business leaders as these people on its board. Together, we intend to leverage Mobile Works' strengths to serve the best interests of all our stakeholders, with a focus on Mobile area businesses. We will also strive to provide the highest level of service to Mobile jobseekers," said Ralph Buffkin.

President Sydney Raine stated, "We are making substantial progress towards achieving and exceeding our goals. I am excited by the opportunity to work with Ralph, Steve and the rest of our team as we build Mobile Works as a strong resource for the Mobile area business community."

Ralph Buffkin
Since 1996, Ralph Buffkin has owned Buffkin Management Services, specializing in management consulting to small businesses. Before that, he spent 34 years at three other Mobile area companies. Besides his duties with Mobile Works, Buffkin is also on the United States Sports Academy board and recently ran for a seat on the Mobile County Commission. Buffkin was appointed by Alabama Governor Bob Riley to serve as the 1st District Commissioner for the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, as well as being extremely active in many other local community and civic organizations.

Steve Perry
Steve Perry has been an associate with Harris, DeVille & Associates, Inc. (HDA), a full-service communications firm specializing in issues management, for over ten years. Prior to joining HDA, Steve worked for a major international chemical company, as its plant manager for nearly 18 years. Besides his dedication to Mobile Works, Perry is also the Executive Director of The Forum���a trade association in the greater Mobile area that focuses on environmental issues, community interaction and outreach���as well as many other local community and civic organizations.

Richard D. Davis, Jr.
Davis is a native Mobilian who received a B.S. degree from Alabama A&M; College, an M.A. from the University of South Alabama and the A.A. Certificate in Administration from Alabama State University. Mr. Davis was appointed to the Airport Authority in 1990 and has served as Chairman since 2000. He was employed by the Mobile County Public School System for 30 years���for 23 of those years serving as a school administrator at area high schools, retiring in July 1996. Mr. Davis is very active with Mobile United; Mobile Area Education Foundation; Tillman's Corner Chamber of Commerce; Board of Directors, 100 Black Men of Greater Mobile; and Dean, Leadership Mobile, Class of 1999, as well as many other local community and civic organizations.

Yolanda Richardson
After earning a degree at Bishop State, Richardson was employed as a production supervisor at DigiDraft, Inc. After leaving DigiDraft to work overseas for more than a decade for two of the world's largest engineering and design firms, Flour Corporation and Jacobs Engineering Netherlands, native Mobilian Yolanda Richardson returned to Mobile in 2002 with a wealth of corporate knowledge and engineering design experience. Richardson turned that expertise into action by purchasing DigiDraft. Since purchasing the company three years ago, Richardson's leadership has increased DigiDraft's clientele by over 3500%. Richardson is active in the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as many other local community and civic organizations.

About Mobile Works
Mobile Works Inc., a local partnership of business, education, labor and community leaders, provides businesses with training, leadership, labor market information and employment programs designed to stimulate local business by meeting the needs of Mobile area businesses while increasing the available labor pool of skilled jobseekers in the Mobile area. Since its inception in 2000, the group has invested more than $28 million overall to support Mobile area job and educational programs. In addition, in the 2006-2007 fiscal year alone, Mobile Works has invested nearly $4.6 million dollars in jobs, training and economic initiatives for all of Mobile County.

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Contact: Gia Dinges
Director of Marketing
251-432-0909 phone
[email protected] email
www. mobile-works.org website