Contact Information:
Jeff Scholes
Linkage, Inc.
781.402.5558
press@linkageinc.com
www.linkageinc.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

World-Renowned Thought Leaders Receive Coveted Leadership Awards

LEXINGTON, MASS. (May 31, 2002) - Today, Linkage, Inc. announced the recipients of its Leadership Awards, bestowed upon prominent world figures from diverse fields for their effective and significant leadership efforts. Recipients graciously accepted their leadership awards, to be formally presented at Linkage, Inc.'s Global Institute for Leadership Development, December 8-13, 2002, in Palm Desert, CA.

Global Leadership Award - Rudolph Giuliani, former Mayor, New York City
Rudy Giuliani has been awarded Linkage's Global Leadership Award for his leadership excellence as Mayor of New York City. He served two terms and revived NY into the great city it once was with his ideas, management, and goal-driven style. In eight years, he reduced crime by 57%, cut welfare rolls in half, reduced taxes by $2.5 billion, created a record number of new jobs, and reached new heights in his leadership role in dealing with the aftermath of the events that transpired in New York on September 11. Because of Giuliani's leadership as Mayor, the city is once again a great place to live and a significantly productive world metropolis.

Outstanding Community Leadership Award - Earvin "Magic" Johnson, former LA Laker/NBA star; founder and CEO, Magic Johnson Enterprises
"Magic" Johnson has been awarded Linkage's Outstanding Community Leadership Award for fostering local growth and financial empowerment in neglected urban and suburban neighborhoods. Following Magic's 13-year NBA career, he established Magic Johnson Enterprises, redefining himself as a businessman. In 1998, Johnson Development Corporation joined forces with Starbucks Coffee to create Urban Coffee Opportunities (UCO), a partnership dedicated to developing Starbucks Coffee locations in under-served communities. UCO is committed to employing local residents to staff stores and strengthening the economy of the U.S. communities in which they operate. Through effective leadership and philanthropy, Magic has proven that commitment and vision can result in socially responsible and powerful business.

Warren Bennis Award for Leadership Excellence - Betsy Holden, president and CEO, Kraft Foods, Inc.
Betsy Holden is a recipient of the Warren Bennis Award for Leadership Excellence, demonstrating the highest qualities of corporate leadership as co-CEO of Kraft Foods, Inc., and president and CEO of Kraft Foods North America. Kraft's 2001 revenues reached nearly $34 billion and its IPO was the second largest in US history. Kraft Foods is the largest branded food and beverage company in North America and the second largest worldwide, sold in over 145 countries. Holden has demonstrated her leadership strength, rising through the ranks since joining General Foods Corporation in 1982. Her strong leadership efforts are evident in her current position as co-CEO of an organization whose brands, according to A.C. Nielsen statistics, are found in more than 99% of all US households.

Warren Bennis Award for Leadership Excellence - Paul Tellier, president and CEO, Canadian National Railroad Company
Paul Tellier is a recipient of the Warren Bennis Award for Leadership Excellence, demonstrating the highest qualities of corporate leadership as President and CEO of the Canadian National Railroad Company (CN). CN is the largest and most efficient railroad company in North America - the only railroad in North America to cross the continent, east-west and north-south, serving all three NAFTA nations: Canada, the United States, and Mexico. In 2001, CN generated revenues of approximately $6 billion CDN / $4 billion US and since its IPO in 1995, CN has gone from being the worst railroad to being the best. An effective leader, Tellier continues to hold his organization to ever higher standards, stating; "Today, CN has secured its position as the best railroad in North America… Our objective for tomorrow-to be the best transportation company in North America."

Outstanding Nonprofit Leadership Award - Billy Starr, founder of the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC)
Billy Starr has been awarded Linkage's Outstanding Nonprofit Leadership Award, dedicating his career to raising significant funds for cancer research through what is now the nation's largest two-day fund-raising event. In 1980, Starr created the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), pioneering New England's first bike-a-thon, as a personal means of commemorating his mother's fatal battle with cancer. That year, Starr recruited 36 friends to cycle 220 miles across Massachusetts to raise funds. Since its inception, the PMC has generated over $69 million for the Jimmy Fund of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Starr successfully leads a unique and efficient organization, reducing the PMC's operating costs to below 10% of funds raised-maximizing the amount of funds donated to the Dana-Farber to further cancer research and treatment.

Outstanding Leadership in Healthcare Award - Jeff Otten, former president and CEO, Brigham & Women's Hospital; president, JRO Ventures, Inc.
Jeff Otten has been awarded the Outstanding Leadership in Healthcare Award for transforming Brigham & Women's Hospital, a $1.4 billion non-profit teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, into one of the nation's leading hospitals. As CEO of the Boston-based hospital, Otten increased fundraising by over 400%, restructured senior management, upheld the teaching hospital's academic mission while operating at a 3-4% margin, and successfully met the hospital's financial goals. Through Otten's leadership, Brigham and Women's Hospital underwent a successful merger with the Faulkner Hospital, formed critical clinical affiliations, advanced research in a variety of disciplines, and ranked as one of the top 10 among US hospitals. As current president of management consulting firm, JRO Ventures Inc., Otten is one of the nation's leading authorities on healthcare.

Leadership in Science Award - Eric Lander, principal leader of the Human Genome Project, Whitehead Institute
Eric Lander has been awarded the Leadership in Science Award for driving the team that "cracked the code" of the infamous Human Genome Project. Director of Whitehead's Center for Genome Research, Lander is an undisputed driving force behind the recent revolution in genomics, the study of all of the genes in an organism and how they function together in health and disease. As a principal leader of the Human Genome Project, Lander's leadership enabled the Whitehead Center for Genome Research team to construct a complete catalogue of the human DNA code or genome. The medical industry is now able to build upon the knowledge, resources, and technologies resulting from the Human Genome Project to further our understanding of genetic contributions to human health, including diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of diseases.

The Global Institute for Leadership Development (GILD), a six-day learning program, is designed to accelerate the professional and personal leadership development of new managers, emerging leaders, and senior leaders. In addition to accepting the award in person, each of these icons of leadership will draw on their personal and professional leadership experiences in a keynote presentation, offering GILD participants innovative ideas, inspiring motivation, and valuable techniques for stretching their roles, expanding their minds, and becoming more effective leaders. Developed by Linkage, Inc., the 6th annual Global Institute for Leadership Development will take place December 8-13, 2002, at the Marriott's Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert, CA.

About Linkage, Inc.
Linkage, Inc. is a global organizational development company that specializes in leadership development. Serving the public and private sectors, the Company provides clients around the globe with customized leadership development and strategic change solutions that include and integrate consulting, training, assessment, coaching, and benchmark research. With a relentless commitment to learning, Linkage also offers a full range of conferences, institutes, summits, public workshops, and distance learning programs on leading-edge topics in leadership, management, HR, and OD. More than 100,000 leaders and managers have attended such a Linkage program since the Company's founding in 1988. Linkage is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, with regional offices in Minneapolis, Atlanta, San Francisco, London, Brussels, and Singapore. On two occasions, Linkage has been named to the Inc. 500, a list of the fastest growing private companies in the United States.