CONTACT: Jenny Wells, (859) 257-1754
FOR RELEASE
Toyota Executive Selected as Excellence and Leadership in Public Relations Honoree
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 31, 2006) − James M. Wiseman, vice president for Corporate Affairs at Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA), has been selected as the Excellence and Leadership in Public Relations award recipient for the 2006 James C. Bowling Lecture Series. The award, given annually by the University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications Alumni Association, will be presented at a roast/toast style luncheon at noon on Nov. 3 in the Radisson Plaza Ballroom on West Vine Street. The luncheon is part of the seventh annual James C. Bowling Executive-In-Residence Lecture Series.
Wiseman has had an extensive career which has contributed greatly to his success in the field of public relations, and led him to receiving this prestigious honor.
After graduating from Vanderbilt University in 1974 with a degree in English, Wiseman held a number of different jobs in Kentucky, including a sports writer for the Bowling Green Daily News, a high school English teacher and an assistant football coach at Scott County Junior High School.
Aftergainingvaried experience in the business and education fields, hejoined the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and was named president of this statewide leadership organization in the mid-80s. As CEO of the Chamber, Wiseman had to call upon his many professional experiences, especially his excellent communications and marketing abilities, to strengthen the Chamber's many programs. As the official spokesman for the group and working with state and localgovernment and businessleaders, he found himself fully engaged inpublic relations.
Reflecting back, Wiseman believes hiscommunications and problem-solvingacumen helped him succeed in business.
"Public relations gives me the ability to look at things with an open mind," Wiseman said. "It allows me to better understand the different and varied viewpoints on numerous issues."
Wiseman, who grew up in Bowling Green, Ky., joined Toyota in 1989 and managed the statewide public affairs program for Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, located in Georgetown. In 1996, he led Toyota's public affairs department when its North American manufacturing headquarters was established in Erlanger, Ky. Today, Wiseman oversees Corporate Affairs for Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
The Bowling lecture series began in 2000 and brings to UK nationally-known public relations practitioners to not only deliver an address, but also meet with students interested in public relations careers. The series honors James C. Bowling, the late retired assistant chairman of Philip Morris Companies Inc. He attended UK and later served the university as a member of the UK Development Council. In addition to serving on several national boards, Bowling also worked with UK's colleges of Agriculture and Business and the UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging.
Also, as part of UK’s Bowling Executive-in-Residence program, Christopher Simpson, CEO of Simpson Scarborough, has been selected as the 2006 Bowling Lecturer and will be speaking at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, at the King Alumni House. A reception preceding the lecture will begin at 4:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets for the Nov. 3 luncheon are available through the School of Journalism and Telecommunications by calling (859) 257-1730.
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