Friday, January 5, 2001

12:00 Noon
(11:30 a.m. cash bar reception)
The Plimsoll Club, 30th Floor
World Trade Center of New Orleans
(Free validated parking in the WTC Garage)

Dr. Willene A. Johnson has served since February 2000 as the Executive Director of the African Development Bank (ADB) Group for the U.S. located at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.

Dr. Johnson previously served as Vice-President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY), where she worked for 17 years. As Vice President for International Affairs, Dr. Johnson was responsible for relations with Africa, representing FRBNY at African meetings offering advice and technical assistance to African central banks. Dr. Johnson also developed training to prevent discrimination and investigating complaints of discrimination. Her previous positions included FRBNY's Senior Officer for Equal Opportunity Employment; Vice-President, International Affairs; Assistant, Vice-President, Financial Market Analysis Department and Senior Economist, Foreign Exchange Department.

Dr. Johnson obtained a Ph.D. in Economics from Columbia University, an M.A. in African History and an A.B. with honors in Social Studies. She is the author of many publications and undertook several speaking tours organized by the United States Information Agency on economic and financial reforms in African countries. She also taught courses on the international monetary systems, as well as the economic development and organization of Africa at Columbia University.

About the African Development Bank and African Development Fund

The United States has been a member of the African Development Bank since 1983, when non-regional countries were invited to join the Bank Group. The United States is the largest non-regional shareholder of the Bank. Under the Fifth General Capital Increase of the Bank, the U.S. will provide $40.8 million in paid-up capital.

The United States is also one of the founding members of the African Development Fund (ADF) and is its second largest historical contributor. The U.S. contributed $200 million to the Seventh ADF Replenishment (1996-1998) and has pledged $300 million to the Eighth Replenishment (1999-2001).

Sponsoring Organizations

Southern University/Baton Rouge, College of Business

African Chamber of Commerce

F.C. Schaffer & Associates, Inc.

Hibernia National Bank

Louisiana Department of Economic Development

The Lugano Group Incorporated

New Orleans Aviation Board

Port of New Orleans

Port of South Louisiana

Robinson International Company, Ltd.

Transoceanic Shipping Company, Inc.

World Trade Center of New Orleans

In Cooperation With

African World Network Organization, Inc.

Ark-La-Tex Regional Export & Technology Center

Baton Rouge Center for World Affairs

City of New Orleans, Office of International Relations

Consular Corps of New Orleans

New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center

Foreign Relations Association of New Orleans

International Freight Forwarders & Customs Brokers Association

International Trade Council/Red River Region

Louisiana District Export Council

Louisiana International Trade Center/SBDC

Louisiana International Trade Commission

New Orleans Media Center

Louisiana Technology Council

United Nations Association of Greater New Orleans

World Trade Club of Greater New Orleans

Advance registration required by January 4, 10:00 a.m. 
Registration Fee: $25 for members of the sponsoring organizations and $29 for non-members. If you are a WTC member, the registration fee can be charged to your account number noted on the registration form.