Minority role models needed

Less than 15 percent of information technology professionals are black or Hispanic, and a much lower percentage eventually rises to the top of the profession.

This means companies need to do more to cultivate minority talent, says Michael D. Zinn, president of an executive search firm in Princeton,

"When making career choices, college-aged minority students tend to think of careers in management, human resources, accounting and the professions-law and medicine," he says. Businesses can address this deficiency in technology management by cultivating role models.

"Companies should pick the best and brightest minority employees they have, and groom them for senior management responsibilities such as CIO or VP/MIS," Zinn adds. "Once identified in the workforce, they should be brought into management development programs."

"Business has a need and minority youth can certainly fill it-a win/win situation," Zinn adds. The African American Credit Union Coalition sponsors the Reaching Toward the Future Internship Program. Contact Hubert Hoosman, AACUC internship chairman and president of Educational Employees Credit Union, Bridgeton, Mo., at 314.264.5101 or hhoosman@eecu.com. com.