RUDEN MCCLOSKY RECEIVES DIVERSITY AWARD

ST. PETERSBURG - The Ruden McClosky law firm was awarded the Fred G. Minnis, Sr. Bar Association Diversity Award on March 6, 2006 at the Association's Third Annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet at Stetson University College of Law. Jim Dickson, Esq. and Evett Simmons, Esq., Chief Diversity Officer of the Firm were on hand to receive the award.

Ruden McClosky is committed to increasing and maintaining diversity at all levels. With the guidance of a national diversity consulting group, Ruden McClosky has designed programs to increase and retain minority attorneys within the Firm and developed minority scholarships to promote diversity in law schools.

The Fred G. Minnis Bar Association was named after the first black full-time lawyer in Pinellas County. It aims to attract and encourage new talent to the St. Petersburg area.