CHICAGO, July 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — New trends and marketing opportunities within the $836 billion black consumer market will be unveiled by some of the nation's leading research companies at the Twelfth Annual Marketing to African Americans with Excellence (MAAX) Summit in Chicago, August 1st – 2nd.

The MAAX Summit, presented by Target Market News, brings together marketing, advertising, media and research professionals each year to hear and discuss research findings and developments in the African-American market. This will be the first public presentation of many of these studies, and all of them are exclusively focused on the African-American consumer market. The Summit's presenting sponsor is General Motors, which will also be among this year's panel participants. Corporate sponsors include Ariel Investments, Comcast Business Class and Carol H. Williams Advertising.

"The MAAX Summit is now recognized as a must-attend event for those seeking a better understanding of Africa-American consumers and their enormous impact on the nation's economy," said Ken Smikle, president of Target Market News. "The marketing industry is looking for new business opportunities to increase the bottom line. It is critically important for all business professionals to take advantage of the new insights these studies on black consumers will offer."

"General Motors is pleased to partner with Ken Smikle and Target Market News to sponsor the MAAX Summit," said Eric Peterson, GM Vice President of Corporate Diversity. "Some of the most influential African Americans in the marketing, advertising, media and research industries attend this conference and GM is looking forward to networking with these professionals."

Among the research companies that will share new findings and statistics at the MAAX Summit are Arbitron, The Nielsen Co., R.L. Polk, the U.S. Census Bureau, BET, Nia Enterprises, Northern Trust, Millward Brown and Target Market News.

Also being presented at the event will be the Sixth Annual MAAX Awards. The awards program annually recognizes the contributions, innovations and exceptional performance of African-American professionals in the fields of marketing, advertising, media, public relations and consumer research.

To register or for further information about the MAAX Summit and the Sixth Annual MAAX Awards ceremony, visit www.targetmarketnews.com or call ?312-408-1881.

About Target Market News ? Target Market News, started in 1988, is considered one of the leading authorities on marketing, advertising and media directed to the African-American market. The company's trade publication, Target Market News, covers business activities in advertising, marketing and media targeted to black consumers. TMN's annual report, "The Buying Power of Black America," analyzes how African-American consumers spend billions of dollars in hundreds of categories of products and services. The company also distributes news and information on the latest developments in marketing and media through its Web site, news bulletin, research reports and conferences.

About General Motors ? General Motors (NYSE: GM, TSX: GMM), one of the world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 202,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in more than 120 countries. ?GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 30 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall, and Wuling. GM's largest national market is China, followed by the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Italy. ?GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. ?More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.

SOURCE Target Market News