MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. NATIONAL MEMORIAL MOVING FORWARD: DESIGN-BUILD JOINT VENTURE SELECTS AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE BUSINESS OWNER AS GRANITE CONSULTANT

Washington, D.C., June 30, 2008
The Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc and the McKissack & McKissack / Turner Construction Company/ Gilford Corporation / Tompkins Builders, Inc. Joint Venture, announced that Angela Fortson, an African- American owner of Southeastern Granite Company based in Elberton, GA, will serve as a granite consultant on the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial. Fortson will assist in the selection of the Inscription Wall granite and in identifying suitable domestic sources. “It is extremely important to the Design-Build Joint Venture that African-American, minority and women owned businesses are an integral part of the design and construction of this incredible Memorial,” said Construction Executive Ken Terry. “The opportunities to participate are many, and we have made it a priority to inform interested parties about these opportunities and the qualification processes. The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial will be constructed in accordance with Dr. King’s philosophies of equality and conscience.” As a 46 year old black female business owner, Fortson’s success story is in keeping with the positive messages, stories and lessons that have inspired the design and construction of the Memorial. Fortson is a 2nd generation granite entrepreneur. In the early sixties, her father, George M. Fortson started the Fortson Stone Company with nothing more than a business dream, hard work, a chisel and a hammer. Fortson explains, “Visits to my hometown of Elberton, Georgia, turned into a learning experience. My father would proudly take me to various job sites and granite companies, explaining the details of the business. ” Today, Southeastern Granite Company and Fortson Stone Company have collectively supplied granite for major projects throughout the Southeast including the Jimmy Carter Presidential Parkway, City of Atlanta Emory University, Gordon College, The Richard B. Russel State Park, and most recently partial reconstruction of the Granite Bowl in Elberton Georgia For over a decade, Fortson has continued her father’s proud tradition in the granite business. She says, “I must emphasize that this is not my story; this is the story of sacrifice and foresight of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, and those who have gone before me and gave their life to make it possible for a black female from Elberton, Georgia to make a small contribution towards the construction of this great Memorial in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” Ms. Fortson’s scope of work also includes evaluating the suitability of proposed granite, assisting in the selection of slabs and evaluating the design details and submittal review of the stone shop drawings. Lisa Anders, Senior Program Director for the design firm Mckissack & Mckissack, said “Ms. Fortson’s qualifications and expertise in the granite industry will make her a great asset. Her life-long experience and insight will ensure the selection of the most suitable granite for the Inscription Wall.”

There is approximately 52,850 SF of granite on the memorial project, not including the Stone of Hope and Mountain of Despair.

About McKissack & McKissack / Turner Construction Company/ Gilford Corporation / Tompkins Builders, Inc. Joint Venture.
The Design-Build Joint Venture is comprised of the design firm of McKissack & McKissack, and the construction firms of Turner Construction Company, Gilford Corporation and Tompkins Builders, Inc. Members of the team have previously worked together on several prominent projects. Together, McKissack & Mckissak and Turner Construction Company have completed the New Washington Convention Center, Renovation of RFK Stadium and the multi-phased Renovation of the U.S. Treasury Building. Gilford Corporation was also teamed on the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center with Tompkins Builders, Inc. McKissack & Mckissack is an African-American, woman-owned full service architecture and program/construction management firm (www.mckissackdc.com).  Turner Construction Company is one of the largest construction management companies in the US. The firms business with minority firms averages between $500 - 800 million a year (www.turnerconstruction.com). Gilford Corporation is a leading minority-owned construction firm certified as a Minority Business Enterprise by the MD/DC Supplier Development Council (www.gilfordcrop.com). Headquartered in Washington, D.C. for nearly a century, Tompkins Builders, Inc. is responsible for some of the District’s most unique, prominent, and historically significant projects including the National World War II Memorial; the National Museum of Natural History renovations; and the American Red Cross Headquarters (www.tompkinsbuilders.com).