3.28.2007 - 10:10am ET

(CSRwire) PITTSBURGH, PA - March 27, 2007 - Bayer's Women's Initiative Networking Group (WINGs) will host a "best practices summit" on Wednesday, March 28, with networking representatives from more than 10 Pittsburgh area organizations. The gathering will provide an opportunity for local women leaders to share ideas, experiences and best practices regarding women's networking groups.

Attendees will participate in breakout sessions on various topics, such as defining network goals and the sustainability of women's networking groups. Bayer's Diana Kamyk, Manager of Worklife Diversity, will facilitate the discussions, exploring the "how-tos" of recruiting and retaining membership, as well as fostering a mentor program for women.

"The purpose of the summit is to pull from suggestions outside of each company’s individual networking boundaries," said Kamyk. "A collaboration of ideas would lend itself to more clearly defined objectives, increased visibility and a sense of inclusion. It is important to hear what practices are being adopted by the various networking groups."

In addition to WINGs members, the attendees include nearly 20 representatives from local high profile organizations. Remarks by Susanna Wayt, Vice President Human Resources, Americas, Bayer MaterialScience LLC, will open the event. Dr. Attila Molnar, CEO of Bayer Corporation, will close the event with a few comments.

While the summit presents an opportunity to further examine best practices, WINGs is certainly no stranger to the subject. The group, which serves Bayer's Pittsburgh site employees, conducts a survey of its members annually to uncover topics of interest and degree of importance. There is also an annual executive sponsor panel discussion to encourage candid dialogue between employees and senior management.

In addition to expanding membership and enlisting the support of senior management, WINGs actively seeks community exposure, involvement and contribution, sponsoring quarterly wellness events in partnership with the American Heart Association. To promote continuous personal and professional development, lunch-and-learn sessions and social events are held throughout the year.

WINGs was formed at the Bayer Pittsburgh site in 2003 to cultivate the development of professional women at Bayer by sharing formal and informal information. The network has 160 members.

Bayer Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, is a subsidiary of Bayer AG, an international health care, nutrition and innovative materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. In North

America, Bayer had 2006 net sales of 7.8 billion euros and employed 17,200 at year end. Bayer’s three subgroups, Bayer HealthCare, Bayer CropScience and Bayer MaterialScience, improve people's lives through a broad range of essential products that help diagnose, prevent and treat diseases; protect crops and enhance yields; and advance automobile safety and durability. Bayer AG stock is a component of the DAX and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: BAY).

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