GREENVILLE, S.C., August 23, 2010 – To the applause of hundreds of minority business owners, corporate executives and procurement professionals from across the Carolinas, the Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Council 2010 Business Opportunity Conference recognized progress and achievement by minority businesses in honoring individuals and corporations at their recent annual awards program at the Hyatt Regency Greenville, South Carolina.
Dick Wilkerson of Michelin, N.A. received the President’s Award celebrating the leadership he demonstrated in creating access to capital through the Michelin Development Fund for Disadvantaged Businesses in the Upstate.
Joe Mullen of BMW Manufacturing was honored as CMSDC Advocate of the Year for his mentorship of minority enterprises, his active pursuit of opportunity creation, building community awareness and involvement, and BMW’s volume of business currently conducted with minority business enterprises. Sharon Campbell of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions was saluted as Coordinator of the Year for her tireless efforts to leverage minority enterprise and develop a more diverse supplier base at her organization.
Cited as Regional Corporation of the Year was BI-LO of Mauldin, South Carolina. BI-LO was hailed for building of community awareness around minority issues, civic involvement, and continued growth of business conducted with minority business enterprises across their multistate geographic footprint.
Denny’s Restaurants of Spartanburg, SC was honored with the coveted National Corporation of the Year Award for continued commitment to minority business enterprises, mentorship and support of minority businesses and their leaders, civic involvement, and continued growth of business with minority organizations.
CMSDC leaders also celebrated the Public-Private Sector Organization of the Year, presenting the award to Novant Health of Winston-Salem, NC for its commitment to minority business purchasing, technical and managerial assistance to such enterprises, and volume of business opportunities dedicated to minority companies.
Finally, Supplier of the Year Awards were presented to Hoyles General Contractors of Charlotte in the Tier One (<$1 million in revenues) category; DeWhit Inc. of Simpsonville, SC in the Tier Two ($1-10 million in revenues) category; and to Aten Clinical Solutions of Cary, NC in the Tier Three (>$10 million revenues).
The 3-day event drew top executives from leading organizations across the Carolinas, including Boeing, Volvo, Denny’s, SCANA, Clemson, Enterprise Holdings, Progress Energy, Bank of America, Sonoco, Duke Energy, BMW, BI-LO, Wells Fargo, Michelin, Mack Trucks, Merck, Food Lion, Turner Construction, Skanska, GE Healthcare, Milliken, Johnson Controls, SAS, First Citizens, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Dell, Coca Cola, Shaw, Staples, Lockheed Martin, Time Warner, Compass Group/Food Buy, Greenville Hospital System, Novant Health, Verizon, and GE Energy.
The program included a CEO Breakfast, a Legislative Roundtable discussion with public sector officials, a Purchasing Panel of leading purchasing executives, Diversity University training sessions and trade show, and the Awards Dinner to celebrate corporate and minority business achievements.
“We are particularly proud to honor individuals and organizations who understand that promoting and supporting the development of minority business enterprises (MBEs) not only helps the business community, but is essential to regional competitiveness,” said Ray Lattimore, CEO of Marketplace Staffing of Greenville, and one of the host organizations for the CMSDC’s Business Opportunity Conference. “We all benefit when business owners and leaders from across the Carolinas come together to increase opportunities for minority-owned enterprises, and to salute those who are demonstrating that it is not only the right thing to do but that it also makes good business sense.”
Minority suppliers are among the fastest-growing segment of today’s business landscape. This year, America’s largest corporations will spend close to $100 billion to buy goods and services from minority-owned businesses. “We are hoping that the fine example of business and civic leadership set by our prominent corporate members and certified minority businesses will motivate other corporations and entrepreneurs to join us in ensuring the success of our economy,” said Robyn Hamilton, Carolinas MSDC president.
For additional information on award winners or the CMSDC and its programs, please visit www.carolinasmsdc.org.
As the Carolinas/Tennessee Verizon Wireless region president, Jerry Fountain oversees the company’s sales, marketing, network operations, finance, administration, and an extensive retail footprint in South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. A 30-year veteran of the telecommunications industry, Jerry has witnessed first-hand the evolution and explosion of wireless in the US and under his leadership, helped Verizon Wireless become the largest wireless voice and 3G data network in the US. 
