GMSDC Names AT&T ‘Corporation of the Year’ During Its 34th Annual Awards Dinner Honoring Excellence in Supplier Diversity and Minority Business Development
Ethnic-minority-owned Companies, Corporations and Industry Titans Honored in Blue Carpet Style
ATLANTA, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ — On September 25th, one might have confused downtown Atlanta for Hollywood and A-list business icons for Academy Award celebs during the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council’s (GMSDC) 34th Annual Spirit of Alliance (SOA) Awards ceremony. AT&T, Georgia Power, Johnson Controls, The Home Depot, The Coca-Cola Company and UPS were just a few of Atlanta’s corporate leaders that walked in on GMSDC’s ‘Blue Carpet’ and walked out with Awards.
Aptly themed “Legends of the Blue Carpet” this year, the Spirit of Alliance is the largest statewide platform for honoring Georgia’s corporate leaders and certified ethnic minority businesses enterprises (MBEs) who have demonstrated unparalleled excellence in supplier diversity and minority business development. Hundreds of companies are nominated by their peers and/or partners and vie for up to 16 awards in varying categories (Complete listing/descriptions below).
While blue-chip corporations earned their due during the annual black tie affair, the star power of Georgia’s MBEs in various Classes and industries also headlined the night. With nominees and attendees from companies throughout Georgia, all four big winners — Accolades!, All (n) 1 Security, Primus Software Corporation and Pyramid Consulting — are companies headquartered in and around Atlanta.
“Spirit of Alliance is one of the most important initiatives of this Council as it marks our moment in time to acknowledge and honor the tireless works of our MBE and Corporate partners,” said Stacey Key, GMSDC President & CEO. “While the Recession has certainly affected all aspects of business, the unprecedented number of nominations, attendance and overall excitement, underscores Georgia as a thriving business metropolis. And the nearly $1 billion spent with minority companies during the past year validates supplier diversity as a valuable mainstay and in some cases even an economic recovery tool,” Key added.
AT&T — YOUR WORLD DELIVERED THROUGH SUPPLIER DIVERSITY; GEORGIA POWER PROVES DOUBLE THE BUYING POWER!
Perhaps the most esteemed and coveted corporate designation of the night was the Corporation of the Year Award won by AT&T, beating out 11 other corporate finalists. The Home Depot’s Michelle Johnson took the George Lottier Rising Star Award and UPS’s James Mallard was named Executive of the Year. Corporate Buyers from The Home Depot, The Coca-Cola Company and 2 from Georgia Power won Buyers of the Year. Johnson Control’s Al Richardson was awarded Advocate of the Year, while UPS snagged the Crystal Award.
2009 SPIRIT OF ALLIANCE AWARD WINNERS
AWARD CATEGORY WINNERS
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Corporation of the Year AT&T
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Executive of the Year James Mallard, UPS
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Advocate of the Year Al Richardson, Johnson
Controls, Inc.
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Crystal Award UPS
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George Lottier Michelle Johnson, The
Rising Star Award Home Depot
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Eagle Award Pyramid Consulting, Inc.
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Supplier of the Year Accolades!
Class I
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Supplier of the Year All (n) 1 Security
Class II Services, Inc.
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Supplier of the Year Primus Software
Class III Corporation
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Buyer of the Year/IT Brian Coe, Georgia Power
– A Southern Company
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Buyer of the Year/ Chris Horace, The
Professional Services Coca-Cola Company
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Buyer of the Lisa Slaker, The Home
Year/Staffing Depot
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Buyer of the Year/ Marquisha Handy, Georgia
Real Estate & Power
Facilities Services
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INTRODUCING GMSDC’S BLUE LEGEND AWARD
For the first time in the event’s 34-year history, GMSDC created a new award – The Blue Legend Award. This award honors pioneers who have taken risks, pushed against adversity and helped level the playing field for minority businesses as well as in other facets of life. The inaugural recipients included Senator Sam Nunn, GMSDC organizer Franklin O’Neal, The Late Honorable Mayor Maynard Jackson and the Late Sara Gonzales of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS OF SPIRIT OF ALLIANCE
Georgia Power, Pyramid Consulting, The Home Depot, Lockheed Martin and UPS served as major sponsors of the Spirit of Alliance as well as more than 30 other sponsors and supporters. GMSDC also partnered with the Samaritan House of Atlanta in the spirit of supporting everyday, unsung heroes that might otherwise not be recognized.
Source: Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council
CONTACT: Alexandria G. Taylor, 404-493-2391,
alex@taylorcommunicationsgroup.com