DETROIT, MI – The Michigan Minority Business Development Council (MMBDC) will host over 800 major corporations and minority businesses on September 29 at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra/Max Fisher. The sold out event is a celebration of the extraordinary achievements of the stars of supplier diversity. City of Detroit Mayor, Dave Bing will be in attendance.
The 26th Annual Awards: “Celebrate the Stars of Supplier Diversity” finalists from 19 combined award categories include:
Commercial Products: Haworth; Herman Miller; Steelcase
Construction: Barton Marlow Corporation; URS Washington Division; Walbridge
Consumer Products: DTE Energy; Kellogg Company; Marathon Oil Company
Education and Governmental Entities: Michigan State University; University of Michigan-Flint; Wayne State University
Manufacturing I: ArvinMeritor, Inc.; Johnson Controls; Lear Corporation
Finance & Insurance: AAA Michigan; Accident Fund Insurance Company of America; Comerica Bank
Health Care: Blue Care Network of Southeast Michigan; Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan; Henry Ford Health System
Professional Services: Cintas Corporation; FEV Engine Technology, Inc.; Kelly Services
Manufacturing II: Gill Industries; PPG Industries; Kongsberg Automotive
Technology and Transportation: IBM Corporation; Ryder Integrated Logistics
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM): Chrysler Group LLC; Ford Motor Company; Honda of America Manufacturing; Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing N.A. Inc.
Corporate Buyer of the Year: Jehan M. Ghouse – Toyota Motor; Jonathan Pratt-Johnson Controls, Inc.; Scott Moore-Ford Motor Company
Jethro Joseph Minority Business Advocate of the Year: – Don P. Alessi – Comerica Bank; Brenda
Marshall- Kelly Services; Adrienne Trimble – Toyota
2009 Minority Business Supplier of the Year Finalists:
Class I (Sales less than $1M): ATS Training and Consulting; Mardon Group; Schooner Consulting and Management
Class II (Sales bet. $1M – $10M): EKS Services; W3R Consulting; Wrightway Group, LLC
Class III (Sales bet. $10M – $50M): Computech Corporation; Epitec Group; Powerlink Environmental Services
Class IV (Sales over $50M): The Bartech Group; VisionIT; L.S. Brinker Company
Diamond Award: Leon Richardson- Chemico Systems; Ram Kancharla – Computech; Sid Taylor-SET Enterprises
New this year, is a special awards presentation including local ethnic performers: The Bahweting Singers from the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians; Raices Mexicanas of Metro Detroit, The Zone Dance Center, and Mario Hayden Trio.
The 26th Annual Awards is presented by General Motors Company and Takata Corporation. The evening includes a strolling dinner followed by the awards presentation. Founded in 1977, the MMBDC has more than 1,300 certified minority businesses and over 400 corporate members working to further its mission to certify minority businesses; provide access to procurement opportunities; and develop capacity for minority business development.