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Minority Entrepreneurs Recognized for Excellence


2010 National Minority Business Award Winners to be Honored During
This Month’s National MED Week Conference

Washington (August 12, 2010) – The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) proudly announces the National Minority Business Award winners. Recipients will be honored at an awards gala on August 27, 2010 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. during the National MED Week Conference.

“Minority-owned firms continue to play a critical role in the recovery of our economy,” said MBDA National Director David A. Hinson. “The businesses we recognize through these awards have created jobs, expanded the local tax base, given back to their communities, and most importantly, are models for sharing best practices with the rest of the minority business community.”

The National Minority Business Awards are designed to celebrate and recognize the outstanding achievements of minority entrepreneurs based on the challenges their business has overcome, its total revenues, total jobs created, and the economic impact the business has had on its community. MBDA also recognizes individuals and organizations that have demonstrated leadership and commitment in advancing the minority business community.

   
 WHO: Dennis Hightower, Deputy Secretary of Commerce
David A. Hinson, National Director, MBDA
Marie Johns, Deputy Administrator, SBA
Joseph Jordan, Associate Administrator, SBA
Litefoot, Native American entertainer, role model and entrepreneur
   
 WHAT: Gala to honor National Minority Business Award winners
   
 WHERE: Omni Shoreham Hotel
2500 Calvert StreetNorthwest
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 234-0700
   
 WHEN: Friday, August 27, 2010
7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

 MEDIA COVERAGE: MED Week and this awards gala are open to the press.  Interviews with award winners can be scheduled by contacting Lahne Mattas-Curry at 202.482.4690 or lmattascurry@mbda.gov.

The National Minority Business Award winners include:

Minority Manufacturer of the Year – Nypro Kánaak, Juneau, Alaska

Nypro Kánaak is one of the best solution providers in the plastics industry, specializing in designing, molding and manufacturing plastics products in the government and commercial contracting arenas. Nypro Kánaak has worked with some of the world’s largest companies including Proctor & Gamble and Dell, Inc.  Nypro Kánaak assures customers worldwide that it is able to handle the most challenging and innovative projects and guarantee a continuing commitment to technological innovation and speed-to-market integrated solutions for customers around the globe.  The company currently has manufacturing facilities in Mexico, Iowa and Alabama.  In 2009, Nypro Kánaak employed 450 workers and had revenues of $60 million.

Minority Construction Firm of the Year – Del Valle Group, S.P., Puerto Rico

The Del Valle Group (DVG), formed in 1988, is a recognized leader in road, bridge and building construction as well as pavement rehabilitation, site development, marine structures and facilities.  Last year, DVG had 630 employees and total revenues of more than $94 million with projects in both the public and private sector.  DVG also has a strong focus on green building and environmental conservation, recycling concrete whenever possible.

Minority Retail Energy Company of the Year – Sacred Power Corporation, Albuquerque, NM

Sacred Power Corporation provides a variety of renewable energy services to federal, state, local and tribal governments. In addition, it provides renewable energy services to industry, commercial and residential customers.  The products and services provided by Sacred Power include photovoltaic (PV)/hybrid skid mounted systems that have multiple methods of generating power.  These combined systems include PV plus wind turbines, hydrogen powered fuel cells, batteries, inverters, two-axis trackers and water-chilled cooling cabinets.  The concept is an industry leader.  In 2009, Sacred Power had revenues of $6.2 million.

Minority Global Technology Firm of the Year – CIeNET Technologies International, LLC, Oakbrook, IL

CIeNET Technologies is a leading technical service provider in the area of globally sourced consulting, software development, testing and systems integration.  CIeNET has positioned itself as a premier global delivery partner with an increasing client base comprised of multi-national Fortune 1000 companies across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America.  With global experience and fully connected development facilities, CIeNET’s China R&D centers manage the full lifecycle of software development following CMMI and ISO certified quality assurance processes.  In 2009, CIeNET had approximately $34 million in revenues and employed 110 workers worldwide.

Minority Global Supplier Distributor of the Year – Flying Food Group (FFG), Chicago, IL

Flying Food Group custom-designs and produces exceptional food for guests of customers in the airline catering, grocery, food service and specialty markets.  FFG customers include more than 55 premier airlines – primarily international carriers – and leading food retailers.  Dedicated to quality, cost-efficiency and reliable delivery of outstanding products, FFG supports and enhances the brand of its customers around the globe.  In 2009, FFG’s revenues exceeded $320 million and the company employed more than 3,200 workers worldwide.

In addition, the following minority business community champions are recognized for their commitment to creating an environment for minority business growth:

Distinguished Supplier Diversity Award – Harold Mills, CEO, Zero Chaos, Orlando, FL

Under the exceptional management and leadership of CEO Harold Mills, Zero Chaos achieved more than $720 million in revenues in 2009, with growth revenues over 200 percent in the last two years. In addition, employment and job creation totals reached 2,370 minority jobs in 2009, according to the company. Doing business specifically with minority firms is a critical business imperative for Zero Chaos, and it projects that $150 million dollars will be spent with minority-owned firms in 2010. With employees across 50 states and 4 countries, Zero Chaos has been able to create a $200 billion global market, totaling an impressive 22,000 employees worldwide.

Advocate of the Year – NancyDeskins, Director of Supplier Diversity and Corporate Agreements, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Liverpool, NY

Nancy Deskins is a vigorous advocate for a diverse supplier base and ensures small- and minority-owned businesses are a part of the Lockheed Martin procurement solution. Lockheed Martin currently has 86 Corporate Agreements with Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs).  In 2009, purchases to SDBs as tier one contractors totaled more than $967 million and subcontractors totaled nearly $2 billion.  Through a variety of programs, including its award winning Mentor-Protégé program and Supplier Information Sessions, Lockheed Martin advocates the use of SDBs to the technical/program and procurement communities as well as the aerospace and defense industry.

Access to Capital Award – Tony Hernandez, Bank of the West, Downey, CA

Tony Hernandez has been extremely active in assisting minority-owned firms’ access to capital despite the economic downturn and credit crunch.  Specifically, over the last decade, Hernandez has been responsible for lending more than $250 million to minority-owned firms, and in 2009, he was responsible for $60 million in loans to minority-owned firms.  Access to capital remains one of the most challenging barriers to the growth of minority-owned businesses, and it is investments from professionals like Hernandez that allow these firms to grow, supporting the local economy and creating new jobs.