Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council: 28th Annual Stars of Diversity Awards

Oct. 5, 2011 - PRLog -- This annual event  which is held every year during Minority Business Month, "celebrates the stars of diversity. " The honorees are acknowledged for their work that made $12 billion in contract opportunities possible for the members of the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC).  

This Grammy-Style Awards Show and Strolling Dinner had Rhonda Walker, morning anchor on local NBC Affiliate (WDIV Detroit) as the Mistress of Ceremonies.
 
"We were glad to highlight companies like SET Enterprise, who was recently featured in Black Enterprise, and won the Diamond Award because he goes out of his way to help other minority businesses," said Louis Green, President/CEO of MMSDC.

Hear the podcast of Sid Taylor, the President of SET Enterprise, on the Diverse Business show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/diversebusiness/2011/09/19/sid-taylor-making-a-difference-in-business-and-real-life#
 
This sold-out event  celebrated the extraordinary achievements of those in the supplier diversity industry.

Special Guests this year included:  City of Detroit Mayor, Dave Bing and Tony Brown, MMSDC Chairman of the Board and Group Vice President, Global Purchasing, Ford Motor Company, and Reverend Jesse Jackson, Rainbow PUSH.  

2011 Award Winners

Corporation of the Year - OEM
Ford Motor Company          
                             
Corporation of the Year - Professional
Kelly Services Inc.                    
                     
Corporation of the Year - Commercial Products
Herman Miller Inc.

Corporation of the Year - Manufacturing I
Johnson Controls, Inc.

Corporation of the Year - Finance & Insurance
The Auto Club Group (AAA Michigan)

Corporation of the Year - Construction
Walbridge

Corporation of the Year - Consumer Products
DTE Energy

Corporation of the Year - Health Care
Henry Ford Health System

Corporation of the Year -Education and Govt Entities
Wayne State University

Corporation of the Year - Information Technology
IBM Corporation

Corporate Buyer of the Year - National
Jonathan Pratt - Jonhson Controls, Inc.

Corporate Buyer of the Year - Local      
Eric Newton - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan


Minority Business Advocate of the Year - National
Kevin Bell - Chrysler Group LLC

Minority Business Advocate of the Year - Local
Donna Strickland - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Diamond Award
Sid E. Taylor - SET Enterprises

Class I (Sales less than $1M)
Unique Expressions LLC

Class II (Sales bet. $1M - $10M)
Powerlink Facilities Management Services

Class III (Sales bet. $10M - $50M)
The Epitec Group, Inc.

Class IV (Sales over $50M)
Vision Information Technologies, Inc. (VisionIT)

President's Award
Burt Jordan, Ford Motor Company
Chris Genteel, Google, Inc.

About MMSDC
MMSDC is a non-profit, 501c 3 organization. Founded in 1977, the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) has more than 1,200 certified minority businesses and over 300 corporate members working to further its mission to certify minority businesses; provide access to procurement opportunities; and develop capacity for minority business development. The MMSDC was recognized by the National Minority Supplier Development Council as "Council of the Year" for its work with major corporations to promote minority business development and growth.. For more information visit the MMSDC's website at  http://www.minoritysupplier.org.

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