UPPER MARLBORO, Md., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For 29 years, consecutively, the Maryland/District of Columbia Minority Supplier Development Council (MD/DC MSDC) has convened in grand fashion at its Annual Leadership Awards Gala to celebrate trendsetters and trailblazers in supplier diversity.  On Friday, October 8, 2010, nearly 300 corporate, entrepreneurial and political dignitaries assembled to recognize those leaders who have demonstrated the highest professional standards, visionary leadership and superior performance against the odds.  

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101015/DC83151)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101015/DC83151)

The first award of the evening was presented to the Honorable Anthony G. Brown, Lieutenant Governor of the State of Maryland, who was recognized for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the inclusion of small, minority and women owned enterprises in state, private and base realignment business opportunities in the state.  During his comments, Lt. Governor Brown highlighted the great strides that the O'Malley-Brown administration has made in advancing the quality of education in Maryland, and he acknowledged the fact that their administration had achieved 25% minority inclusion in state contracting.  

Marriott International, Inc. was recognized as the 2010 Corporation of the Year for its dynamic supplier diversity program which procures the services of over 4,000 diverse suppliers and boasts over $100 million in diverse spend.  

Other Leadership Award winners included:

• Advocate of the Year - Michelle Bell, 1^st Choice Government Solutions
• Minority Supplier Leader of the Year, James Sturgis, Ahold US (Giant Food, LLC)
• Suppliers of the Year
  • Sales up to $1MM – Bell Family Foods, Inc.
  • Sales $1-$10MM – SB & Company, LLC
  • Sales $10-$10MM – EMD Sales, Inc.
  • Sales over $50MM – The Bartech Group
• President's Award – Erica Billie, Capital One
• Chairman's Award – Darlene Fuller, Sodexo
• Reginald Lewis Lifetime Achievement Award – Anthony Robinson, Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense and Education Fund

Kenneth Clark, MD/DC MSDC President, reminded guests that despite the notion that rising tides lifts all boats, the recent recession disproportionately left minority business owners without boats. He stated that together, however, "our certified MBEs and our corporate members are rebuilding boats for the minority community through procurement opportunities and the great products and services that our NMSDC certified Minority Business Enterprises provide."

Also on hand to celebrate these leaders were Ms. Carolyn Fugett and Mr. Elliott Wiley, mother and brother-in-law of the legendary entrepreneur Reginald F. Lewis, who assisted in the presentation of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award named in her son's honor.

Established in 1972, the Maryland/District of Columbia Minority Supplier Development Council (MD/DC MSDC) is the leading minority business development organization within Maryland and Washington DC.  It is one of 37 regional councils affiliated with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) – the certification body of choice for Corporate America and the recognized link to high caliber Minority Business Enterprises.  

For more information, please call (301) 592-6700 or email to info@mddccouncil.org.  

SOURCE Maryland/District of Columbia Minority Supplier Development Council

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