CORPORATIONS OF THE YEAR Key Minority Businesses Also Recognized

The award is regarded as the most significant honor to a major corporation for the utilization of minority suppliers. Since NMSDC was founded in 1972, hundreds of major corporations have launched initiatives to increase their business relationships with minority suppliers (Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American).

PepsiCo’s spend with minority suppliers has increased to $335 million in 2003 despite overall purchasing reduction. The company has made significant progress in core business areas (sweeteners and ingredients, packaging, marketing equipment) as well as non-traditional areas, such as accounting, treasury and training.

Toyota’s spend with minority suppliers grew from $40 million in 1997 to $650 million in 2003. Toyota has established an aggressive minority content target: 7.5% of all Tier I purchases to be procured from NMSDC-certified MBEs by 2005.

Both companies have several initiatives in place to develop suppliers, including financial assistance, educational fellowships and technical training, mentoring/capacity building, and assistance with joint ventures/strategic alliances. Their Second Tier Programs require prime suppliers (minority as well as majority) to establish minority supplier development programs.

Deberah M. Stone, corporate supplier diversity manager for BellSouth Corporation, received the MBE Coordinator of the Year award in recognition of innovative supplier development activities and leadership across industry groups and across the country.

Three top minority businesses were also recognized as national "Suppliers of the Year" for excellence in business acumen and community service. They are: Muñiz Engineering, Houston, Texas; Prestige Design Group, Atlanta, Georgia; and Pyramid Consulting, Norcross, Georgia.

"These are some of NMSDC’s highest awards, given to minority suppliers who distinguish themselves and their businesses by successfully demonstrating growth in sales and employment while overcoming significant obstacles; consistently providing high quality products and services at competitive prices; and significantly contributing to the growth and development of society in their community," said Harriet R. Michel, president of the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

Nine minority businesses were honored as regional "Suppliers of the Year". The winners are: America’s Finest Filters, Louisville, Kentucky; Cam-Tre’ Innovations, Southfield, Michigan; Chemico Systems, Pontiac, Michigan; Eclaro International, New York, New York; General Maintenance Company, Burlington, North Carolina; Ideal Electrical Supply Corporation, Washington, D.C.; Pinnacle Technical Resources, Dallas, Texas; Rose International, Chesterfield, Missouri; and Wise Business Services, Dallas, Texas.

The Houston Minority Business Council was awarded the Council of the Year award, for providing stellar services to hundreds of corporations and minority businesses in the Houston area.

Appreciation awards for outstanding volunteer leadership were presented to William J. Moon, vice president, procurement services, United Parcel Service and Thomas W. Sidlik, executive vice president, global procurement and supply, DaimlerChrysler.

Providing a direct link between corporate America and minority-owned businesses is the primary objective of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, one of the country’s leading business membership organizations. It was chartered in 1972 to provide increased procurement and business opportunities for minority businesses of all sizes.

The NMSDC Network includes a national office in New York and 39 Regional Councils across the country. There are 3,500 corporate members throughout the network, including America’s top publicly-owned, privately-owned and foreign-owned companies as well as universities, hospitals and other buying institutions. The Regional Councils certify and match more than 15,000 minority-owned businesses with member corporations that want to purchase goods and services.

For more information about the National Minority Supplier Development Council, call (212) 944-2430 or check the Web site at www.nmsdc.org.