Az Business
Life has blessed me withamazing experiences.I attended NelsonMandela’s CongressionalGold Medal ceremony in1998. I sat next to Rep. JohnLewis, the only living “BigSix” leader of the AmericanCivil Rights Movement, aswe retraced Martin LutherKing’s 1965 march to Montgomery, Ala., wherebe hoped to register black voters.I have shaken hands with men and women whoput their lives on the line for civil rights. Despitetheir efforts, we still have work to do. A 2012Minority Business Enterprise Report showed asignificant portion of minority-owned businessesin Arizona still have problems earning the trustof their customers, suppliers, peers and lenders.Marvin Perry, another great advocate for equalrights, felt the need to found the Black Board ofDirectors Project, which was created to help fillthe void of minorities on corporate, charitableand policy-making boards at the local, state andnational levels. In 28 years, BBODP has placedmore than 2,000 blacks and other minorities onboards and commissions.In this issue of Az Business magazine, Perryand other diversity leaders helped us select adynamic group of men and women who areamong the 25 Most Influential Minority BusinessLeaders in Arizona.As I edited the section, I came to a quickconclusion. The color of their skin doesn’t matter.We could easily call the section the “25 MostInfluential Business Leaders in Arizona” and noone would blink. That’s a step toward progress, butthere are more steps to take.
Life has blessed me withamazing experiences.I attended NelsonMandela’s CongressionalGold Medal ceremony in1998. I sat next to Rep. JohnLewis, the only living “BigSix” leader of the AmericanCivil Rights Movement, aswe retraced Martin LutherKing’s 1965 march to Montgomery, Ala., wherebe hoped to register black voters.I have shaken hands with men and women whoput their lives on the line for civil rights. Despitetheir efforts, we still have work to do. A 2012Minority Business Enterprise Report showed asignificant portion of minority-owned businessesin Arizona still have problems earning the trustof their customers, suppliers, peers and lenders.Marvin Perry, another great advocate for equalrights, felt the need to found the Black Board ofDirectors Project, which was created to help fillthe void of minorities on corporate, charitableand policy-making boards at the local, state andnational levels. In 28 years, BBODP has placedmore than 2,000 blacks and other minorities onboards and commissions.In this issue of Az Business magazine, Perryand other diversity leaders helped us select adynamic group of men and women who areamong the 25 Most Influential Minority BusinessLeaders in Arizona.As I edited the section, I came to a quickconclusion. The color of their skin doesn’t matter.We could easily call the section the “25 MostInfluential Business Leaders in Arizona” and noone would blink. That’s a step toward progress, butthere are more steps to take.
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27 AB | March-April 2014
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