Richard Nixon to serve as MBDA’s first African American Director (1970-1971). The other 2011 MED Week award winners were: Metcon Construction, Pembroke, N.C. for Minority Construction Firm of the Year; Superior Communications, <strong>Inc</strong>., Baldwin Park, Calif. for Minority Manufacturer of the Year; SilRay, <strong>Inc</strong>., Palo Alto, Calif. for Minority Retail Energy Firm of the Year; InfoPeople Corporation, New York, N.Y. for Minority Global <strong>Technology</strong> Firm of the Year; Redapt, <strong>Inc</strong>., Redmond, Washington. for Minority Global Supplier Distributor of the Year; Omar Duque, President & CEO, Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for Advocate of the Year; Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine, Pat Lottier (publisher) for the Media Award; Delphi Automotive, Ruben Estrada (director) for the Distinguished Supplier Diversity Award; and F. Leroy Pacheco, The Loan Fund for the Access to Capital Award. Each year, hundreds of minority-owned firms from a variety of industries converge at the MED Week Conference in order to connect with public and private sector buyers, explore avenues for business expansion, and develop thriving partnerships with firms across multiple industry sectors. Minority-owned businesses are critical to the expansion of the U.S. Economy and to job creation. The MED Week Conference event helps leverage networking and expansion opportunities so that minority-owned businesses continue to be engines generating success for the U.S. economy. For more information about the Minority Business Development Agency, visit www.mbda.gov. For more information about MED Week visit www.medweek.gov. About the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) MBDA, www.mbda.gov, an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, promotes the growth and global competitiveness of the minority business community, making them better equipped to create jobs, impact local economies and compete successfully in domestic and global marketplaces. With a nationwide network of more than 45 business centers and strategic partners, MBDA assists minority entrepreneurs and business owners with consulting services, contract and financing opportunities, bonding and certification services, building business-to-business alliances and executive training. 20 Minority Enterprise Advocate • November – December 2011
Minority Enterprise Advocate • November – December 2011 21
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