National Minority Supplier Development Council Honors Leaders in Supply Chain Diversity on May 18

Black-Tie Gala Event at New York Hilton’s Grand Ballroom

On Wednesday, May 18^th, the 2016 National Minority Supplier Development Council Leadership Awards will recognize the dynamic corporate executives, minority business owners and NMSDC affiliate council presidents for outstanding leadership that has a positive impact on their companies and resonates throughout the NMSDC network. The black-tie gala evening at the New York Hilton (1335 Avenue of the Americas, starting at 6:30 PM) will include dinner and a ceremony to present the honorees, with the festivities wrapping up at 10 PM.

The National Minority Supplier Development Council advances business opportunities for certified minority business enterprises and connects them to corporate members. To meet the growing need for supplier diversity, NMSDC matches our more than 12,000 certified minority-owned businesses to our network of more than 1,750 corporate members who wish to purchase their products, services and solutions. NMSDC is proud of our unwavering commitment to advance Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American suppliers in a globalized corporate supply chain.

According to President Joset Wright-Lacy of NMSDC, “Leadership is not easy to define, but it is an essential element in achieving success and inspiring others to maximize their potential. A leader establishes a vision, sets direction and provides the guidance needed to reach a goal. Leadership is about passion in pursuit of that vision, in service of others, not oneself.”

This year, the Corporate Catalyst Award honoree is Ms. Shaleta Dunn,Director of Diverse Talent & Supplier Programs for ManpowerGroup, where she directs the Supplier Diversity Initiative and produces the Supplier Diversity Roundtable. “I aspire to inspire others the way they inspire me. I aspire to raise other leaders…” says Ms. Dunn. The award honors a corporate member with five to ten years’ experience in a corporate supplier diversity role. The recipient demonstrates exceptional leadership while engaging internal and external peers in support of NMSDC’s mission.

The MBE Catalyst Award is presented Ms. Azra Khalfan, Chief Executive Officer of Signs & Lucite Products, which was founded by her parents. The award goes to the owner of a minority business enterprise (MBE) who has been actively engaged within the NMSDC network for five to 10 years. The recipient is a change agent who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in guiding their company to success, and shared their knowledge and wisdom with peers as a mentor. “My one word that I have is ‘vision,’” according to Ms. Khalfan. “Taking those small steps has taken me farther than I ever imagined.”

The Corporate Trailblazer Award is presented to an innovative corporate leader whose pioneering spirit paved the way for the creation of robust supplier diversity processes throughout a career that spans 10 to 20 years. This influential leader serves as a mentor for other supplier diversity professionals. Their impactful leadership in supplier diversity has left an indelible mark on their colleagues and peers. This year’s honoree is Ms. I. Javette Hines, Senior Vice President, Supplier Diversity and Sustainability for Citigroup Inc. Ms. Hines is passionate about her work in the supply chain, and reminds us to “remember that who you say you are is also reflected by how you treat others. Those themes are central to who I am and try to be.”

The MBE Trailblazer Award recognizes Ms. Bonnie Nijst, President and Chief Executive Officer of Zeesman Communications, an award-winning brand strategy, marketing and design firm. The award honors the owner of a minority business enterprise (MBE) whose pioneering spirit has laid the foundation of success for other MBEs throughout the NMSDC network. For 10 to 20 years, this leader has established impactful programs, initiatives or collaborations designed to help their MBE peers achieve greater success. This innovator is also an influential leader at the affiliate level within the NMSDC network. Says Ms. Nijst, “I grew up working in my family's Indonesian restaurant… The fact is, I've yet to find anything more stressful than a roomful of hungry people.”

The Corporate Clarion Award recognizes a corporate leader who has trumpeted the value of minority supplier development for more than 20 years. Through words, action and leadership, this corporate executive issued a strong, clear and distinct call for full support of and engagement in minority supplier development as an absolute business imperative for establishing and maintaining success in the global supply chain. This year’s honoree isMr. George Ehrgott, Senior Manager, Strategic Sourcing, Sustainability and Supplier Diversity for Communications Test Design, Inc., an independent communications and high-tech repair service provider. Mahatma Gandhi’s words inspire Mr. Ehrgott: “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.”

The MBE Clarion Award honors an inspirational minority business leader with an established record of success for more than 20 years. Their achievements place them firmly among the elite class of minority suppliers and provide a platform to tout the value of minority suppliers to the global corporate supply chain. This individual demonstrates an unwavering commitment to minority supplier development through leadership roles within the NMSDC network. This year’s honoree is Mr. John W. Rogers, Chief Executive Officer of Ariel Investments, LLC, who takes inspiration from leaders who “understood the importance of using business to uplift their communities. They understood that leadership was about creating the next generation of great leaders.”

CPO of the Year Award is presented to Ms. Farryn Melton, Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. The award goes to an outstanding leader whose vision, passion and integrity have proven impactful within the CPO’s corporation as well as the larger supplier diversity community. Ms. Melton’s 20-plus-year career in procurement includes positions with Amgen, Novartis, Pfizer, Warner-Lambert, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Boeing and Rockwell International.

The Robert M. Stuart Leadership Award, named for Robert M. Stuart, the founding chairman of the Board of the Directors of the National Minority Purchasing Council (later renamed NMSDC), is presented to a leader who has invested their time, energy and passion to advancing opportunities for Minority Business Enterprises in Corporate America.  This individual is recognized for their overwhelming support and generosity that elevates the entire NMSDC network. This year’s honoree is Ms. Harriet R. Michel,NMSDC’s former President for 22 years, who has worked for 50 years in the public sector developing and managing programs that address major social concerns.

The Corporate Co-Chair for the 2016 Leadership Awards is Toyota, and the MBE Co-Chair is GEP. MetLife is the VIP reception sponsor. Black Enterprise is the media partner for the event.