Ten Minority Small Businesses Compete to be Named MED Week 2009 National Minority Small Business of the Year

Release Date: July 31, 2009 Contact: Tiffani Clements (202) 401‑0035
Release Number: 09-51 Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

SBA Hosts Government Contracting & Strategic Alliance Workshops at MED Week

WASHINGTON – One of 10 minority small businesses from across the nation will be named the National Minority Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration during the 27th National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week conference in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 26-28.
This year’s MED Week event, “Energizing the American Economy with Minority Business Enterprises,” will focus on helping minority small businesses navigate the current economic climate and tap into the financial resources and contracting opportunities that are available as a result of the President’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The conference will feature two workshops hosted by SBA: “Win Government Contracts for Your Small Business,” conducted by authors John DiGiacomo and James Kleckner on Aug. 26 and “Strategic Alliances for Winning Business,” to educate small businesses on how to develop strategic alliances and successful mentor-protégé relationships with graduates of SBA’s 8(a) Business Development program on Aug. 27. Small businesses must register to attend these workshops at http://www.medweek.gov/. Registration is free. MED Week 2009 will be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, and is co-hosted by the Minority Business Development Agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the SBA.
“This year’s MED Week event celebrates the people who are making significant contributions to their communities by creating jobs with their innovative products and services and stimulating the nation’s economy,” said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills. “The SBA is working diligently to ensure the small business community’s access to capital and contracting opportunities during these difficult times. In fact, with the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, 20 percent of Recovery Act loans have gone to minority-owned businesses and 12.4 percent of Recovery Act contracts have gone to minority-owned firms.”
The national winner is selected from among 10 regional winners this year representing Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, South Carolina, Minnesota, Texas, Missouri, Colorado, California, and Idaho. The regional award winners have businesses that offer services ranging from construction and health care to environmental remediation and staffing.
Held annually since 1983, MED Week recognizes minority businesses’ contributions to the nation’s economy.
Besides announcing the national minority small business award winner, SBA will present other awards including the SBA Administrator’s Leadership award and the 8(a) Graduate Firm of the Year award.
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Other features of the conference include:

· White House Reception for award winners (Invitation Only);
· MED Week Welcome Reception;
· Meet Your White House breakfast with keynote address by senior White House official;
· Business-to-Business Linkage Forum where small businesses are paired with government agencies and private sector companies to discuss potential contracting opportunities (pre-registration required and invitation only from 2:00-5:00 p.m. on Aug.28);
· MED Week Business Expo and Trade Show to provide opportunities to network from 9:15am-5:00p.m. on Aug. 28 and;
· Award ceremonies to honor minority entrepreneurs, minority business advocates and leaders in the corporate community, including a closing MED Week awards gala.

The 10 Regional Minority Small Business Persons of the Year are:
REGION I
Janice P. Guy, CEO
P3I, Incorporated
Hopkinton, MA

REGION II
Lenny Johnson, President
L&D Johnson Plumbing & Heating Inc.
Buffalo, NY

REGION III
Gloria LaVern Jackson, President & CEO
Joint Logistics Managers, Inc.
Prince George, VA

REGION IV
Cyrus D. Sinor, President & CEO
& Lawrence Kai-Yun Yeh
International Public Works, LLC
North Charleston, SC

REGION V
Akhtar Chaudhri, President
Virtelligence, Inc.
Eden Praire, MN

REGION VI
Mary Ellen Trevino, CEO
P3S Corporation
San Antonio, TX

REGION VII
Samuel P. Mudumala, P.E., CEO
Prudent Technologies, Inc.
Kansas City, MO

REGION VIII
Jerome Gonzales, President
JG Management
Grand Junction, CO

REGION IX
Gita Murthy, Ph.D., President
RORE, Inc.
San Diego, CA

REGION X
Randy Smith, President
NORTHCON, Inc.
Coeur D’ Alene, ID

For more details on this year’s MED Week conference, please visit http://www.medweek.gov/ or www.sba.gov/medweek2009/index.html.

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