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Minority Business Award Winners Announced at Marketplace 2008 Reception
For Immediate Release: October 2, 2008 MILWAUKEE - The Department of Commerce honored four Wisconsin companies and named the winners of the Outstanding Business (large and small company) Award, Rising Star Award and Good Citizen award at a special reception on Wednesday, October 1 at the Wyndham Hotel, Wyndham Milwaukee Airport and Convention Center, Milwaukee. The awards were made in conjunction with the 27th annual Marketplace Trade Fair. "It's a pleasure to recognize these businesses, individuals and support organizations for their tremendous accomplishments," said Department of Commerce Secretary Dick Leinenkugel. "We can learn from their determination to succeed and their aggressive pursuit of new business opportunities." The four awards are made to Wisconsin-based ethnic minority businesses (as defined by the State of Wisconsin) that are organized for-profit. The Marketplace 2008 award winners are:
Outstanding Business - Large Company Award (more than 25 employees)
Outstanding Business - Small Company Award (less than 25 employees)
The Outstanding Business Awards recognizes an established minority enterprise that demonstrates overall experience on company history, product, sales and market impact, customer service, employment and management dimensions.
Rising Star
The Rising Star Award recognizes an emerging minority business that shows great promise as an innovator, either by virtue of its product or service offering, or shows promise of strong competitive advantage and growth because of its business model.
Good Citizen Award
The Good Citizen Award recognizes a minority business that has made and continues to make a positive contribution to society and its community. The award winners in each category were honored at the October 2nd Marketplace 2008 Governor's Conference on Minority Business Development luncheon. In addition to the presentation of these awards at the luncheon, the following special recognition awards were made the Department of Commerce:
Community Involvement Award
A special recognition award was presented to Forest County Potawatomi Community/ Potawatomi Bingo Casino for their efforts to improve their community and their commitment to diversity.
Minority Business Development Award
This award is given in recognition of the City of Racine's efforts in stimulating and supporting minority business in Racine, especially the establishment of minority loan fund and technical assistance program. Further, with cooperation efforts of the Racine Branch-NAACP and the Racine County Economic Development Corporation, the City of Racine, in 1996, established the Community Economic Development Corporation (CEDCO) to administer its revolving loan fund and to provide training, one-on-one technical assistance and low interest loans to new and existing minority businesses in Racine.
Economic Development Award
Shaleta Dunn currently directs WHEDA's Emerging Business Markets Program. Through Shaleta's efforts, the Emerging Business Program has succeeded in their efforts to utilize and promote minority-owned businesses.
Wisconsin State Procurement Excellence in Construction Award
American Design, Inc., is a sixteen year old full service land use planning and architectural firm based in Milwaukee. American Design professionals manage the entire development process incorporating renovation and new construction projects. The Small Business Administration recognized the accomplishments of the following businesses by presenting the following awards:
2008 Minority Small Business Champion
2008 Minority Small Business Person
A webinar featuring the finalist of the Outstanding Business, Rising Star and Good Citizen award finalists can be found on the website of the Department of Commerce at http://marketplace.wi.gov. The Department of Commerce would like to thank those who supported the Minority Business Development Marketplace 2008. This year's sponsors include National City Bank, Small Business Times, American Family Insurance, Roundy's Supermarket, Inc., Alliant Energy, Generation Growth Capitol, Inc., Ho-Chunk Nation, WHEDA, Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corporation, Wisconsin Energy Corporation, Harley Davidson Motor Company, Potawatomi Business Development Corporation, Madison Gas and Electric, Mortenson Matzelle & Meldrum, Wisconsin Supplier Development Council, J.P. Cullen & Sons, Inc., Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, Technisource Packaging Group, Inc., Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation, Reinhart Attorneys at Law, Hiring Staff Services, Inc., and Wisconsin Physician Service. -30- |
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