FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Ann Almond
(404) 207-3817
atlgraphics@bellsouth.net
2015 Georgia Minority Business Awards Celebration
‘Year of the Entrepreneur’
ATLANTA, GA — On March 12, 2015, at the Georgia International Convention Center, the Georgia Minority Business Awards (GMBA) will host their 18th annual awards reception and dinner gala to celebrate minority businesses and entrepreneurs from around Georgia who are making an impact within their perspective communities.
The host for this years’ event is Atlanta’s own Todd Gray, director of supplier diversity for Grady Health System. The keynote speaker is Lee Rhyant, President of LER Solutions and former Executive Vice President and General Manager for the Marietta, Ga. facility of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. Other special invited dignitaries that will be in attendance includes: Randy Rolle, Bahamas Consul General, Huei -Yuan (Steven) Tai Director General of Taiwan, Mayor Jack Longino, City of College Park, Mike Glanton, State Representative District 75 and Miguell Southwell, GM – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
“I started these award celebrations to simply acknowledge and congratulate local and small business men and women entrepreneurs who are trendsetters in their own right,” founder and Executive Director Creed W. Pannell, Jr. shared. “Planning to work the plan you create, is merely a good idea; working the plan to work for yourself – makes you an entrepreneur.”
Some of Atlanta’s most respectable business leaders will be presenting awards this year to deserving innovators. The list of presenters includes: Ceasar V. Mitchell, President of Atlanta City Council ; Chantel Ross Francois, Tourism Director – Douglasville Convention & Visitors Bureau; Terrence Moore, City Manager of College Park; J.B. Burke, Mayor of Morrow, Georgia; Beverly Tate, Director of Human Resources – Gordon Foods Service; John Lu, President of the Asian Restaurant Association; Marquella Williams-Marketing Projects Manager- Simmons Bedding; Larry W. Vincent, Chairman of the Development Authority of Clayton County; Jai Rogers, VP of Business Community Development, Delta Community Credit Union; Alexis Holt, Financial Representative / Agency owner, Country Financial; Arthur Pope, CEO-Publication Marketing & Distribution, Inc.; Grady Healthcare System.
GMBA will honor individuals in the following categories: CEO of the Year Award, CEO Cultural Diversity Award, International Business of the Year Award, Non-profit Organization of the Year Award, GMBA Heritage Award, GMBA Tenacity Award, Neophyte Award, Technology Industry Award, Education Industry Award, Healthcare Industry Award, Entertainment Industry Award, City CEO of the Year Award, GMBA Commissioner of the Year Award, Chamber of Commerce Award and the Community Service Award.
In partnership with Business Development Initiative, Inc. (BDI), which is an entrepreneurial school for youth in high school and middle school, scholarships will be awarded to students at colleges and universities that have a focus on International Studies, IT partnership programs with business schools and MBA campaigns to promote future employment opportunities and corporate growth in Georgia.
What began as merely a vision has turned into a successful annual award event, one in which businesses and entrepreneurs now look forward to being a part of each year. Many thanks to Creed W. Pannell, Jr. for his follow through with the vision and commitment to the leadership of the GMBA. The Year of the Entrepreneur is a theme worthy of repetition and recognition.