MMSDC Recognizes Corporations Spending Over 5% with Minority Owned Businesses at 2013 Corporate ONE Awards

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) gathered in Grand Rapids, MI yesterday for its West Michigan Supplier Diversity Summit and 2013 Corporate ONE Awards ceremony. The event brought together over 300 corporate members and minority business enterprises (MBEs) for networking opportunities, learning sessions, and celebration of those corporations who are leading in supplier diversity.

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During the event, twenty-nine of the MMSDC's corporate members were given Corporate ONE awards. This honor commemorates those corporations that achieved 5% or more direct spend with MBEs during the past year and actively participated in the MMSDC's key annual initiatives.

A complete list of the 2013 Corporate ONE Award winners can be found below.

2013 MMSDC Corporate ONE Award Winners:

The full criteria for the Corporate ONE Awards include being a dues paying member of MMSDC or its parent organization; reporting minority spend figures; having a supplier diversity professional in place; maintaining a supplier diversity program; serving as a member of a major MMSDC board, event committee or Project ONE module; sponsoring supplier diversity events each year; and achieving a minimum of 5% direct spend with certified minority business enterprises.

"Michigan's corporations have proven once again that they are committed to promoting diversity within their respective organizations as well as with those whom they do business with," said Louis Green, President and CEO of the MMSDC. "It's one thing to say that you believe in diversity, and another thing to back it up with results. Each of this year's twenty-nine Corporate ONE Award winners has demonstrated their ability to go above and beyond to promote the economic growth of minority businesses and their surrounding communities."

In addition to honoring this year's corporate winners, the Supplier Diversity Summit offered MBEs a chance to meet with corporations in a personalized setting through a business matchmaker organized by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

About MMSDC
The Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization committed to driving economic growth within minority communities. The MMSDC advances this mission by facilitating over $20 billion annually in business contracts between corporations and certified minority business enterprises (MBEs). Founded in 1977, the MMSDC certifies minority businesses, provides MBEs with access to procurement opportunities, and develops capacity for minority business development. The Michigan Council has been recognized by the National Minority Supplier Development Council as Regional Council of the Year three times since 2007 for its work in promoting minority business development. For more information about the MMSDC, visit www.minoritysupplier.org.

SOURCE Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council