NMSDC Honors Top Regional Minority Suppliers

DENVER, Oct. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.^® (NMSDC^®) today announced its 2012 Regional Minority Supplier of the Year winners. The 16 outstanding Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American-owned businesses represent a broad range of industries, including construction/general contracting; creative services; facilities maintenance; information technology; security systems; staffing and professional services; transportation services. NMSDC will present awards to each regional winner at an Awards Banquet on Wednesday, October 31, to conclude its 2012 Conference and Business Opportunity Fair in Denver, Colorado.

"NMSDC is proud to honor this year's regional supplier of the year winners," said NMSDC President Joset B. Wright. "They represent the best-of-the-best among our 16,000 certified minority businesses, providing innovative products and exemplary service to their corporate customers in support of the global supply chain."

The 16 regional winners are nominated by their corporate customers and divided into four classes based on annual sales. NMSDC-certified minority-owned businesses are evaluated on the basis of business growth, development and performance, community service and the ability to overcome challenges brought on by the company owner's heritage or background.

One regional winner from each of the four classes will be named the National Supplier of the Year at the Awards Banquet that concludes the four-day conference. The Conference theme is "Minority Businesses and Corporate America:  Advancing Minority Suppliers in the Global Supply Chain." More than 7,000 participants, including minority business owners and corporate purchasing executives, are expected to attend the four-day conference, which will be held at the Colorado Convention Center.

The 2012 NMSDC Regional Suppliers of the Year are listed below.

CLASS IV – ANNUAL SALES GREATER THAN $50 MILLION

The Bartech Group, Inc., Livonia, Michigan – David W. Barfield is the chief executive officer of The Bartech Group, an integrated professional services firm that specializes in workforce management solutions, staff augmentation business process outsourcing and consulting. The Black-owned firm is an NMSDC-certified minority-controlled company that is responsible for more than 25,000 consultants and $2 billion in managed services expenditures. It spent $600 million with other minority business enterprises (MBEs). The Bartech Group's client roster includes AT&T, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Chrysler, Cummins, DTE Energy, Dell, Eaton, Ford, General Motors, GlaxoSmithKline, Verizon and Volkswagen. A second-generation company, Bartech and its employees are involved with a number of organizations in the local Detroit community, including the American Heart Association, Detroit Historical Society, Dress for Success, Habitat for Humanity, Gleaners Food Bank, Michigan Veterans Foundation, the Share Products Program and Spaulding for Children. The company supports the global community with its Barfield Clean Initiative by working with Cross International to fund the construction of wells that provide clean drinking water in Africa, Haiti and other developing countries.  www.bartechgroup.com

Pyramid Consulting, Inc., Alpharetta, Georgia – Sanjeev Tirath is the chief executive officer of Pyramid Consulting, an information technology consulting services company that specializes in staff augmentation and lifecycle IT solutions, including application development and maintenance, legacy migration, outsourced product development, mobile development and maintenance, mobile test automation and quality assurance. The 16-year-old firm has nearly 1,900 employees operating out of its headquarters near Atlanta, five regional offices in Bellevue, Washington; Charlotte, North Carolina; Dallas, Texas; Richmond, Virginia and Somerset, New Jersey; and global services via offices in India and Europe.  In 2011, the Asian-Indian American firm recorded $139.2 million in sales and spent nearly $5 million with other MBEs. Pyramid also provides mentoring and business matchmaking opportunities to MBEs.  AT&T, Accenture, Delta, The Home Depot and United Parcel Service are among the company's major customers. As the company has grown, so has its commitment to the community. Pyramid and its employees actively support the American Heart Association, American Kidney Fund, Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, Georgia Council on Economic Education, Hands on Atlanta, Raksha, TechBridge, United Way and Vibha. Additionally, the IT firm offers an initiative called "Operation: Paycheck," aimed at creating job opportunities for U.S. military veterans. Mr. Tirath is also an active board member of the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council.   www.pyramidci.com

Vision Information Technologies, Inc. dba VisionIT, Detroit, Michigan – David Segura is the chief executive officer of VisionIT, a Hispanic-owned information technology and engineering staffing services firm. Established in 1997, the company has grown into one of the largest Hispanic-owned IT firms in the country. VisionIT employs more than 400 individuals and had sales of $239 million in 2011, doing business with major customers like Comerica Bank, Detroit Public Schools, Freddie Mac, Johnson & Johnson, Meritor, Pfizer, Siemens and Toyota. A supporter of other minority-owned businesses, VisionIT spent $30 million with MBEs last year. Mr. Segura and VisionIT employees actively participate in the Detroit community through mentorship, internships, scholarships and job opportunities. The firm is the founding sponsor of the BizTech Summer Camp, an 11-year-old initiative created with Wayne State University's School of Business Administration and the Detroit Public Schools. The camp is a 10-week educational program for high school students that focuses on technical, business and social skill development with an emphasis on technology. More than 261 students have completed the program, with 100% of participants graduating from high school and 75% attending college. VisionIT is also one of the founding sponsors of the T-Lab, an accelerated learning center for students in K-12 that uses high-end computers and interactive learning that emphasizes leadership, math, language, science and technology.  www.visionit.com

World Wide Technology, Inc., Maryland Heights, Missouri – David L. Steward is co-founder and chairman of World Wide Technology, a 22-year-old systems integrator that provides cost-effective technology and supply chain solutions to the commercial, government and telecom sectors. With major customers like AT&T, Boeing, Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Kaiser Permanente, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Pacific Gas & Electric and Wells Fargo, the Black-owned company had $2.7 billion in sales in 2011. A perennial fixture atop Black Enterprise magazine's BE100 list of leading industrial/service enterprises and an advocate for minority business, the firm is focused on delivering and supporting advanced technology solutions to customers around the world. World Wide Technology has more than 1,600 employees and spent $47.7 million with 78 other MBEs in 2011. In addition to its spend with MBEs, the company has a development initiative for minority firms called the Corporate Development Program (CDP) that facilitates the creation of mutually-beneficial partnerships with other minority organizations and qualified/certified MBEs and women-owned business enterprises. The CDP also provides mentoring and supplier development collaboration; assists participants to select and retain qualified minority talent; and offers financial planning assistance, strategic assessments, financial assistance and business development to participants. In the community, World Wide Technology supports a number of local and national organizations, including The American Cancer Society, the Harmon College and Business and Professional Studies at the University of Central Missouri, Inwood House, Junior Achievement, Komen Race for the Cure, NPower, The Ronald McDonald House Charities, St. Patrick Center and the United Way campaign.  www.wwt.com

CLASS III – ANNUAL SALES BETWEEN $10 MILLION AND $50 MILLION

Ideal Electrical Supply Corporation, Washington, D.C. – Ken Rogers and Cora Williams, a husband and wife team, are executive vice president and president, respectively, of Ideal Electrical Supply Corporation. This Black-owned distributor of electrical products was established in 1991 and counts Baltimore Gas and Electric, Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) and several federal agencies among its clients. The firm has 27 employees and is an authorized distributor for 3M, General Electric, Hubbell and Motorola. In 2011, Ideal's sales surpassed $21 million and the company spent more than $250,000 with other MBEs. Ideal believes in giving back to the community. In 1994 the couple established the Ideal Company Scholarship fund, which has awarded more than $140,000 in scholarships to inner-city high school seniors.  www.idealelectric.com

Corporate Management, Inc. dba Corporate Services Management LP, Tucker, Georgia – Bert Fitts is chief executive officer of Corporate Services Management (CSM), a provider of janitorial maintenance and other specialty services to educational institutions, constructions sites, Fortune 500 companies and the hospitality industry. The Black-owned company was established in 1992 and saw revenues reach $11.2 million in 2011. Its major clients include Bombardier, Delta Air Lines, Time Warner, Turner Broadcasting System and Volkswagen. CSM was honored with Delta's Star Award for being an "outstanding supplier partner." CSM is committed to job creation, employing 522 individuals. Last year, the company spent more than $600,000 with other MBEs. CSM employees take pride in delivering food to feed the hungry, and the company supports Habitat for Humanity.  www.csmamerica.com

KBM Facility Solutions, San Diego, California – Maureen Gray is chief executive officer of KBM Facility Solutions, a Hispanic American-owned janitorial contractor with 309 employees. The firm was founded in 1981 and provides sustainable/green cleaning services. It is one of the first businesses in its industry to commit time and resources to developing and maintaining a sustainability report. In addition, KBM is committed to reducing the impact its business operations have on the environment through corporate recycling programs, installation of water-reduction measures, investing in technology that has significantly reduced paper consumption and conversion of its vehicle fleet to hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles. KBM's major clients include AT&T, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and the Walt Disney Company. In 2011, the company reported sales of $31.3 million. This year KBM spent more than $4.1 million with other MBEs. The company has received numerous awards, including being named one of the fastest growing privately-held companies in San Diego.   www.kbmfs.com

United Building Maintenance, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois – James Cabrera is chief executive officer of United Building Maintenance (UBM), a custodial, landscaping and electrical services firm established in 1979. UBM's core clients consist of Fortune 100 corporations, including Grainger, Commonwealth Edison, United Airlines and Walgreens. The Hispanic American-owned company posted revenues of $47 million in 2011 and spent more than $20 million with other MBEs. UBM has 1,600 employees and has been recognized by Crain's Chicago Business as one of the largest minority-owned firms in the Chicago area. It was also named a Chicago Business Leader of Color. Mr. Cabrera is committed to supporting community initiatives, including the Junior Achievement Foundation, the National Latino Education Institute and the Illinois Police Association.  www.ubm-usa.com

CLASS II – ANNUAL SALES BETWEEN $1 MILLION AND $10 MILLION

Albu & Associates, Inc., Winter Park, Florida – George Albu is founder and president of Albu & Associates, a Hispanic American-owned firm with three employees that specializes in general contracting, design/build services and construction management. The company, which was founded in 1994, posted sales of $7.09 million in 2011 and spent nearly $1 million with other MBEs. Among its major clients are Amway, Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase. Albu & Associates was named to the list of the Top 25 Minority Businesses in Orlando by the Orlando Business Journal. Mr. Albu is actively involved in his community, renovating two area museums pro bono for the Maitland Historical Society and raising money for A Gift for Teaching, an organization that provides school supplies to underprivileged students in Central Florida.  www.albu.biz

BITHGROUP Technologies Inc., Baltimore, Maryland – Robert Wallace is founder, president and chief executive officer of BITHGROUP Technologies, an award-winning firm established in 1992 that provides management consulting, biometrics and IT services and products. The Black-owned business has 10 employees and counts Accenture, Avaya, the City of Baltimore and IBM among its clients. The firm posted annual sales of $7 million in 2011 and spent $3.5 million with other MBEs. BITHGROUP is among the leading MBEs in the rapidly growing field of renewable energy, as well as the established field of energy management. The company contributes a percentage of its annual profits to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiatives and human development programs. It has received several prestigious awards, including the Mayor's Business Recognition Award and the Greater Baltimore Council Bridging the Gap Achievement Award. BITHGROUP was also recognized for its contributions to the governor of Maryland's Small Business Task Force.  www.bithgroup.com

KCS, St. Paul, Minnesota – Dorothy Richburg is chief executive officer and president of KCS, and her husband, Joe Richburg, is the executive vice president. The couple operates a full-service professional staffing, procurement and technology company with 239 employees. The Black-owned business was founded in 1987 and posted annual sales of $8.9 million last year. Its direct spend with other MBEs was more than $1.4 million. Under the direction of Ms. Richburg, KCS was recognized by the Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce as 2011's Outstanding Business of the Year and by the Minnesota Minority Supplier Development Council as the 2011 IT Business of the Year. The company provides in-kind support to local organizations and made more than $95,000 in charitable contributions last year.  KCS is also committed to exposing students to the IT field with the overall goal of increasing the accessibility that historically-disenfranchised populations have to information technology.  www.keystonecs.com

RM Executive Transportation dba Mosaic Global Transportation, Redwood City, California – Maurice Brewster is president and chief executive officer of Mosaic Global Transportation, an international limousine business with 40 employees. The 10-year-old firm has grown from a one-car operation with offices in a garage into a multimillion-dollar enterprise with more than 300 vehicles that can provide service in 440 cities worldwide. Mosaic recorded sales of $3 million in 2011 and spent $1.87 million with other MBEs. The firm counts AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, Marriott and the San Francisco 49ers among its major clients. In addition to expanding Mosaic's business services, Mr. Brewster is committed to building a better minority-owned business community by supporting other MBEs. The company also supports local and national nonprofits and was named a Make-A-Wish Hero for the last two years. Recently, the firm was awarded a Blue Ribbon Small Business Award by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for excellence in business, strategy, employee development, community service and customer service.  www.mosaicglobaltransportation.com

CLASS I – ANNUAL SALES LESS THAN $1 MILLION

Infinity Business Solutions, Buena Park, California – Lily Otieno is the president of the company, which was established in 2006. The Black-owned performance management consulting firm has five employees and focuses on supplier development training, contract/operational readiness and serves as a liaison for diverse business enterprises. The company had annual sales of $180,000 in 2011 and spent $35,000 with other minority business enterprises (MBEs). Infinity Business Solutions lists the Asian Business Association of Orange County, the Los Angeles World Airports, Metropolitan Water District, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, San Jose Water, Southern California Edison and Southern California Gas Company among its major customers. Infinity Business Solutions supports the community through volunteer work with a number of organizations, including the Asian Business Association of Orange County, the California Public Utilities Commission, the Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council, and the Women's Business Enterprise Council-West.  www.ibsconsultingservices.com

Integrated Security Consultants Inc., Tampa, Florida – Kenneth Stewart is the president and chief executive officer of the four-year-old company. The Black-owned firm designs, sells and installs electronic security systems. The company has 13 employees, recorded $700,000 in sales in 2011 and spent $80,000 with other MBEs. Its major customers include ADT Security, Ambiance Property Management, BMW North America, Bartow Police Department, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Florida Department of Veteran Affairs, the National Football League and Simplex Grinnell. Mr. Stewart's community involvement includes a ministry in the inner city of Tampa. He is the pastor of the Tabernacle of Hope, which has an active food pantry and clothing distribution program, as well as a computer lab that provides free computer classes and employment skills training. Through its "How to Bake Your Own Pie" program, Mr. Stewart helps the unemployed and unemployable find gainful employment. Several times a year, he gives computers to the program graduates to help close the digital divide that exists in the minority community.  www.iscsecurity.net

NIMBUS, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky – Stacey Wade is the president and chief executive officer of the company, which was established in 2002. The Black-owned creative services, marketing and communications agency has expertise in digital and traditional media, including brand identity development and implementation; content development, copywriting and editing; design and development of mobile apps; tradeshow booths and on-site displays; interactive Web design; and public relations and media placement recommendations. The company posted sales of $307,000 in 2011 and spent $96,000 with other MBEs. Greater Louisville Inc. – the Metro Chamber of Commerce, Houston-Johnson, Legner Energy Group, Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America and Universal Music Group are among the firm's major customers. NIMBUS volunteers the time, talents and creative resources of the company to support Greater Louisville Inc. – The Metro Chamber of Commerce, Louisville Legends/Louisville Sports Commission, Our Father's House and the Tri-State Minority Supplier Development Council.  Additionally, the firm contracts its non-profit clients at a discounted rate.  Mr. Wade provides his support and time to 100 Black Men of Louisville and the TSMSDC MBE Input Committee. The agency also supports the growth and development of its industry through membership in the Ad Federation of Louisville, as well as through mentoring and hosting job shadow days at NIMBUS for local students considering a career in the creative services sector.   www.hellonimbus.com

Unique Expressions, Ferndale, Michigan – Beverly Bantom is the chief executive officer of Unique Expressions, a distributor of corporate branded products and services. Established in 1999, the Black-owned firm with seven employees had sales of $998,000 in 2011 and spent nearly $150,000 with other MBEs. The company lists DTE, Dakkota Integrated Systems, Heritage Vision Plans, Huron Valley Ambulance, Molina Healthcare, St. John Providence Health System and Trinity Health among its major customers. Unique Expressions offers its customers personalized Web stores that offer branded merchandise for employees to purchase—saving their clients the cost of maintaining a sales area or staffing a company store. The firm also provides "Decorate on Demand" and "Print on Demand" services that result in cost savings because clients can keep smaller inventories and re-order products as needed.  In support of the community, Unique Expressions developed a mentorship program for high school and college students to be actively involved in business. The participants have used the program to build skills suitable for the workplace and secure employment opportunities.  www.uniquex.net

About NMSDC
The National Minority Supplier Development Council advances business opportunities for certified Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American business enterprises and connects them to corporate members. One of the country's leading corporate membership organizations, NMSDC was chartered in 1972 to provide increased procurement and business opportunities for minority businesses of all sizes. The organization is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

The NMSDC Network includes a National Office in New York and 36 regional councils across the country. There are 3,500 corporate members throughout the network, including most of America's largest publicly-owned, privately-owned and foreign-owned companies, as well as universities, hospitals and other buying institutions. The regional councils certify and match 16,000 minority-owned businesses with member corporations that want to purchase their products and services.

For more information about NMSDC, call (212) 944-2430 or visit the Web site at www.nmsdc.org.

SOURCE National Minority Supplier Development Council