"National Corporation of the Year Award" was presented to IBM Corporation. New York Life Insurance received the "Regional Corporation of the Year Award." Interpublic Group earned the "Chairman's Award." Joy Crichlow, director of the supplier diversity program at Con Edison of New York and chairman emeritus of The Council, received the "Advocate of the Year Award."

"Con Edison's commitment to the development of supplier diversity helps to ensure minority businesses maximum opportunities to participate in its competitive procurement," said Crichlow. "We believe that creating beneficial relationships with today's vendors creates employment for future generations."

"Although we are now living in a challenging economic period, there are opportunities for small business to excel and grow—as witnessed by our minority business winners," said Lynda Ireland, president and CEO, The Council. "We would like to congratulate all our corporate members.  Even in this difficult economy, they understand the bottom line value and quality of utilizing minority businesses."

The "Supplier of the Year Awards" for minority-owned businesses were: Class II: Stephen Jackson, general manager, RDZ Media Group, an African American-owned award winning media production company; Class III: Raymond Rivera, president, Park Avenue Building & Roofing Supplies, a Hispanic-owned premier supplier of building materials; and Class IV: York Wang, founder and CEO, York Telecom, an Asian American-owned company recognized as a pioneer and innovator in the audio, video and web collaboration.

Glamorous entrepreneur B. Smith hosted the awards gala, which featured corporate chair Eliseo Rojas, vice president of global sourcing and procurement at Interpublic Group; MBE co-chairs Raymond Rivera, Park Avenue Building & Roofing Suppliers and Emmett Walker, founder & CEO, Walker International Transportation; and Hilton O. Smith, senior vice president, Turner Construction and The Council's chairman. Gold sponsors were Bank of New York Mellon, Con Edison of New York, PepsiCo and Prudential.

The Council, a National Minority Supplier Development Council affiliate, has approximately 200 corporate members and 1,300 certified minority businesses. Its jurisdiction spans from Albany, New York to Trenton, New Jersey.

SOURCE New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council