Corporation of the Year 2000 - Minority Business Celebration Presented by the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce

Grand Rapids, Michigan -- The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Minority Business Committee is pleased to announce this year’s minority business award winners. Minority Businessperson of the Year is Terri Weekley, president of Weekley & Associates, a human resources consulting company. For the last 20 years Terri has worked to give support, influence, visibility and opportunities for achievement for people of color. Today, Terri spends most of her time in her business role of increasing the number of women and minorities in technical, managerial, executive, legal, and medical areas of employment. Terri is an integral part of the Chamber’s Minority Business Committee. Weekley & Associates motto is "Where your success is our business" – it defines both the company and Terri.

The 2000 Minority Business Advocate of the Year, Phil Rios, Manager, Supplier Diversity & Business Development for Steelcase Inc., symbolizes the spirit and intent of minority economic development. He is part of a company that recognizes addressing inequities in corporate buying practice is a journey and a goal to constantly strive to do better. Phil organized and co-chaired the Office Furniture Industry Council’s supplier diversity sub-committee. He also organized and led the West Michigan Project One – Business Module. This Michigan Minority Business Development Council sponsored program brings together local corporate members and minority business owners for monthly meetings to increase networking and business opportunities for minority firms.

The 2000 Entrepreneur of the Year is Brian Harris, President and CEO of H & H Metal Source. Brian has overseen significant growth at H & H in the past four years, $1.8 million dollars in sales to nearly $13 million. This success is based largely on the belief that a strong, vibrant and culturally diverse business community is essential to our nation’s strength on a global basis; that a business is only as strong as the community from which it draws its resources; and community support is more than just good corporate citizenship – it is a strategic imperative. Brian serves on the Chamber’s Board of Directors, the Cultural Diversity Council, and co-chairs the Minority Business Committee.

Our Corporation of the Year is Cascade Engineering, a firm that symbolizes the spirit and intent of minority economic development. Their advocacy for a positive minority business environment begins with a Worthy Goal culture. The core value of this culture is a commitment to effect positive change in the community. Fred Keller’s involvement as Chair of the Chamber’s Cultural Diversity Council, with Delta Strategy, The Right Place Program’s Manufacturers Council, and the Michigan Minority Business Development Council has allowed him to implore community leaders to invest in the central city and create new opportunities for minorities. Cascade Engineering embraces a voluntary affirmative action plan, and seeks to lead by openly sharing their diversity program with local, regional and national organizations.

The schedule of events for Minority Business Celebration 2000 to be held October 11, 2000 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel begins with a 7:30 a.m. Celebration Breakfast/General Session with keynote speaker Reginald Williams. Reggie is a nationally known consultant in the fields of minority purchasing, small business, and supplier diversity. Headquartered in Atlanta where he is the President and CEO of Procurement Resources, Inc., his firm’s specialized expertise is focused solely on helping organizations to effectively implement supplier diversity strategies. His book, 2nd Tier Minority Purchasing: Effective Strategies in Supplier Diversity, is a widely read text on the subject of minority purchasing.

The Procurement Expo will be held in and around the foyer of the Ambassador Ballroom from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. At the Celebration Luncheon at noon, guests will enjoy the presentation of the Minority Business of the Year Awards and a keynote presentation by Richard Stouffer. Stouffer is the Director of Minority/Women Business Development at Texas Instruments in Dallas. He has spoken across the country on the topic of Minority Business Development and has written a book entitled, It’s About Us: A Case for Minority Business Development.

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