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December 16, 2021

AT&T earns Corporation of the Year

The Dallas Fort Worth Minority Supplier Diversity Council recently held its E Awards Gala, recognizing AT&T Inc. as the Corporation of the Year and the North Texas Tollway Authority as the Public Sector Agency of the Year as part of the overall ceremony.

To win an award is no small feat. Both winning organizations demonstrated leadership and excellent results in the utilization of North Texas certified ethnic minority-owned businesses.

The E Awards Gala champions supplier diversity initiatives, minority business growth and development, minority business inclusion and the positive impact created upon the North Texas economy and community.

The program demonstrates the value of minority-owned businesses in providing solutions, exceeding expectations, and consistently working to improve and strive for excellence while working in concert with DFW MSDC Buying Entity members.

“Now more than ever, we celebrate the resilience of companies and organizations for persevering and building a legacy of inclusion,” said Margo J. Posey, president and CEO of DFW MSDC. “As one anonymous contributor has said, ‘Excellence is never an accident it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.’

“The 2021 DFW MSDC E Awards acknowledge outstanding corporations, public sector agencies, minority business enterprises and individuals that exceed expectations and deliver on the mission of increasing minority business utilization in our economy,” she added.

Awards for corporations and public sector agencies were judged by minority business enterprise leaders. These leaders evaluated the submissions based on supplier diversity initiatives, the success of innovative purchasing best practices, development and growth of MBEs, and a commitment to the overall mission of the Council. Corporate and public sector agency representatives judged the MBE submissions based on their business growth, innovative business solutions, operational excellence, utilization of other MBEs and community involvement.

Other awardees at the virtual black-tie event were:

• Class 4 Supplier of the Year (gross revenues exceeding $50 million): Themesoft Inc.

• Class 3 Supplier of the Year (gross revenues between $10 million and $50 million): Alliance Geotechnical Group Inc.

• Class 2 Supplier of the Year (gross revenues between $1 million and $10 million): Ruby Media Inc., dba DHD Films

• Class 1 Supplier of the Year (gross revenues less than $1 million): Laguna Media Group LLC

• Executive Champion of the Year: Annie Partee, Dallas Independent School District

• Supply Chain Professional of the Year: Jenny Dyer, Toyota Motor North America Inc.

• Supplier Diversity Professional of the Year: Greg Obar, UNT System HUB Program

• Service Leadership of the Year: Mary Gano, Vistra Corp.

Other awards presented during the event included MEGA Awards. These awards highlighted contracts between Buying Entity members and certified MBEs worth a minimum of $25 million annually. Both AT&T and PepsiCo Inc. were recognized for their success in this area. MEGA Awards help dispel the myth that MBEs can only successfully manage small contracts and demonstrate the ability of MBEs to successfully perform on large contracts.

In addition, the Council recognized 26 Buying Entity members as part of the BUY THOSE THAT BUY US™ initiative. Honorees completed a scorecard of best practices and provided numerical results related to minority business inclusion program.

The initiative, celebrating its 13-year anniversary, delivers an important message of encouraging everyone to buy from those that support minority business inclusion and the goals and objectives we say we want to achieve in our community. Whether you are making a personal or business purchase, think BUY THOSE THAT BUY US™.

Despite the challenging business environment, DFW MSDC continues to champion the best of the best in minority business inclusion and advocate for others to join our efforts to fulfill the DFW MSDC mission of connecting certified minority-owned businesses with Buying Entity Members to deliver minority business inclusion in our supply chains.

From an initial spend of $1 million with minority businesses in 1973, the Council has grown to verified spend with certified ethnic minority businesses headquartered in North Texas to a reported $6.7 billion. This represents 889 DFW MSDC certified minority-owned businesses headquartered in North Texas. This equates to $12.9 billion in economic activity including $4.4 billion in wages and 76,900 direct and indirect jobs supported by minority businesses.

The Council continues to focus on building a better community for us all through minority business inclusion. DFW MSDC congratulates all the nominees and the distinguished winners of the 2021 E Awards.