MBN USA

December 17, 2021

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HMSDC recognizes its shining stars

The Houston Minority Supplier Development Council recently presented its annual Rigel Awards to minority business enterprises and corporate leaders who have outshined all others in their commitment to minority business development.

“There are Rigel stars among us, and much closer to home,” said Ingrid Robinson, president and CEO, Houston Minority Supplier Development Council. “These Rigels radiate characteristics that allow them to stand out among the other stars. During good economic times or bad, these Rigels have remained luminous.”

The awards were presented during the 2021 HMSDC Virtual Business Expo. The honorees were:

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

This award recognizes outstanding suppliers that encourage a more competitive and successful business environment for all council members.

• Class 1 (annual sales up to $1 million): TNR Accounting & Management Consultants LLC, Nannette Ray, president and CEO
  
• Class 2 (annual sales $1 million —$10 million): Athenian Group LLC; Bobby R. Dixon Jr., managing partner
  
• Class 3 (annual sales $10 million to $50 million): Box Gang Manufacturing LLC; Rafael Marrero, president
  
•  Class 4 (over $50 million): MCA Communications Inc., Ricky Cortez, CEO

STRATEGIC TEAMING AWARD

This award recognizes businesses that have formed successful teaming relationships to grow as individual companies and to grow together —as the aphorism says, “A rising tide, lifts all boats.”

• Recruiting Source International, BJackson Enterprises LLC, VLC Distribution Inc. and Star International Inc. (from left): Bianca Jackson, chief operating officer, Recruiting Source International; Delaina Curry Allen, CEO, Recruiting Source International; Jill Hopson, owner, Star International; and Bryan Jackson, president, BJackson Enterprises. Not pictured: VLC Distribution consultants Lindsay Campbell and Levone Campbell.
  

ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR AWARD

This award recognizes the individual whose efforts have reflected the highest commitment to minority business development and who best exhibits the “Advocate” pillar.

•  Zeba Mehra, director, purchasing and supply chain, Calpine Corp.
  

LOCAL CORPORATION OFTHE YEAR AWARD

The award recognizes the major corporation or government agency on the local level that has best evidenced its commitment to minority business development.

• Metropolitan Transit Authority of Houston, Otis Johnson, director, small business compliance, office of small business
  

EACH ONE – REACH ONE AWARD

This award recognizes the person who has recruited and assisted the most MBEs to become certified suppliers of HMSDC.

•  Vicki Semander, project manager, Global Force USA
  

PRESIDENT’S AWARD

This award celebrates the people and/or organizations who —in the opinion of the HMSDC president —have gone above and beyond to support the council in executing the mission of the organization.

• Lorenza Butler, Butler/Wiseman
  

MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AWARDS

These awards recognize corporate members who reported the largest increase in annual expenditures with HMSDC-certified MBEs in 2020.

The companies had a combined spend of over $149 million with HMSDC MBEs last year.

• Exxon Mobil Corp.: $91.3 million, Robin Hawkins, manager, supplier diversity
  
• CenterPoint Energy Inc.: $25.1 million, Linda Graves, lead analyst
  
• Baker Hughes Co.: $23.4 million, Latoyia Brooks Harris, supplier diversity program leader, indirect sourcing

MIDDLE MARKET ENGAGEMENT AWARD

This award recognizes a company for expanding minority business development to include their primes. This award is significant because not only are these companies working to expand business opportunities for MBEs within their companies, but they are also spreading the gospel of supplier diversity to their primes to ensure that MBEs can find opportunities to grow their businesses and bring value to their customers all along their supply chains.

• CenterPoint Energy Inc., Linda Graves, lead analyst
  

PRIME SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award is presented to the prime supplier of an HMSDC corporate member who has supported that member’s supplier diversity efforts by significantly expanding opportunities for MBEs along the supply chain.

• Waste Management Inc. (Not pictured)

HELPING HAND AWARD

This award recognizes a person who — in the opinion of MBEs — has done the most to assist MBEs throughout the year and exemplifies the HMSDC “Connect” pillar.

•  Linda Graves, lead analyst, CenterPoint Energy Inc.

NATIONAL CORPORATION OF THE YEAR AWARD

This award recognizes the major corporation or government agency on the local level that —in the opinion of the minority business owners — has best evidenced its commitment to minority business development.

• Exxon Mobil Corp., Robin Hawkins, manager, supplier diversity

INNOVATION AWARD
This award recognizes and encourages innovative practices in supplier diversity

• Waste Management Inc. (Not pictured)
  

MBE-TO-MBE AWARD
This award recognizes MBE suppliers who support other MBEs by reporting the largest annual expenditures with other HMSDC-certified MBEs.

• SolvChem Inc., Jean-Pierre Baizan, president
  
• DWG CPA PLLC, Darrell Groves, founder
  
• TNR Accounting & Management Consulting LLC, Nannette Ray, president and CEO

ACCOUNTABILITY CHAMPIONS

This award recognizes corporations and MBEs that help grow expenditures through corporate-to-MBE and MBE-to-MBE relationships.

Corporate Accountability Champions

• Accenture PLC

• Baker Hughes Co.

• BMC Corporate

• CenterPoint Energy Inc.

• Direct Energy LP

• Exxon Mobil Corp.

• Fluor Corp.

• Metropolitan Transit Authority of Houston

• NRG Energy Inc.

• Southern Tire Mart

• UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

• Vistra Corp.

MBE Accountability Champions

• American Services Inc.

• Chickasaw Distributors Inc.

• DWG CPA PLLC

• Langrand and Company LLC

• SolvChem Inc.

• TNR Accounting and Management Consultants LLC

• VIA Engineering Services LLC

CHAIRMAN’S AWARD

This prestigious award recognizes a corporate member or MBE supplier who — in the chair’s opinion — emulates the best traits of an active representative of HMSDC.

Mark Praigg, retired business advisor, Houston Minority Business Development Agency Business Center