Pagel2C - THE CHARLOTTE POST - Thursday, September 27,1990
Med Week Celebration to Start Sept 30
A 4-1 ill - « ...
America's attention will be focused on minority
business achievements nationwide during the eighth
annual celebration of Minority Enterprise Develop
ment (MED) Week Sept. 30-Oct 6.
"Plans call for this year's observance to be the most
outstanding in MED Week's history," stated Kenneth
E. Bolton, director of the U.S. Commerce Depart
ment's Minority Business Development Agency
(MBDA).
Since 1983, the first week In October has been des
ignated by presidential proclamation as MED Week
to celebrate achievements of minority-owned busi
nesses. The traditional event also recognizes the
critical role minority firms play In support of the na
tion's economy.
The theme for MED Week '90 Is "Quality Business
Partners: America's Minority Entrepreneurs."
Local MED Week '90 observances will be held In
each of MBDA's six regional office locations: Atlanta,
Chicago. Dallas, New York, San Francisco, and
Washington, D.C. All regional events begin In Sep
tember prior to the national celebration In October.
Events are also sponsored by state and local govern
ments. Including the signing of proclamations esta
blishing MED Week observances.
Traditionally. Washington. D.C., Is the site for the
national observance which Is cosponsored by MBDA
and by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
This year, some 1,000 p>ersons will participate In
MED Week '90 observances In the Nation's capital. A
White House awards ceremony will be held Oct. 3 to
honor outstanding minority-owned firms. President
George Bush will present awards to National Minori
ty Entrepreneurs of the Year. Admission to this event
Is by Invitation only.
Participants of the week-long celebration will In
clude minority entrepreneurs, representatives from
corporate America, federal, state and local govem-
J
ments, and from other private sector organizations
across the nation.
"Events planned for MED Week '90 will provide at
tendees with a forum to develop contacts for new
business opportunities, to Interact with their col
leagues, and to hear expjerts discuss the Impact of
topical Issues on American business," said Bolton.
The Sheraton Washington Hotel, 2660 Woodley
Road. N.W., Washington, D.C., will' be the site for
MED Week '90 activities. Registration begins at
noon Sunday, Sept. 30, followed by a welcome re
ception at 6 p.m.
Featured on Oct. 1. while registration continues,
will be concurrent seminars, a legislative update,
the kick-off luncheon, and a ribbon-cutting ceremo
ny for the traditional!00-booth Minority Vendors
Procurement Trade Fair.
Keynote speakers at the kick-off luncheon will be
Secretary of Commerce Robert Mosbacher and SBA
Administrator Susan Engelelter.
During the trade fair, minority vendors will market
their goods and services to Fortune 1000 firms, gov
ernment procurement agencies, and prime contrac
tors seeking minority subcontractors. The fair also
provides an arena for minority vendors to network
among themselves for Joint ventures and subcon
tracting opportunities.
The day's events will culminate with a gala con
gressional reception In the Cannon House Office
Building from 6 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 2 Is Youth Awareness Day when stu
dents from across the nation will participate In
seminars and workshops and Interact with suc
cessful minority entrepreneurs under the theme
"Preparing for the Future as Employee...Employer."
Scheduled also for that day Is a concert in Constitu
tion Hall In a sedute to minority-owned businesses,
featuring Lou Rawls at 8:30 p.m.
Highlights on Wednesday, Oct. 3 Include a Corpo
rate Awards Breakfast, a Marketplace event, and an
Awards Banquet. At the breakfast from 7:30 to 9:30
a.m., corporations will be recognized for their out
standing contributions and support for minority
business development. The marketplace Is a 9 a.m.-
to 4 p.m. event where minority entrepreneurs meet
with buyers and technical representatives from the
private sector and government agencies to discuss
procurement and other business opportunities. At
the 7 to 10p.m. banquet, awards will be presented to
outstanding minority businessmen and women.
Other MED Week '90 events are also planned and
will be announced at a later date.
Supporting minority business development. Pres
ident Bush has said:
"Our nation's economic growth and ability to com
pete In the international marketplace depend on
the full participation of all members of our society.
See "Med Week" Page 18
To Advertise In BusinessMonthly Call
Fran Farrer-bradUey
Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Councils, Inc.
conomic opportunity is
part of the promise of
the American Dream.
In business, the dream becomes
reality when companies are given
the chance to compete fairly and
equally in the marketplace.
The Carolinas Minority Suppher
Development Councils, Inc. opens
those doors of economic opportu
nity for minority-owned businesses.
It is a non-profit organization
which is one of 47 regional affihates of
;he National Minority Suppher Develop-
nent Council, a nationwide minority
business advocate.
CMSDC serves two groups; its corpiorate
members and minority-owned sup
pliers Corporate members, which
include major corporations, universities,
financial institutions and state and local
agencies, fund and support the council
through annual dues and contributions.
, CMSDC recruits and screens minority
vendors and verifies their minority
ownership through an intensive
certification process.
CMSDC provides the following services
to its corporate members and MBEs:
•Expanded Business Contacts:
Including networking opportunities
for corporate buyers and vendors
and first-hand information on bid
opportunities.
•MBE Certification: Screening pro
cess which verifies minority owner
ship and control of MBEs.
• ■ * • y, :
•Buyer and Vendor Guides: Listings
and information on buyers and
vendors.
•Nationwide Referrals: Nationwide
computer hsting of MBEs.
•Newsletters and Bulletins:
Various published information
on topics such as upcoming coun
cil activities and new business
opportunities.
•Monthly Luncheons: Informal
meetings for corporate and vendor
members.
•Annual IVade Expo: Showcase for
vendors’ goods and services and
corporate purchasing programs.
•Educational and Sales IVaining
Seminars: Workshops on important
topics such as business operations,
ethics and professionalism.
•A'wards: Recognition programs for
both corporate members and MBEs.
Elifefcutive Director, CMSDG.TOO E. StonewallSt‘ ' 8te. 340, Charlotte, NC 282d2, 704)372-8731