2006 Excellence Awards Winners Honored at SLMBC Annual Meeting and Christmas Reception
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Holiday Reception |
Holiday Reception |
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Roycie Earvin, Macy's - Chairman's Award w/Toni Trupiano, SLMBC Board President and James Webb, President and CEO SLMBC |
Katherine Anderson, Andy's Seasonings, Inc. - MBE of the Year - Manufacturing |
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Don Cook, Capital International Communications, LLC - MBE of the Year - Distribution |
Jessica Perkins, Vector Communications - MBE of the Year - Professional/Other Services |
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Ramona Dickens, MSD - MBE Buyer/Coordinator fo the Year |
Jeff Theerman - MSD - Institution of the Year 9290 |
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Herman Hanner, Professional Environmental Engineers, Inc. - MBE of the Year - Professional/Other Services |
Ed Adams, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company - Chairman's Award |
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Toni Brown, Robert Crumpton, Gina Sanfilippo, Monsanto - Corporation of the Year |
Terry Hampton, Adriene Bruce-Ameren, Gus Stuart-Centrex, Brian Montgomery-Ameren, and Ramona Dickens-MSD |
2006 Excellence Awards Winners Honored at SLMBC Annual Meeting and Christmas Reception
More than 125 MBEs and corporate members attended SLMBC’s Annual Meeting and Christmas Reception at Alberici Constructors, Inc. on Dec. 14. Attendees enjoyed festive musical entertainment by The Jazz Edge, delicious food, and an evening of networking and holiday cheer. SLMBC also recognized winners of the 2006 Excellence Awards during the reception. The awards gala, originally scheduled for Nov. 30, was canceled due to inclement weather. Congratulations to the following Excellence Awards winners:
MBE of the Year
Manufacturing
- Andy’s Seasonings, Inc.
Distribution
- Capital International Communications, LLC
Professional/Other Services
- Professional Environmental Engineers, Inc.
- Vector Communications Corporation
Corporation of the Year
- Monsanto Company
Institution of the Year
- Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District
MBE Buyer/Coordinator of the Year
- Ramona Dickens, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District
Chairman’s Awards
- Roycie Earvin, Macy’s
- Ed Adams, Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Thank you to Victoria Fleddermann, John Alberici, and Alberici Constructors, Inc. for sponsoring this year’s Annual Meeting and Christmas Reception.
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Ameren and Centrex Electrical Supply Make a Great Team
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If you ask Gus Stuart to describe his company’s relationship with Ameren and with the St. Louis Minority Business Council, he’ll compare it to a perfect marriage.
“It’s been the most perfect marriage I can think of,” says the president of Centrex Electrical Supply. And not that he’d equate marriage to money, but in this instance, that’s a worthy analogy too. During the past three years, after an introduction from SLMBC, Centrex has gone from about $50,000 in annual sales of light bulbs, fuses, and batteries to Ameren to $1 million. And both parties have visions of making that total even larger. |
Dennis Weisenborn, vice president of Supply Services for Ameren, said his team took the time to build a relationship and partner with Centrex and to clearly establish mutual goals and expectations so that service levels could be met. “Centrex purchased a vehicle dedicated to Ameren, and they added staff,” he said. “Ameren made an investment in Centrex, and they continue to deliver on that investment.”
From the perspective of SLMBC, that’s exactly how it’s supposed to work. Both Stuart and Weisenborn believe the Council adds real value in mentoring Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and in helping them make contacts with corporations that need their services.
“I’ve been a member of the Council since way back in the 70s,” said Stuart. “The Council gives you leads on a lot of opportunities.”
Weisenborn said that for Ameren, achieving excellence in supplier diversity is a journey, and he readily acknowledges SLMBC’s support along the way.
“Our goal is to be the performance leader in every aspect of our business,” he said. “Supplier diversity is certainly a key focus. We’ve doubled our diverse supplier spending every year since 2002. We will be close to hitting $60 million for 2006.”
Weisenborn said James Webb, president of the St. Louis Minority Business Council, and his team have worked very closely with Ameren and have challenged the company to continue to enhance diversity among its suppliers.
“Supplier diversity is now a key corporate initiative at Ameren,” he said. “We are focused on identifying opportunities and the Council helps us link those increasing opportunities with qualified suppliers.”
Stuart, whose company also does a lot of highway, airport, and commercial projects, said “Ameren has been a great shot in the arm for our business. They provide a constant flow of orders and revenue.”
In return, Stuart has built an infrastructure to meet Ameren’s needs. “Ron Sangster on our team is continually working with their buyers,” he said. “He talks to them every day and goes to see them. He also goes to the plants. It takes a lot of one-on-one contact to build a business, and that’s what he’s done.”
Both Weisenborn and Stuart appreciate the partnership they have. And both have advice for others who seek to build such a relationship.
“You have to be committed to success and maintain a long-term vision to build a ‘win-win’ partnership,” Weisenborn said.
Stuart said it’s important for MBEs “to get out and get known. One of the biggest things is to tell people what you can do. Don’t exaggerate. If you can’t do it, tell them.”
And be sure to make full use of the services of the St. Louis Minority Business Council. That’s been one of Stuart’s secrets to success for more than three decades.
PON Rings in the New Year with New Name
The Purchasing Officer’s Network (PON) will adopt a new name, the Alliance for Minority Procurement (AMP), effective Jan. 1, 2007. The name change more accurately reflects the group’s focus and roster of participants, which includes diversity managers and key purchasing personnel. MBEs must have an invitation from a corporate member to present or participate in the PON/AMP meetings.
Washington University will host all AMP meetings in 2007. The sessions will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Multipurpose Room 2128 on the West Campus, 7425 Forsyth Blvd. Meeting dates are:
- January 10
- March 14
- May 9
- July 11
- September 12
- November 14
Meeting participants will receive lunch (lunches will be ordered based on the number of RSVPs) and free parking, which is available on the old Famous Barr parking lot. The Metrolink Forsyth station is located on the Washington University West Campus parking lot.
If you want to RSVP for the January AMP meeting, please call Valerie Shelton of SLMBC at (314) 241-1132.
Deadline Approaching for 2007 MBE Re-certification
The MBE re-certification process is underway. Please submit your completed application to the SLMBC office by close of business on Dec. 29.
Your current certification expires Jan. 31, 2007. Basic re-certification is $250.
Certification through the St. Louis Minority Business Council gives MBEs access to a variety of resources and benefits, including:
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The SLMBC office will be closed on Christmas and open on Tuesday, Dec. 26. The office will also be closed on New Year’s Day and open on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007.
Mary “One” Johnson – president, CEO, and broker of Mary “One” Johnson Home Team Realty and Mary 1 Enterprise – was honored at the 26th Annual Leader Lunch hosted by the YWCA of Metro St. Louis on Dec. 7. The event recognizes women for their contributions in the workplace and in their communities.
Newly Certified MBEs
Mr. Gus Cervetto
Managing Member
CB & E Construction Group
Chesterfield, MO 63005
17724 Edison Ave.
Tel. (314) 781.2700
Fax. (314) 781.2748
E-mail: chris@CBandE.com
Web: www.CBandE.com
Construction: Provides commercial general contracting services, construction management, and design-build construction services for new construction, tenant finish or renovations to clients in the education, hospitality, office, mixed-use, retail, senior-living, and governmental sectors.
Correction
In the November edition of Connections, there was an error for new MBE Shalesheanna Danrich of Gateway Management Specialist. Please note the correct information:
Ms. Shalesheanna Danrich, CEO
Gateway Management Specialist
1419 Walton Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63113
Tel. (314) 578-8238
Fax (314) 340-3550
E-mail: gatewayspecialist@yahoo.com
Web: www.stlgms.com
Professional Consultant: Modeling/marketing
Newly Certified Reciprocal MBEs
Mr. Lonnie Coleman
Owner
Coleman Spohn Corporation
1775 East 45th St.
Cleveland, OH 44103
Tel. (216) 431-8070
Fax (216) 431-8254
E-mail: Lcoleman@colemanspohn.com
Web: www.colemanspohn.com
Construction: Installs HVAC, plumbing and process piping systems.
Mr. Thomas McLeary
President
Endow, Inc.
35 Wacker Drive, Ste. 1990
Chicago, IL 60601
Tel. (312) 499-9800
Fax (312) 499-9828
E-mail: endowtlm@msn.com
Professional Consultant: Specializes in insurance planning and benefit management. Develops customized strategies and plans for large business and government agencies.
Ms. Ana Maregatti
President
Maregatti Interiors, LLC
9365 Counselors Row, #112
Indianapolis, IN 46240
Tel. (317) 805-3975
Fax (317) 805-3977
E-mail: ana@maregattiinteriors.com
Web: www.maregattiinteriors.com
Professional Consultant: Interior design services and consulting.
Mr. Ruben Jasso
President
Three Nations Trading, LLC
P.O. Box 189
Charleston, MO 63834
Tel. (573) 380-4000
Fax (630) 203-1647
E-mail: ruben@3-nt.com
Web: www.3-nt.com
Services: Provides transportation logistics services for Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Mr. Avery F. Byrd, Sr.
President
Toussaint Capital Partners, LLC
110 Wall Street, Floor 11
New York, NY 10005
Tel. (212) 328-1800
Fax (212) 328-1850
E-mail: abyrd@toussaintcapital.com
Services: Provider of new issue origination and distribution of equity and debt, secondary sales and trading of equity and debt, including electronic trading, stock purchase execution, and municipal finance.