Minority Business Owners Hit a Home Run with New Busch Stadium MORE
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Dave Whiteley, Ameren; James Webb, President, SLMBC; Blanche Touhill, AmerenCDC Board Member; and Harold Crumpton, Ameren Board Member. MORE
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MBEs Selected to Participate in Focused Growth Program. James Qin, Q&C International; Mark Graham, SLMBC Board Member; Barry Carona, Production Products; Dave Whiteley, Ameren; Keith Savage, LRS; Gerard Hutchinson, Interface Construction Corp.; Audrey Jones, J.F. Services; and Dana Hill, SLMBC.
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Congratulations to the nearly 25 minority-owned businesses that played a part in the completion of the new Busch Stadium. From woodworking to cooling and heating to flooring, minority businesses and their corporate mentors helped make the new Busch Stadium a major league success. SLMBC-certified minority business participants included: BRK Electric The following SLMBC corporate member firms served as mentors to the businesses listed above: AT&T (formerly SBC)
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More than 45 corporate members and Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) were on hand at the April 4 General Membership meeting to see Ameren Community Development Corporation (CDC) Board members present the SLMBC with a $250,000 grant. Portions of the grant will fund the SLMBC Focused Growth Program, a program targeting entrepreneurs who know their industries well but may face challenges growing their already successful businesses. AmerenCDC Board Members Dr. Blanche Touhill and Harold Crumpton, along with David A. Whiteley, Senior Vice President, Ameren Energy Delivery Services, presented the check to Jim Webb, President of SLMBC. AmerenCDC’s support of this exciting new endeavor is part of its overall goal to grow the capacity of minority-owned businesses, which leads to a positive impact on our local and regional economy. For more details on the FGP and to access an online FGP application, visit www.slmbc.org.
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The FGP gives MBEs access to a team of business experts whose main focus is to help companies grow through increased market share, larger staffs, and higher earnings. The program utilizes several approaches to put selected entrepreneurs on the road to long-term business success, including mentor-protégé relationships, business health assessments, executive education, and capitalization strategies.
Stay tuned for updates on the progress of our FGP participants in future issues of Connections.
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Registration is underway for this year’s Business Opportunity Fair (BOF), SLMBC’s largest event of the year.
Themed “Stepping Up to the Plate for Progress,” BOF activities will kick off Wednesday, June 14 with a reception at the Roberts Mayfair Hotel. Festivities will continue on June 15 at America’s Centre with the annual breakfast, luncheon, trade show, and business-to-business meetings.
This year’s distinguished guest speakers include U.S. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II and Stan O’Neal, CEO of Merrill Lynch & Co., a trillion-dollar financial management firm with offices in nearly 40 countries. Cleaver, who also pastors St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo., and made history as the first African-American mayor of Kansas City, will serve as guest speaker at the BOF breakfast. O’Neal will address the BOF’s luncheon attendees following the morning trade show and MBE exhibit.
Visit www.slmbc.org to access BOF registration information. We look forward to seeing you at this year’s event!
Thursday, April 27 marks the launch of the Business Card Exchange, an SLMBC event established for the sole purpose of networking and creating new business relationships.
The Business Card Exchange will take place from 5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Monsanto Chesterfield Campus, 700 Chesterfield Parkway. The evening kicks off with a networking reception followed by a tour of the Monsanto Green Houses.
To make this event a success:
- Corporate members: Come prepared to discuss potential business opportunities and to meet our newest MBEs.
- MBEs: Come prepared to discuss your services with corporate members and with other MBEs.
- All attendees: Remember to bring plenty of business cards!
The SLMBC and Casino Queen Hotel & Casino invite area minority and women owned businesses to meet and network with Illinois and St. Louis area casino purchasing departments. Admission is free. This event will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Casino Queen, 200 South Front Street, East St. Louis, IL 62201.
St. Louis and Illinois casinos will be on hand to discuss a variety of opportunities, ranging from general equipment and supplies to construction and contracting.
If interested in attending this event, please call Larry Christensen, Purchasing Director, at 800-777-0777 or email lchristensen@casinoqueen.com. You may also register with Valerie Shelton at 314-241-1143 or vshelton@slmbc.org.
Corporate News
McCarthy Building Companies was named General Contractor of the Year by the Midwest Council of the American Subcontractors Association as reported in the April 21 edition of the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
New Contracts
- Congratulations to Leonard Anderson, owner of Bi-State Container and Hauling, Inc. Leonard was awarded contracts from Laclede Gas and Enterprise Rent-A-Car after making a presentation on his services at the February PON meeting.
- Congratulations to Katherine Anderson, president of Andy’s Seasonings, for celebrating the company’s 25th anniversary and for being featured in the April 13 edition of the St. Louis American. Andy’s Seasonings supplies Schnucks, Shop ‘N Save, Dierbergs, Food For Less and other St. Louis-based businesses with custom food, breading and batters.
The Silver anniversary and expansion of Andy’s Seasonings was celebrated on April 8. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, dignitaries, and other civic leaders were among the guests in attendance. During the event, employees were recognized with certificates of appreciation.
New MBEs
Welcome to our newest MBEs:
- Cage Investments, dba Advanced Drywall
Industry: Construction: drywall and plastering
President: John Cage
Phone number: (636) 332-6612
E-mail: lrg15@hotmail.com
- Cleaning Genies, LLC
Industry: Services: commercial janitorial cleaning
President: Fred Mahmood
Phone number: (314) 580-0093
E-mail: cleaninggeniesllc@hotmail.com
New Reciprocal MBEs
- Industrial Waste Clean-up, dba IWC Group
Industry: Construction: asbestos and lead abatement
President: Juan A. Quiroz
Phone number: (313) 993-3060
E-mail: jquiroz@iwcgroup.net
The May 10 Purchasing Officers Network (PON) Meeting has been rescheduled. Please stay tuned for the new date.