Supplier of the Year recognizes Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American business enterprises for their business growth and development, operational success, support of other minority businesses and active participation in the community.

The honorees are divided into four categories, based on annual sales: Class I is for firms with less than $1 million in sales; Class II is for firms with $1 million to $10 million in sales; Class III is for firms with $10 million to $50 million in sales; and Class IV is for firms with more than $50 million in sales. One company from each class is named National Supplier of the Year.

We salute all of this year’s winners, finalists and nominees for their leadership and dedication to minority supplier development and to communities of color around the world.

The minority businesses have distinguished themselves by successfully demonstrating growth in sales and employment while overcoming significant obstacles, consistently providing high quality products, services and solutions at competitive prices, and significantly contributing to the growth and development of their communities. The corporations exhibit extraordinary support of and positive impact on minority supplier development in various areas, including the implementation and maintenance of world-class minority supplier development processes, providing access to capital and sourcing minority suppliers in non-traditional categories.

We wish each of you continued success!

Supplier of the Year (Class I)

Walter Griggs, Chief Executive Officer, SquarePac Ltd. - Class 1 Finalist

Walter Griggs
Chief Executive Officer
SquarePac Ltd.

Nominated by
Georgia Power Company

Regional Council
Georgia Minority Supplier
Development Council

Leamon Sowell, Managing Partner, Sowell Law Partners, PLLC - Class 1 Finalist

Leamon Sowell
Managing Partner
Sowell Law Partners, PLLC

Nominated by
Johnson Controls Inc.

Regional Council
Michigan Minority Supplier
Development Council

Sharon King, President and Chief Executive Officer, Castle Business Solutions - Class 1 Finalist

Sharon King
President and Chief Executive Officer
Castle Business Solutions

Nominated by
CVS Health

Regional Council
Dallas/Fort Worth Minority
Supplier Development Council

Willie Mae Veasy, Chief Executive Officer, Covenant Business Concepts, LLC - Class 1 Finalist

Willie Mae Veasy
Chief Executive Officer
Covenant Business Concepts, LLC

Nominated by
Citigroup Inc.

Regional Council
New York & New Jersey Minority
Supplier Development Council

Supplier of the Year (Class II)

Shawn Bromell, President, Pro Cutters Lawnscapes, LLC - Class 2 Finalist

Shawn Bromell
President
Pro Cutters Lawnscapes, LLC

Nominated by
Georgia Power Company

Regional Council
Georgia Minority Supplier
Development Council

Elisabete Miranda, President, CQfluency - Class 2 Finalist

Elisabete Miranda
President
CQfluency

Nominated by
University Hospital

Regional Council
New York & New Jersey
Minority Supplier
Development Council

Trisha Kana-Mistry, President/Chief Executive, Officer, ThreePDS Inc - Class 2 Finalist

Trisha Kana-Mistry
President/Chief Executive Officer
ThreePDS Inc

Nominated by
Energy Future Holdings (EFH)

Regional Council
Dallas/Fort Worth
Minority Supplier
Development Council

Supplier of the Year (Class III)

Lili Hall President and Chief Executive Officer, KNOCK, inc. - Class 3 Finalist

Lili Hall
President and
Chief Executive Officer
KNOCK, Inc.

Nominated by
Best Buy

Regional Council
North Central Minority
Supplier Development Council

Devon Henry, President and Chief Executive Officer, Team Henry Enterprises, LLC - Class 3 Finalist

Devon Henry
President and Chief Executive Officer
Team Henry Enterprises, LLC

Nominated by
Ferguson

Regional Council
Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier
Development Council

Kevin Narcomey, President and Chief Executive Officer, Osceola Consulting - Class 3 Finalist

Kevin Narcomey
Chief Executive Officer
Osceola Consulting

Nominated by
Southern California
Gas Company

Regional Council
Southern California Minority
Supplier Development Council

Dr. Ramesh Wadhwani, President and Chief Executive Officer, SAI Systems International, Inc. - Class 3 Finalist

Dr. Ramesh Wadhwani
President and Chief Executive Officer
SAI Systems International, Inc.

Nominated by
PerkinElmer Instruments

Regional Council
Greater New England Minority
Supplier Development Council

Supplier of the Year (Class IV)

Fay Ferguson, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Burrell Communications - Class 4 Finalist

Fay Ferguson
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Burrell Communications

Nominated by
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Regional Council
Chicago Minority Supplier
Development Council

McGhee Williams Osse, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Burrell Communications - Class 4 Finalist

McGhee Williams Osse
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Burrell Communications

Nominated by
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Regional Council
Chicago Minority Supplier
Development Council

Belisario Rosas, President, Worldcom Exchange, Inc. - Class 4 Finalist

Belisario Rosas
President
Worldcom Exchange, Inc.

Nominated by
Blue Cross Blue Shield
of Massachusetts

Regional Council
Greater New England Minority
Supplier Development Council

Hal Hays, Founder, Hal Hays Construction Inc. - Class 4 Finalist

Hal Hays
Founder
Hal Hays Construction Inc.

Nominated by
Southern California Edison Company

Regional Council
Southern California Minority
Supplier Development Council

Jatinder-Bir Sandhu, Chief Executive Officer, NYX, Inc. - Class 4 Finalist

Jatinder-Bir Sandhu
Chief Executive Officer
NYX, Inc.

Nominated by
Lear Corporation

Regional Council
Michigan Minority Supplier
Development Council

Livia Whisenhunt, President and Chief Executive Officer, PS Energy Group Inc. - Class 4 Finalist

Livia Whisenhunt
President and Chief Executive Officer
PS Energy Group Inc.

Nominated by
Georgia Power Company

Regional Council
Chicago Minority Supplier
Development Council