Tracey L. Pinson, Director of the U.S. Army's Small Business Programs, Receives Champion Award

PR Log (Press Release) – Sep 17, 2009 – Washington, DC – The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation will present the 2nd Annual Congressional Black Caucus Minority Business Reception and Awards Gala. Hosted by Mountaintop Marketing, this year’s event will salute minority women business leaders, who continue to leave their indelible marks on our economy, communities across the nation, the United States military, and colleges and universities.

Tracey L. Pinson, Director of the Office of Small Business Programs, Secretary of the United States Army, will receive the Small Business Champion Award. Since May 1995, Ms. Pinson has advised the Secretary of the Army and the Army Staff on all small business procurement issues and is responsible for the implementation of the Federal acquisition programs designed to assist small businesses.  

She provides management and oversight for the Army’s Mentor-Protégé Program as well as the Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) program, and develops policies and initiatives to enhance HBCU/MI participation in Army funded programs.  As one of the top females in the Army’s acquisition career field, she is responsible for the integration of small businesses, HBCUs and MIs in acquisition strategies developed at the Army Headquarters.

Prior to her current position, Ms. Pinson served as Assistant to the Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Office of the Secretary of Defense.  During her tenure, she served as the program manager of the Department of Defense (DOD) Small Disadvantaged Business Program and the HBCU/MI Program.  She developed the implementation strategy for the DOD Mentor-Protégé Program resulting in over 250 participants with a budget allocation as high as $120 million.  This program has served as the model-mentoring program for all Federal government agencies.

Ms. Pinson was born in Washington, D.C.  She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Howard University.  She also received a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.  

In addition to Ms. Pinson, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation will honor Dr. Dorothy I. Height, Chair and President Emerita, National Council of Negro Women (Lifetime Achievement Award); Aundrea Gregg, Student, Howard University (Emerging Leader Award); Dr. Teresa Merriweather Orok, Vice President of Institutional Research, Planning and Sponsored Programming at Alabama A & M University (Historically Black College and University – HBCU – Award); Phyllis Shearer Jones, President and CEO, Elan International, LLC (International Business Award); and, Joan Robinson-Berry, Director, Strategic Work Placement & Small Business Liaison Officer, The Boeing Company (Executive Leadership Award).

Newly appointed National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency, David Hinson, will give opening remarks during the Awards Program and share his thoughts on the dynamic leaders being honored, and the importance of recognizing the contributions of minority women business leaders, who collectively drive billions of dollars in our economy’s revenue. Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), United States House of Representatives, will deliver the Keynote Address during the program.

The 2nd Annual Congressional Black Caucus Minority Business Reception and Awards Gala will be held on Friday, September 25, 2009 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 900 10th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. and the awards program starts at 7:30 p.m.

Event sponsors to date include Boeing, MSTI, The Coca-Cola Company, Northrup Gruman, National Business League, and Davis Executive Associates.

For more information, visit www.mountaintopmarketing.com/CBCSalute or call (301) 830-8191. To confirm media coverage, or request interviews, contact Kesi Stribling at Kesi@ksgsc.com or (202) 904-1380.


ABOUT MOUNTAINTOP MARKETING GROUP, LLC
Mountaintop Marketing Group, LLC is a full service government marketing, advertising and business development firm specializing in assisting small businesses and corporations. Mountaintop Marketing Group, LLC, President and CEO, Michael Bowlds, is recognized as one of the nation’s leading government marketing experts.

A well-recognized and highly regarded professional, Michael Bowlds is a strong advocate for small, minority, woman, and veteran owned businesses. Bowlds is Board Chairman of the U.S. Department of Commerce sponsored National Capital Area Minority Business Opportunities Center. A true champion for minority businesses, Bowlds was recently named 2009 Advocate of the Year by the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (NY Region MED Week) and a finalist for the Lewis Shattuck National Small Business Advocate of the Year award by the National Small Business Association. Bowlds was named 2009 Maryland Business Champion by the Gazette of Business and Politics.


ABOUT THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION
Founded in 1976, The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy, research and educational institute that aims to help improve the socioeconomic circumstances of African Americans and other underserved communities. CBCF’s influence extends to African‐American intellectuals and others focused on policy and legislative. Each September, thousands of elected officials and industry leaders, celebrities, media, emerging leaders and everyday Americans come to Washington, D.C., for the organization’s Annual Legislative Conference (ALC). The conference features participation by the Congressional Black Caucus and includes dozens of policy forums, general sessions, exhibits, a job fair, book signings and vast networking opportunities.