29th Annual Southeast Regional MED Week Features B2B Sessions and Awards Gala

Aug. 11, 2011 - PRLog -- Atlanta Regional MED Week Council comprised of representatives from minority
owned firms, corporations, government and local organizations that serve the diverse
business community announced today it will hold its 29th Annual Southeast Regional Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week and third annual Business Summit and Awards Banquet on Thursday, August 11 in Atlanta, GA. This one day summit begins with breakfast, panel discussions and workshops from 8 a.m until 1:00 p.m. at AT&T, 725 W. Peachtree St. N.E.

With the theme "Emerging Industries and Markets for Global Integration: A Blue Print for Success", a major highlight will be Strategically planned B2B matchmaking sessions pairing major corporations Procurement/Purchasing professionals representing major corporations and various local Governments with vetted MBEs to discuss current business opportunities.

Summit topics and themes to be discussed in concurrent strategy break out sessions and program itinerary:

Breakfast Welcome: Sylvia Russell President AT&T, Georgia

MBDA Report: Patricia Hanes, Regional Director, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

Greetings: Johnnie Booker, The Coca Cola Company - MED Week Honorary Chair

SBA Report: Terri Denison, SBA District Director

• Panel Discussion: Expanding Exporting Opportunities

Moderator: Terri Denison, SBA Georgia District

• Seminar: "Branding Your Way to Increased Profits"

Speaker: LaVon Lewis, President PencilWorx Design

The semi-formal awards banquet hosted by Georgia Power, 214 Ralph McGill Blvd at 6 p.m., will present a dynamic and highly motivational keynote speaker in Dr. James H. Johnson, William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of strategy and entrepreneurship and director of the Urban Investment Strategies Center, UNC Chapel Hill. His research interests include community and economic development, the effects of demographic changes on the U.S. workplace, interethnic minority conflict in advanced industrial societies, urban poverty and public policy in urban America, and workforce diversity issues.

MED Week recognizes and awards minority businesses and those who advocate on their behalf.  Hence, the night will culminate with the presentation of awards to outstanding recipients located the Southeast region.

MED Week Honorees:

• Corporation of the Year - Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Marietta, GA

• Minority Business Advocate of the Year - Luke Yancy III, Mid South Minority Business Council, Memphis, TN

• Minority Manufacturing Firm of the Year - Adam Walker, Homestead Packing Solutions, Roswell, GA

• Distinguished Supplier Diversity Award - Ken Huff, Georgia Power, Atlanta, GA

• Minority Global Supplier Distributor of the Year - Jose Lopez, Marketing Arm International, Inc., Port Charlotte, FL and

Ralph Brown, Trillion Communications, Bessemer, AL

• Media Award - Pat Lottier, Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine, Roswell, GA

• Minority Global Technology Firm of The Year - Socorro Harvey, Nvision Solutions, Inc.,

Bay St. Louis, MS

• Minority Construction Firm of the Year - Dr. Louis B. Lynn, Enviro AgScience, Inc.,
Columbus, SC and Aaron _omas, Metcon Construction, Pembroke, NC

Co-chairs of MED week are Stacey Scott CEO, Elgia, Inc. and Milton Kirby, President, Allied Logistics.

Sponsors include: AT&T, Georgia Power, Atlanta Braves, MARTA, The Coca Cola Company, Lockheed Martin, Georgia Pacific , Mid-South Minority Business Council, PDG, New South Construction, Trillion Communications, Mississippi MBDA, the Atlanta Tribune, Atlanta Daily World, Atlanta Voice and Atlanta Inquirer.

Tickets are $200 for MBEs and the Corporate rate is $250.

For more information about the Southeast Region Atlanta Annual Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week visit www.medweekatlanta.com or call event contact, Simply the Best Events at 404 699-7456.

Media Contact: Diane Larché, 404 273-3227, diane@larchecommunications.com

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Larche' Communications LLC is a full service boutique public relations, marketing and advertising firm based in Atlanta, Georgia with offices in Philadelphia and New Orleans