CBOF 48, the 48th Annual Chicago Business Opportunity Fair hosted by the preeminent Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council Inc. organization met April 23 and 24, 2015 at Navy Pier, Chicago. ChicagoMSDC’s goal is to increase corporate and government procurement from certified minority-owned businesses representing, African American, Asian American, Native American and Hispanic American business owners. Those in attendance included the CBOF48planning committee, the ChicagoMSDC Board of Directors, members, certified MBES and staff. This years theme, Reset, Revamp and Accelerate presented workshops, seminars, 1-on-1 targeted meetings and industry rows,such as Healthcare Row and University Row to help provide a meaningful opportunity fair assuring that each participant walked away with something of value. In addition theMBEIC Sharing Success Awards Reception, Dinner and Program ceremony honoring those whose performance exhibits excellence took place Thursday evening at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom. The Sponsors Breakfast featured Newly elect Governor Bruce Rauner who make a few remarks and keynote speaker, the world renowned highly respected and accomplished political Analyst, author and entrepreneur Donna Brazile.
Rauner’s remarks about his intentions were hard to accept given his current budget suspensions and cuts. He spoke of his corporate past and how his company supported minorities. He even said, “Our company particularly reached out to African Americans,” and then shared the story he’s shared many times that he has endowed a full professor’s chair at historically black Morehouse College in Atlanta. He made a point of stating that he wants to reinstitute industrial education courses into the high school curriculum. He also said that he want to close the salary gap.’ Of course all of thesis quite interesting. Be vey clear that Rauner is not interested in the under privileged, but rather those middle class and up.
Donna Brazile was entertaining, informative and inspirational. She landed with most as an accomplished woman who does not take her self too seriously yet understands the struggle and the importance of commitment, hard work and integrity.
ChicagoMSDC President and CEO Sheila C. Morgan and Ruby McCleary, Director Supplier Diversity at United, Chairperson, CBOF48 Planning Committee were the hosts who presented the Presidents Gavel to Chairman, President & CEO of United Airlines who served as Honorary Chair of CBOF48 planning Committee. Other members of the committee were Firoz Lalji, Ceo of Zomnes and Donna Bridgeforth, President of Bridgeforth Wolf & Associates.
Standing in for Stefan Holt Zorida Sambolin of channel 5 was the Mistress of Ceremony and added humor and lightness to the morning event. She closed the breakfast program and everyone headed out to the Ribbon Cutting Recessional.
This year’s MBEIC SHARING SUCCESS AWARDEES:
Corporation of the Year – Anne Pramaggiore, President & CEO ComEd
Anders C. Rasmussen, Jr. Award – Emmett Vaughn, Director Diversity & Inclusion Exelon
Minority Business Impact Award – Myla Skinner, Directory of Strategy, University of Chicago
Maye Foster Thompson Minority Buisness Advocate Awards- Joyce Johnson, Anchor Staffing
Nobel Diversity Business Leader Award- Steve Pemberton, Divisional VP& Chief Diversity Officer, Walgreens
Vanguard Award – Juventino Cano, President & CEO, Cano Container Corporation
Pathfinder Award-Kathy April Rush – Supplier Diversity Small Business Liaison Officer, Abbive, Inc.
President’s Recognition Award – Alejandra Castillo, National Director, MBDA
Chairman’s Recognition Award – Cheryl Harris, Sr VP Sourcing $ Procurement Solutions, Allstate
Corporate Rising Star Award – Dwayne Esterline, MB, Sr. Purchasing manager, Tenneco
MBE Rising Star Award – Jeff Tovar, President & CEO Tovar Snow Professionals
Transformational Leader Award – Jacqueline Rosa, Global head of Supplier Diversity, JP Morgan
Trailblazer Award -James Clayborne, 57th District Asst. Majority Leader, State of Illinois
Lifetime Achievement Award – Jesse White, Secretary of State, State of Illinois
Employee of the Year – Joshua Gutstein, Sr Financial Analyst, MBDA Buisness Center-Chicago
MINORITY SUPPLIERS OF THE YEAR
Class I – Jared Kelly, President, CEI Media Group
Class II – Stephanie Hickman, President & CEO, Trice Construction Company
Class III- Jeff Styers, President, Arrow Strategies
Class III – Vasanthi Ilangovan, President Viva USA
Class IV – Jim Reynolds, Chairman & Founder, Loop Capital Markets
OUTSTANDING BUYER AWARDEES
George Avery, Manager, Faculities Service Maintenance WW Grainger
Veronica Biggs, Principal Category Manager Supply Hardware, Excelon
John Dixon, Manager $ CreativeDirector Design Group, Federal Reserve Bank
Rochelle Taylor, Purchasing Supervisior, Caesars Entertainment/Harrah’s Joliet Casino & Hotel
Carolyn Harris, Sr. Category Manager, United Airlines
Joseph Sellens, General Market, Scientific Games International
Ryan Stevens, Sr.Manager of Professional Services, Discover
JenniferJohnson, Washington, Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Chicago
Some of the Sponsors:
Abbott, Abbvie Inc., Allstate, Ariel Investments, AT & T, Blue Cross Blue Shielfd of IL, BMO Harris bank, BP, Capiyal One, Cardinal Health, Caterpillar Inc., CDW, CEI Media Group, CNA Insurance Companies, Exelon, Harrah’s Joliet, Honda North America, Illinois Casino Gaming Association, Johnson Controls, JP Morgan, MZI Group Inc., National Material L.P., Navistar Nicor Gas, Nielsen, Northern Trust , Office Depot, Pepsico, People’sGas & North Shore Gas,Sprint, Staples, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Tenneco, The CRS Group, Tovar Snow Professionals, UBM Facility Services, Inc., United Airlines, University of Chicago Office Business Diversity, Viva Usa, Inc, Walgreens, World Wide Technology, W.W Grainger, Zones, Inc.
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