nomination process
Eligible Nominees’ Requirements
A Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) is defined as a business that is owned or controlled (greater than 50 percent) by the following persons or groups of persons that are also U.S. citizens or resident aliens admitted for lawful admission to the United States: African Americans, Native American, Alaska Native, Asian American, Hispanic American, Pacific Islander, and Hasidic Jews.
Eligible nominees include, and are not limited to, business owners, business executives, nonprofit organizations, for-profit firms and Institutions, universities and colleges, and local, state and federal government representatives.
The awards listed under Minority – Owned Firms Awards are reserved as minority business presentations. The remaining MED Week Champion Awards, are open to qualified nominees without regard to ethnic minority status.
Eligible nominees include, and are not limited to, business owners, business executives, nonprofit organizations, for-profit firms and Institutions, universities and colleges, and local, state and federal government representatives.
The awards listed under Minority – Owned Firms Awards are reserved as minority business presentations. The remaining MED Week Champion Awards, are open to qualified nominees without regard to ethnic minority status.
Luncheon Award Category Definitions
No Past Five (5) Year, 2018-2022 Award Winners Will be Nominated
ETHNIC MINORITY- OWNED FIRMS
- Minority Advanced Manufacturing Firm
Presented to the minority-owned firm that has achieved success in employing innovative technology, creating high quality manufacturing jobs, and significant market share increases. - Minority Business Support Firm
Presented to a high-performing, minority-owned company that has achieved outstanding marketing, PR, Payroll, and/or Consulting Services success. - Minority Construction Firm
Presented to the minority-owned firm that has achieved success in private or public sector projects and has exhibited revenue and job growth over a sustained two (2) year minimum timeframe. - Minority Exporting Firm
Presented to a high-performing, minority-owned company that has achieved outstanding export success. This success is reflected in increased exports, new market development, increased revenues, and job growth. - Minority Health Care Firm
Presented to a minority-owned company that has achieved notable success, by improving healthcare delivery, and quality through innovation. - Minority Hospitality, Tourism, Entertainment Firm
Presented to a minority-owned Hospitality, Tourism, or Entertainment firm that has provided outstanding success as an economic driver that includes revenue, job creation, and job growth. - Minority Legacy Firm
Presented to a minority family -owned company that has operated, for at least 35 years, and has achieved economic success, as a community economic institution. - Minority Skilled Trade Firm
Presented to a minority-owned certified skilled trade company that has achieved increased revenue, job growth, and sustainability success, e. g. Plumbing, Carpentry, Welding, Pipefitting - Minority Technology Firm
Presented to a minority-owned technology company that has achieved notable success employing innovative techniques, and ideas that promote greater efficiency, and productivity, e. g. products, and or services. - Minority Veteran Firm
Presented to a minority Veteran owned company that has achieved outstanding success in increased revenue, job growth, sustainability, market share, and customer satisfaction. - Minority Entrepreneur of the Year
Presented to a minority business owner who has exhibited the skills necessary to initiate, and grow a successful business venture, e.g. visionary, risk taker, innovator, change agent, community leader. - The Minority Resilience Award (The Non-Five-Year Requirement is Waived.)
Presented to company that responded to COVID-19 challenges, and survived, and thrived through unpredictable, changing, and potential unfavorable events. Resiliency is the key, e. g. business builders, retooling, new markets, organizational restructuring
MINORITY-OWNED FIRMS
- Minority Advanced Manufacturing Firm: Presented to the minority-owned firm that has achieved success in employing innovative technology, creating high quality manufacturing jobs, and significant market share increases.
- Minority Construction Firm: Presented to the minority-owned firm that has achieved success in private or public sector projects and has exhibited revenue and job growth over a sustained two (2) year minimum timeframe.
- Minority Exporting Firm: Presented to a high-performing, minority-owned company that has achieved outstanding export success. This success is reflected in increased exports, penetration to new markets, increased revenues, and job growth.
- Minority Hospitality/Food Services Firm: Presented to a minority-owned Hospitality, and or Food Services firm that has provided outstanding success as an economic driver.
- Minority Legacy Firm: Presented to a minority family -owned company that has operated, for at least fifty years, and has achieved economic success, as a community economic institution.
- Minority Professional Services Firm: Presented to a minority –owned business that has achieved success in professional, scientific, and/or technical services.
- Minority Rising Star: Presented to an under minority forty entrepreneur who has achieved notable success while showing a strong social, and community commitment.
- Minority Technology Firm: Presented to a minority-owned technology company that has achieved notable success employing new, and innovative techniques/ideas that promote greater efficiency, and productivity, e. g. products, and or services.
- Minority Veteran Firm: Presented to a minority Veteran owned minority company that has achieved outstanding success in increased revenue, job growth, and sustainability, market share, and customer satisfaction.
MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CHAMPIONS
- Minority Access to Capital Advocate
Presented to a minority individual who has protected, promoted, and provided ethnic minority businesses assistance in overcoming obstacles when attempting to access capital markets. - Distinguished Business Advocate Award
Presented to an individual or organization demonstrating outstanding financial commitment, and leadership to the minority business community, e.g. traditional, and or alternative working or investment capital. - MED Week Chairman’s Resilience Award
Presented to a group or individual that illustrates COVID-19 strategies that adapted to a fluid economy, and “New Normal,” successfully. Their methods include Creativity, Resiliency, Innovation, and Tenacity that play an integral role in the creative, technical, or professional progress of minority business development.
