The word “stellar” is defined as pertaining to a preeminent performer.
During the second annual Stellar Awards Luncheon hosted by the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council at the Fairmont Hotel, the EQT Corporation lived up to the meaning of stellar by walking away with five awards.
Lance Hyde, supplier diversity manager for EQT, received the Individual Resource Partner award. And EQT won the awards for Organizational Resource Partner, Corporate Best Practice, Corporate Cornerstone and Corporate Forerunner. Thankful to be recognized for his dedication to the growth and development of Minority Businesses Enterprises (MBE), Hyde said it is necessary to work together as one team to achieve the common goal to make Pittsburgh a more inclusive region. Hyde and EQT are committed to continuing the work they must do to support and assist in the success of MBEs and to provide the time or resources to help promote the EMSDC.
“We are doing what we truly believe in our hearts—doing the right work, the right way, for the right reasons,” Hyde said.
From 2013 to 2015, Hyde won the organization’s Corporate Advocate of the Year award and in 2016 EQT won the Corporate Best Practice and Corporate Leadership Cornerstone awards.
Suresh Ramanathan, president and CEO of Pittsburgh-based KORYAK, and Ron Davis, director of diversity and community development of Parx Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, received the Alexander Nichols Lifetime Achievement award. The award is in recognition of their involvement with the EMSDC that goes above and beyond membership or certification status, but also their body of work exemplifying their passion for the advancement of minority businesses. They were also recognized for their longstanding dedication to the advancement of MBEs through promoting certification of MBE participation in organizations or committees that help develop MBEs, and for the number of years advocating for those businesses.
Other awardees during the April 18 event were CDI Printing; MBE Partnership award, and KORYAK; MBE Forerunner award.
With nearly 300 corporate executives, resource partners, and MBE suppliers in attendance, EMSDC President and CEO Valarie J. Cofield said the audience was a mix of new faces, old friends and longstanding supporters. She explained that the Stellar Awards, a council-wide initiative, were conceived to recognize the many accomplishments of MBEs, corporate members and resource partners. “It’s an opportunity to honor the best in class and to focus on their continuous excellence.”
She pointed out that the group’s core purpose is to create a sustainable opportunity and wealth for businesses in the communities in which they serve.
EMSDC’s core values are to certify, develop, connect and advocate.
Curt Topper, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of General Services, welcomed the attendees and provided an update on the state’s initiatives for minority business inclusion. Pleased to attend the event for a second year, he said he was inspired last year because state government often needs examples to follow because they are not always upfront and leading the way as they should. “Attendees here get it, the folks being honored and the majority-owned larger firms, you get it; you don’t have to be convinced that diversity and inclusion is important and the right thing to do for the bottom line. That’s an inspiration and I left here last year with that in mind,” Topper said.
The keynote for this year’s event was, “A Conversation with Joset Wright-Lacy.” Wright-Lacy is president of the National Minority Supplier Diversity Council. Interviewed by Cofield, she shared her insights on planned changes within the NMSDC network, how to find minority suppliers, and how minority-owned businesses should approach potential customers.
Considered a seasoned business leader and strategist, Wright-Lacy is leading NMSDC on a significant redesign providing innovative and customer-driven services to its corporate members, MBEs, regional affiliates and international affiliates.
Darieth Chisolm, Emmy Award-winning television personality and former WPXI anchor, served as the Mistress of Ceremonies.
EMSDC, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, is an affiliate of the NMSDC. There are 23 regional councils across the country with more than 1,750 corporate members. The EMSDC certifies and connects minority-owned businesses (Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Native American) throughout Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware with member corporations who are committed to supplier development and want to purchase their products, services and solutions.
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