In 1983, U.S. President Ronald Reagan first proclaimed a national Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of minority business people, and to honor those corporations and financial institutions that support minority business development. Since then, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) has sponsored annual MED Week observances.
This September, LeChase helped sponsor MED Week events in both Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina. In addition to a recognition lunch, the events also included workshops and a chance to interact with attendees.
Denise Thompson, LeChase regional diversity manager, served on the planning committee for the Durham event and helped present awards during the luncheon. Other LeChase employees attending in either Durham or Charlotte were: Jack Goodrich, Seth London, Angela Carter, Ann VanAuken, Brandt Smith, Denny Mangum, Duran Davis, Mike Higgins, Marcus Tuttle, Priscilla Reed and Steve Loneman.
According to the MBDA, North Carolina has more than 183,000 minority-owned businesses that collectively generate more than $16 billion in annual sales.
