Local Business Owner Honors Those Who Came Before Her, Celebrates Black History Month

COLUMBIA, SC – February 13, 2013 –  Every February 14th, president and CEO, Diane Sumpter celebrates the anniversary of her company, DESA, Inc. This year, while celebrating DESA’s 27 years in business, Sumpter is also celebrating Black History Month by paying tribute to several South Carolinians who paved the way for her company and other minority-owned firms.

James Felder, Herbert Fielding and I.S. Leevy Johnson were the first African Americans since Reconstruction to be elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives, and their election in 1970 ended a 70-year drought of African Americans in the Statehouse. Fielding, with the support of Felder and Johnson, introduced a bill in 1971 that would eventually do away with county-wide voting and allow for individual House districts to be drawn.

The way having been paved, 13 African Americans were elected to theHouse in 1974 and the Legislative Black Caucus was formally organized in1975. Among these were Senator John Matthews and Senator Kay Patterson,who have both played an integral role in the development of SouthCarolina’s minority business community. Matthews ran the charge forminority set-asides within the Highway Department, and Pattersonspearheaded minority consideration in Richland County School DistrictOne.   

Above photo: James L. Felder, I.S. Leevy Johnson and Herbert U. Fielding made history 43 years ago when they were elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1970, becoming the first individuals of color to serve in that body since the Reconstruction Era. They continue to be active in business and politics, offering advice and guidance to any who seek it.

Other politicians essential to the development of the minority business community are Congressman James Clyburn, Councilman E. W. Cromartie and Mayor Bob Coble. Clyburn was the first African American advisor to a governor of South Carolina, working closely with Governor John West from 1971 to 1974, when he was appointment Human Affairs Commissioner. Clyburn fought for equality from this position until 1992 when he left to pursue a seat in the Senate, which he won in 1993. Like Clyburn, Cromartie and Coble leveraged their political careers for the benefit of the minority business community.

In addition to these instrumental political gains, John Gadson lobbied the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Minority Business Enterprise to open a Minority Business Development Center. He succeeded and in 1972 the South Carolina Minority Business Development Center began serving a six-county area in the low country.

In the late 70s, Gadson, who had by then become the Director of Research for the State Reorganization Commission, recommended that the Commission address minority business participation in the State’s procurement process. During the legislative hearings surrounding this bill, Gadson worked closely with the Black Caucus, which had been organized based on the efforts of Felder, Fielding and Johnson.

In 1981, South Carolina adopted a new State Procurement Code, which specified minority participation in Article 21 and increased the amount of funds spent with minority-owned firms. This new procurement code, which affected more than 75 state agencies, required each state agency to develop a Minority Business Utilization Plan to be submitted to the Governor’s Office for approval.

This plan resulted in the creation of the Office of Small and Minority Business Assistance, where Gadson served as Director from 1982 to 1987. During this time, he worked with policy makers and economic developers to improve the climate for the development of small and minority-owned businesses in South Carolina.

President Obama, in his proclamation of Black History Month 2013, called for all Americans to “honor those who came before by striving toward their example.” This year, as our country celebrates the 150 year anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 50 year anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famed “I Have a Dream” speech, we can’t help but honor those who came before.

It is with this spirit that Sumpter pays tribute to South Carolinians. “These folks are our history and legacy,” said Sumpter, “and we exist because of them.”

And it’s with this spirit that she honors these men by carrying forward with what they started. Today, DESA operates the state-wide MBDA Business Center in conjunction with the Minority Business Development Agency under the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Minority Business Center, as it’s called, offers a variety of consulting services to South Carolina’s minority business community.

“The Minority Business Center has assisted my company in virtually every phase of our business,” said Willie Frazier, president of W. Frazier Construction Company. “Having access to a team of professional consultants makes it possible for me to overcome business weaknesses and gives me a competitive advantage.” Frazier, deceased, was a longtime client of the Minority Business Center and regional award winner of Minority Construction Firm of the Year.

The Minority Business Center has also attracted national attention to several local firms. Over the last 15 years, the Minority Business Development Agency and the U.S. Department of Commerce have presented national awards to four clients of the Minority Business Center. Most recently, Dr. Louis B. Lynn, president of ENVIRO AgScience, was presented the Ronald H. Brown Leadership Award in Washington.  And in 2012, ENVIRO AgScience was named #4 of the list of South Carolina’s Fastest Growing Companies by The Capital Corporation, a testament to the services provided by the Minority Business Center.

Black History Month, said President Obama, “is a time to tell those stories of freedom won and honor the individuals who wrote them.” DESA honors Clyburn, Cromartie, Coble, Felder, Fielding, Gadson, Johnson, Matthews and Patterson, who toiled on behalf of South Carolina’s minority business community and won freedom for those of us still moving forward.

 

About DESA, Inc.

Founded by Diane E. Sumpter in 1986, DESA, Inc. has been exceeding client’s expectations for 27 years. The company is a certified small, woman- and minority-owned firm, offering services through four distinct divisions: Professional and Administrative Services, Strategic Marketing and Communications, Construction and Project Management and Global Business Services. Local and national clients include those in the city, county, state, federal and private sectors. Complete information on DESA can be found by visiting www.DESAInc.com.