Three Leaders within the Minority Business Community to be Honored at Awards Ceremony
December 4, 2014
COLUMBIA, SC – The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center – Columbia, SC announced that it will honor three standouts within the minority business community at the 2014 MBDA Minority Business Recognition Achievement ceremony. The presentations will take place at 11:45 am on Thursday, December 11, 2014 in the Richland Room at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Being honored are Mr. Jimmy Chao, Manigault-Hurley Funeral Home, and Mrs. Evelyn DeLaine-Hart, Ph.D.
Jimmy Chao, president and CEO of Chao and Associates engineering firm, is being honored with the Minority Business of the Year award. An adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina, Mr. Chao has emerged as a leader who is known for his technical competence, creative solutions, and state of the art engineering approach. He has successfully led projects that have been awarded the Engineering Excellence Award by the Consulting Engineers of South Carolina and the Pinnacle Award by the Carolinas Association of General Contractors. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Chao dedicates his time and talent to numerous boards within Richland and Lexington counties. He has also established a scholarship for minority students at University of South Carolina who are interested in structural engineering.
Manigault-Hurley Funeral Home is being honored with the Minority Business Pioneer award. Founded in 1923, Manigault-Hurley is the oldest minority-owned funeral home in Columbia. After more than 90 years of business, the family-owned funeral home ceased operation in 2014. Mrs. Alice Hurley will be accepting the award on behalf of the family.
Evelyn DeLaine-Hart, Ph.D. is being honored with the Minority Advocate of the Year award. As the director of Charleston County Minority Business Development and founder of Greater Charleston Business Alliance (GCBA), Dr. DeLaine-Hart has been an aggressive advocate for minority businesses. She’s committed to helping minority businesses develop and build the capacity, while working diligently to enhance their inclusion in regional contracting and procurement opportunities. Dr. DeLaine-Hart created GCBA to advance the mission of minority inclusion and diversity in business, where she works tirelessly to ensure connections that lead to business and contractual relations.
Diane Sumpter, director of the MBDA Business Center – Columbia, SC says, “Minority businesses continue to make a positive contribution to the state, county, city, and society in general. It is always a pleasure to honor those who give of themselves in so many ways. This year’s recipients are role models for us all to follow.”
The 2014 MBDA Minority Business Recognition Achievement ceremony is a component of SB Connect, a one-day business seminar that gives business owners important, industry-specific information that they need to grow and thrive. For more information, visit SBConnect2014.com. For more information about the MBDA Business Center – Columbia, please visitcolumbiambdacenter.com.
About the MBDA Business Center
The mission of the MBDA Business Center – Columbia, SC is to assist Minority Business Enterprises compete in the global economy and to stimulate the national and local economy through job creation. To fulfill this mission, we assist MBEs with access to contracts and capital, strategic business counseling, and becoming export-ready. Complete information about the MBDA Business Center and its services can be found by visitingwww.ColumbiaMBDACenter.com or by calling (803) 743-1154.
