The 2009 Beacon Awards, which honor Central Florida organizations and leaders who make workforce diversity a priority, were announced ... and the Metro Orlando EDC's Minority Channel Initiative was a winner! The ceremony was held last week at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club. From the EDC, Carmenza Gonzalez and Beverly Marshall-Luney were there to accept the award from Orlando City Commissioner Daisy Lynum.
The EDC's Minority Channel initiative is aimed at recruiting minority-owned and led businesses to Metro Orlando. And, that is exactly what the EDC was doing over the Labor Day weekend, as the EDC's Ray Gilley and Rodney Hughes participated in the Black Enterprise Pepsi Golf and Tennis Challenge, held here in Orlando at the J.W. Marriott Grande Lakes. This provided the opportunity for the EDC team to spend time with several c-suite executives interested in expansion opportunities. Similar EDC activities target Hispanic-owned and women-owned businesses on an ongoing basis.
Congratulations also to Zoraida Velasco of the EDC's International Business Development Team, who was honored with the "up-and-comer" Beacon Award, and to the following EDC investors who were recognized: Disney Entrepreneur Center; Siemens Energy, Inc.; and Barton Malow Company.
