Mayor Rawlings-Blake Presents Inaugural Mayor's Minority and Women-Owned Business Awards

Awards honor minority and women-owned businesses and efforts to assist their growth  in Baltimore City

BALTIMORE, Md. (October 29, 2015)—Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake presented the inaugural Mayor’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Awards during last night’s Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council’s (CRMSDC) 34th Annual Leaders & Legends Awards Ceremony.

The Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development created the awards to recognize exceptional minority and women-owned business enterprises as well as businesses and organizations that work closely with and support M/WBEs.

“These awards emphasize the importance of leadership that is committed to building and supporting our city through minority and women-owned businesses,” Mayor Rawlings-Blake said. “The companies honored are creating success stories through local hiring, mentoring, public service and their commitment to investing in Baltimore City.”

The CRMSDC is one of twenty-four regional affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council with a mission to assist their corporate members in improving diversification and innovation of their supply chains by connecting them to certified minority business enterprises.

The five awards presented last night include:

Minority Business Enterprise of the Year: BITHGROUP Technologies

This award recognizes a company that has demonstrated growth in employment and projects, partnered or joint-ventured with other minority and women-owned firms within the City of Baltimore, and has shown a commitment to strategically growing their business in order to increase capacity.

BITHGROUP Technologies offers premier IT solutions from building systems to training people to use them, resulting in more efficient and profitable outcomes. They are a multi-state certified Minority Business Enterprise.

Women-Owned Business Enterprise of the Year: EASE Painting and Construction, Inc.

This award honors a woman-owned company that has demonstrated growth in employment and projects, partnered or joint-ventured with other minority and women-owned firms within the City of Baltimore, and has shown a commitment to strategically growing their business in order to increase capacity.

EASE Painting & Construction focuses on industrial painting and services for the marine industry and private sector.

Business Advocate: Maryland Washington Minority Contractors Association

This award recognizes a person or organization who advocates in the private sector and government agencies on behalf of small, minority and women-owned firms, and has demonstrated effectiveness in their client’s bottom line through contract awards.

The Maryland Washington Minority Contractors Association provides assistance to minority and women owned businesses in the development of their businesses from direct contracting opportunities to networking with other companies.

Outstanding Small Business Resource Provider: Harbor Bankshares Corporation

This award honors firms, majority or small business, which provide business resources, technical assistance and/or partnerships with small, minority, and women-owned firms.

Harbor Bankshares Corporation is a financial institution known for investing in underserved communities, making the market stronger and poised for growth.

Majority Firm: Partnering for Success: Turner Construction

This award honors a majority company who has made it a part of their corporate culture to assist and mentor small, minority and women-owned firms to learn new techniques and build capacity within their development projects.

Turner Construction offers international construction services and is a leading builder in diverse markets. The company is recognized for fostering innovation and making a difference for their clients and the community.

Open nominations for each award were submitted to the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development. Nominations were accepted for more than one award category; self-nominations were encouraged. A select group from the Mayor’s Advisory Council reviewed each nomination before selecting two finalists, with a final vote for the winners.