2014 2nd Annual Sankofa Black Business Awards Gala
On behalf of the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC) and its Board of Directors, we would like to request your presence at the 2014 2nd Annual Sankofa Black Business Awards Gala presented by General Motors, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Google to be held at the MGM Grand Casino Detroit on Thursday, November 20, 2014, from 6:00 pm–9:00 pm.
The Sankofa Awards Gala is the premier African American business event of the year, highlighting Michigan’s most successful entrepreneurs and progressive leadership. This year, we will be honoring Jon Barfield, Sr., founder of the Bartech Group, whose company just reached more than $2.6 billion in revenue, as the 2014 Sankofa Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Mr. Barfield will be amongst a core group of individuals being acknowledged and honored for their outstanding work, achievements, and commitment to the African American community.
The 2014 Sankofa Award Recipients:
Sankofa 5 Pillars of Service Awardee | Dr. Forrest S. Carter, Ph.D., Professor Michigan State University, Advisor MBCC Black Collegiate Chambers
Sankofa Advocate of the Year Awardee | Louis Green, President/CEO, MMSDC
Sankofa Black Supplier of the Year Awardee | Sid Taylor, President/CEO, SET Enterprises
Sankofa Citizen of the Year Awardees |
Carl Levin, United States Senate for Michigan (Retiring)
John Dingle, United States House of Representatives for Michigan (Retiring)
Sankofa Corporation of the Year Awardee | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan President/CEO Daniel J. Loepp
Sankofa Scholar of the Year Awardee | Dr. Karl Gregory, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Economist, Oakland University
Sankofa Lifetime Achievement Awardee | Jon Barfield, Sr., Founder, Bartech Group, LLC.
Sankofa Next Gen Awardee | Tatiana Grant, President/CEO, Infused PR
Sankofa Black Business of the Year Awardee | Greg Jackson, Prestige Automotive Group, LLC.
Sankofa Unsung Leader of the Year Awardee | Horace J. Rodgers, Retired Attorney, Entrepreneur, and Economic Development Professional
Sankofa Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awardee | Suzanne Shank, President/CEO, Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., L.L.C
In 2013, the Inaugural Sankofa Awards featured a sold-out crowd of more than 700 African American businesses and leadership. The event showcased Walter Douglas, Chairman of Avis Ford, one of the largest African American car dealerships in the country, as the keynote speaker and Dr. William Pickard, President/CEO of the Global Automotive Alliance, bringing in more than $400 million in total revenue, as the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
This year’s event is sure to be a top-business class act with an expected 1,000 black-owned businesses in attendance. The state of Michigan is home to more than 72,000 African American firms and nearly 33,000 in the city of Detroit ranked #4 in the entire country. George and Randall, by accepting the MBCC request, along with your experience, talent, stellar career, and insurmountable personal accomplishments, the chances of this year’s Sankofa Awards Gala setting the bar becomes an absolute reality.
We at the MBCC thank you for your consideration and look forward to receiving a positive confirmation to participate.