Best In Minority Business Awards

New ideas to
strengthen my
business are
always welcome
Financial solutions for small businesses
If you’re looking for more efficient ways to manage your business, look no further than Wells Fargo. From business
checking accounts to credit cards or loans, Wells Fargo offers solutions to help you succeed. As proof of our
commitment, Wells Fargo has loaned more money to small businesses than any other bank for ten consecutive
years.* Yet another reason why millions of business owners choose us as the bank for their business. Call us at
1‑800‑359‑3557, visit wellsfargo.com/biz or stop by a store to start a conversation about your business needs.
*2002 – 2011 Community Reinvestment Act government data
© 2013 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. (792353_07229)
The Best in Minority Business Awards began in 2007 to celebrate the spirit,
creativity and resourcefulness of Birmingham’s brightest minority and female
business leadership. This event is a powerful networking tool and a reminder
of the need to recognize diversity and inclusiveness.
The Best in Minority
Business Awards brings
the greatest talents in
our community together
to honor leaders in all
sectors, ranging from
law to human resources
and more. The purpose
is to celebrate minorities
and women in business
and leadership whose
efforts and resources are
worthy of recognition.
S
UMMIT MEDIA IS PLEASED TO PRESENT THE BEST
in Minority Business Awards!
It was only a few years ago that we started this event and
our radio stations continue to be a vital community partner. I find it fitting to honor our finalists during February, as our nation
celebrates Black History Month; we will continue the recognition of our
winners into March during Womens’ History Month. This time of year is
often used to highlight the great achievements of both groups, and the
perfect opportunity to host the Best in Minority Business Awards.
This event brings the best of our corporate community and city together
to recognize diversity in all sectors and prides itself on the power of celebrating minorities and women in business. The world in which we live
requires that we interact with people from multiple ethnicities, cultures
and backgrounds. I believe in the strength of understanding diversity
and inclusion, and the need to embrace these differences.
I am extremely grateful to our sponsors for supporting this event. I also
wish to extend a warm congratulations to the honorees. Birmingham is
a magical city filled with the hopes and dreams of the past and future.
Our radio stations are honored to have so many listeners who allow us to
remind you of the best we have to offer.
Thank you again for your support of the Best in Minority Business
Awards and your commitment to celebrating diversity.
Sincerely,
David R. DuBose
Executive VP/COO
Summit Media
98.7 Kiss FM invites you to the Wells Fargo
Recipients
will be honored in the
following categories:
Encouraging Diversity Award
✴
Non-Profit Leadership Award
✴
Young Professional Award
✴
Presented by Alabama Power
Tuesday, February 25,2014
Waymond Jackson, Jr.
Outstanding Young
Professional, Male
Marquelon Sigler
Patner & Associate Broker, Home
Hunters Real Estate Firm
Marquelon Sigler is a partner and
Associate Broker at Home Hunters
Real Estate Firm as well as a licensed
independent life insurance &
retirement income representative at
Better Insurance & Retirement Income
Solutions. Mr. Sigler is a native of
Birmingham, Alabama, and a graduate
of Ramsay High School as well as
Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. He
is currently working on a Masters of
Real Estate Development at Auburn
University. Marquelon is also a hard
working volunteer who is currently a
member of the UAB Minority Health
Research Center Young Professionals
Board and the Birmingham Urban
League Young Professionals.
Prince Cleveland
Data Technician,
J.L. Morgan & Associates
Prince Cleveland was raised in
Bessemer, Alabama and is a 1999
graduate of Jess Lanier High School. He
received a Bachelor of Arts degree from
the University of Alabama in 2003 and
an M.P.A. in 2006. He currently works
as a data technician with J.L. Morgan
and Associates, a survey research
Brooke Adams
firm specializing in patient care and
satisfaction surveys. He is a member
of New Hope Baptist Church of West
End, Birmingham Urban League
Young Professionals, Birmingham
Young Democrats and Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity, Incorporated.
Waymond Jackson, Jr.
Director of Education and
Workforce Development,
Birmingham Business Alliance
Waymond Jackson, Jr. is the Director of
Education and Workforce Development
for the Birmingham Business Alliance.
He’s responsible for coordinating
workforce initiatives for industries and
educational institutions within the
Birmingham Metropolitan area. His
work includes the development of the
BBA’s Talent Recruitment Project – an
initiative which pairs top-tier college
graduates with Birmingham area
companies. Waymond serves on the
board of directors for the Birmingham
Education Foundation, Growing Kings,
and Financial Education Outreach.
He was selected to Leadership UAB, The
Alabama Leadership Initiative
and completed the Economic and
Community Development Intensive
at Auburn University. He’s married to
Kimberly Jackson and they have a son,
Leo.
Christina Almanza
Outstanding Young
Professional, Female
5 p.m. Reception
6 p.m. Seated Dinner and Awards Program
Outstanding Attorney Award
✴
2011
Automotive Professional Award
The Club
1 Robert S. Smith Dr, Birmingham
Christina Almanza
Director of Marketing and Public
Relations, Vulcan Park and Museum
Originally from Torreon, Mexico, Cristina
Almanza has become an adopted
Alabamian. Living in Alabama since
2001, Cristina attained a Bachelor of
Fine Arts Degree in Graphic Design,
as well a Master’s of Business
Administration from Jacksonville State
University. She also recently received
a Web Design and Development
Certificate from Emory University. Presented By alaBama Power
•Enc
• ExE
•tim
lEa
•you
•BEs
•fait
TICKETS ON SALE NO
Tickets on sale now
$50 each | Corporate Tables Available
5 pm
6 pm
pRo
HaR
2019
biRm
Fin
The
caT
be
Brooke Adams
Auditor, Department of Health and
Human Services
Currently an auditor with the
Department of Health and Human
Services, Ms. Adams has worked on
The President’s Emergency Plan For
AIDS Relief in Ethiopia, Namibia and
Zambia, Africa. Brooke has a B.S. in
Accounting, M.B.A. and a M.S.A. Ms.
Adams serves the community as
the President of Upsilon Eta Omega
Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Inc., Junior Board of YWCA, National
Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.,
UAB Minority Health and Health
Disparities Research Center Young
Professionals Board, and The Links,
Inc. In 2012 she was selected as BBA
Young Professional of the Year Finalist.
Th
Fe
Email requests to [email protected]
MAIL CHECKS TO: David Walls
Summit Media
$40 each
Attn: Best in Minority Business Awards
Corporate
2700 Corporate Drive,
Suite 115 Tables Available
Birmingham,
35242 to [email protected]
E-mailALrequests
Call David Walls at 205.916.1109 for corporate tables and for more information
MAil ChECks To: Cox Media Group
attn: Best in Minority Business Awards
The Best in Minority Business Awards began in 2007 to celebrate
thestreet
spirit,
creativity
and Birmingham
950 – 22nd
North
- suite 1000,
resourcefulness of Birmingham’s brightest minority and female
business leadership.
Thistables
event
is for mor
Call 205.326.2552
for corporate
and
a powerful networking tool and a reminder of the need to recognize diversity and inclusiveness.
Cox Media Group began the Best in Minority Business Awar
the spirit, creativity & resourcefulness of Birmingham’s brigh
business leadership. This event is a powerful networking to
need to recognize diversity and inclusiven
Join us as we recognize the city’s best and brightest!
JOIN uS AS WE rECOgNIzE ThE CITy’S bES
CENTRAL ALABAMA McDONALD’S CO-OP
®
is proud to sponsor
Best In Minority Business Awards
Derrick A. Mills
Cristina is deeply devoted to helping
her community. Before moving to
Birmingham she was a member of
the Anniston Morning Rotary Club and
served with their “Dancing With Our
Stars” Committee since 2010, raising
over $70k during the last few years of
its existence. She is currently a member
of EWI (Social Media Committee Chair),
PRSA (communications chair and board
member),FIESTA (board member), and
The Birmingham Urban League. Cristina
is also a member of the Advisory Board
for the Hispanic Catholic Social Services
of North Alabama.
Bianca Priest
Owner, Who Doesn’t Like Cake?
In 2009, Bianca Priest opened Who
Doesn’t Like Cake Inc., where she
crafts cupcakes, pies and cookies from
scratch. Priest also offers custom
cakes and elegant wedding desserts.
Prior to opening her own business, she
worked as a restaurant pastry chef
for nearly seven years at restaurants
including Fleming’s Steakhouse. Priest
is a vocal-box cancer survivor who
enjoys being an entrepreneur.
Outstanding Attorneys
Derrick A. Mills
Partner, Marsh, Rickard & Bryan
Law Firm
Derrick A. Mills is a partner in the
law firm of Marsh, Rickard & Bryan in
Kimberly Byrum Vice
Birmingham, where he handles a wide
range of cases on behalf of plaintiffs,
including serious personal injury and
wrongful death.
Derrick is an Alabama State Bar
Commissioner, a member of the
Birmingham Bar Association’s Future
Leaders Forum, a member of the
Alabama State Bar Leadership Forum,
and has served as president of the
Magic City Bar Association.
Derrick was recognized by Birmingham
magazine Top Attorneys in the Rising
Stars Under 40 category from 20112013 and Alabama Super Lawyers from
2011-2014 (2011-2013 in the Rising
Stars category).
Kimberly Byram Vice
Attorney, Jonathan W. Gathings
and Associates, LLC
Attorney Kimberly Byram Vice grew
up in Hueytown and believes her
work ethic is a result of her family’s
influence and her close association
with the community.
Kim studied musical theatre at
Birmingham-Southern College and
then worked as a performer and
dance coach at a theme park. While
auditioning for other productions, she
accepted a position at a law firm and
eventually began law school while
working full-time as a legal assistant.
By graduation, Kim was working for
Lanier Brown
Jonathan W. Gathings & Associates
and had already assisted in preparing
cases and attended hearings, dockets
and trials. She practices in the areas
of medical malpractice, birth injury,
wrongful death, personal injury,
domestic relations, product liability
and defective drugs.
Kim is a life member of the Million
Dollar Advocates Forum. Her past and
present professional memberships
include the American Bar Association,
the Alabama Bar Association, the
Birmingham Bar Association, the
American Association for Justice
and the Alabama Association for
Justice. She is a board member of
the Muscular Dystrophy Association
Legal Leaders of Greater Birmingham
program.
Lanier Brown
Partner, Huie, Fernambucq and
Stewart, LLP
Lanier Brown is a partner Huie,
Fernambucq & Stewart LLP, where his
trial practice consists of the defense of
automotive liability, product liability,
medical liability, general personal
injury cases and insurance and nursing
home litigation.
Lanier is a member of the International
Association of Defense Counsel and
a fellow of the Litigation Counsel
of America. Lanier has also been
McDonald’s Owner/Operators throughout central
Alabama take great pride in being a part of BIMBA.
Our commitment to recognizing the success of
minority businesses leaders, however, goes beyond
simply sponsoring this event. We are proud to
provide career paths for people that are literally –
our neighbors. We have helped to write numerous
success stories in management and ownership that
began with that first entry-level opportunity.
What will your success story be at McDonald’s?
For more information about career opportunities at McDonald’s, visit our website at:
www.mcalabama.com
Roderick Underwood
included in The Best Lawyers in
America, Birmingham magazines’s
Top Attorneys, and Alabama Super
Lawyers. He has lectured at local and
national product liability seminars and
spoken on medical liability issues.
Lanier currently serves as adjunct
professor of trial advocacy at the
University of Alabama School of Law,
where he earned his juris doctorate.
He also serves the community as
vice-chairman of the Alabama
Environmental Management
Commission.
Automotive
Roderick Underwood
General Manager, Anthony
Underwood Automotive
After graduating from The University of
Alabama in 2000, Roderick Underwood
began his career in mechanics by
working for his father’s car dealership.
Underwood is now the General
Manager for Anthony Underwood
Automotive. In the summer of 2003,
Underwood received the prestigious
“National Quality Dealer of the Year”
award from the National Independent
Automobile Dealers’ Association.
Mark Mitchell
General Sales Manager, Landers
McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep & Ram
Mark Mitchell is the general sales
Mark Mitchell
manager for Landers McLarty Dodge
Chrysler Jeep and Ram in Bessemer.
He credits his success to hard work,
dedication and his love for the
car business. Mitchell has been in
the automotive industry for more
than 21 years, and is proud to work
for a dealer who cares about the
community. Landers McLarty has
provided scholarships and athletic
sponsorships to Bessemer City High,
McAdory High and Bessemer Academy.
Mitchell is married with one daughter.
Encouraging Diversity
Patricia Todd
Representative, Alabama State
Legislature
Patricia Todd is the acting executive
director of AIDS Alabama. She
was elected to the Alabama State
Legislature in 2006 as representative
for House District 54. Rep. Todd has
socially and professionally advocated
for public policies relevant to HIV/AIDS,
healthcare and a wide range of issues
affecting the Birmingham community
for more than 25 years.
Upon her election, she became the
first openly gay public official in
Alabama and since then has been
awarded the University of Alabama
at Birmingham’s School of Public
Health’s Public Health Advocate
Award, has been named UAB
Patricia Todd
Outstanding Alumni and was named
“Freshman Legislator of the Year” by
her Democratic peers.
Judge Shanta Owens
District Judge, 10th Judicial Circuit
of Alabama
Since November 2008, Shanta
Owens has served as a district judge
in the criminal division for the 10th
Judicial Circuit of Alabama. She
is the presiding judge for the drug
court program for the Birmingham
Division of Jefferson County, a
rehabilitation program for nonviolent
drug offenders who want to live drugfree lives. Owens is a member of the
National Association of Drug Court
Professionals, Alabama Association
of Drug Court Professionals, Alabama
District Judges Association, Alabama
State Bar Association, the Women
Lawyers Section and Criminal Justice
Section of the Birmingham Bar
Association and the Judicial Council of
the Magic City Bar Association. After graduating from law school,
Owens returned to Birmingham to
begin her legal career. She worked as
a deputy district attorney with the
Jefferson County district attorney’s
office, where she rose to the position
of senior trial attorney.
In addition, she is a member of
the Children’s Village Board of
Directors. She is a former member
Judge Shanta Owens
Catrena Norris Carter
of the Birmingham Public Library
Board, Redmont School in the
Waldorf Tradition and Jones Valley
Development Corporation. She is
also a graduate of Project Corporate
Leadership and the 2011 class of
Leadership Birmingham.
Owens has been honored as a 2011
NAACP Wonderful Outstanding
Women Honoree and 2010 Alabama
State University Outstanding Alumni
in Law.
Catrena Norris Carter
Associate Publisher of Who’s Who
in Black Alabama, President & CEO
of Women Of Will (WOW) and
Managing Partner of C&C Events
Catrena Norris Carter is president and
CEO of Women Of Will and managing
partner of C & C Events.
WOW is a statewide, nonpartisan
501(c)(3) working to advance a richly
diverse mass of women into leadership
positions at work, in the community and
in politics. WOW aims to recruit more
women for leadership positions, from
the boardrooms to the courtrooms.
Carter travels across the state
identifying and asking for nominations
of African-Americans who are doing
extraordinary things to move our state
forward. In addition to her three sons,
Catrena’s passions are community
activism and performing arts
.
Non-Profit
Cliff Long
CEO, Birmingham Association
of Realtors
Cliff Long is CEO of the Birmingham
Association of Realtors and the Greater
Alabama Multiple Listing Service.
Cliff is also the former CEO for the
Emerald Coast Association of Realtors
in Florida, where Realtors successfully
rebounded from industry threatening
events such as the BP Oil spill and
Military Base Realignment and
Closure. Cliff was born in Montgomery.
The Birmingham Association of
Realtors and GALMLS provide services
to more than 3,200 real estate
professionals. In 2013, Birmingham’s
Realtors sold more than 11,000
properties totaling more than $2.3
billion dollars in sales.
Terri Harvill
District Vice President,
YMCA of Greater Birmingham
Terri Harvill serves as a District
Vice President for the YMCA of
Greater Birmingham, responsible
for the Northeast, Western,
Trussville,Vestavia, and Greystone
branches. She is also national faculty
trainer for the YMCA of the USA.
Her 23 years with the YMCA stands on
a foundation of her love for working
Cliff Long
with and helping people. During her
service for the YMCA, she has received
several local and national honors and
awards. She has served as a liaison
for many community partnerships
and collaborations including state and
federal initiatives such as President
Obama’s Communities Putting
Prevention to Work Community grant
and Alabama’s Healthy Kids/Healthy
Communities initiative. She is the wife
of Omar Harvill and a mother.
Kerri L. Pruitt, MBA
Executive Director, The Damon
Project
Author of My Affairs, a guidebook
stressing the importance of planning
for a family’s financial health; and,
the co-founder/Executive Director
of The Dannon Project, a non-profit
organization serving at-risk persons
including youth, un/underemployed, and
non-violent offenders returning from
prison, Kerri is recognized nationally
for 15+/- year career as a federal T/A
fiscal consultant, and the developer of a
user-friendly GrantSuite© software and
trainer for multi-funded governmental
programs. Kerri is a leader in the fight
for providing quality, compassionate
services to the most needy in our
community. In 2009, she was awarded
the Feeding Dreams Champions
Award. Kerri has a bachelor’s degree in
accounting and a master’s in business
administration. She and her husband Jeh
Jeh have a daughter, Jehme.
PROUD PARTNER OF THE
2014 BEST IN MINORITY BUSINESS AWARDS
Terri Harvill
Medical
Dr. Robert E. Agee
Head Team Physician,
Alabama State University
Dr. Robert Agee is Board
Certified by the American
Academy of Family Practice
and specializes in primary
care sports medicine. Dr. Agee
completed a Sports Medicine
fellowship in Birmingham at
the American Sports Medicine
Institute, which was cofounded by sports medicine
pioneer, Dr. Lawrence Lemak.
Dr. Agee attended Morehouse
College in Atlanta, Georgia
and Meharry Medical College
in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior
to coming to Birmingham, he
was the Chief of Primary Care
Sports Medicine at Kaiser
Permanente in California,
one of the largest hospital
systems in the United States.
During that time, Dr. Agee was
also the team physician for
The University of California
at Berkeley where he covered
various intercollegiate team
sports, and was most notable
as the head team physician
for the National Champion Cal
Rugby Team. Kerri L. Pruitt
In addition to his collegiate
athletic post, Dr. Agee served
nine years as a medical
consultant to the NFL-Europe
league, providing sideline
coverage and medical care for
professional football players
overseas. Many celebrities
and entertainers who require
immediate medical attention
have called on Dr. Agee. In 2005, Dr. Agee was
invited to address members
of Congress, the White
House staff and Olympic
Committee on anti-doping
to discuss drug testing
in Olympic athletes. In
2013, Agee was awarded
President Barack
Obama’s Presidential Service
Award for community
service working as a career
mentor for Birmingham
area youth. He is married to
Dr. jarralynne Agee and has
two sons, Trey and Quest.
Dr. Shameza Boyd
Dennis
Owner, Small Steps
Pediatrics
Dr. Shameza Boyd Dennis
is the owner and medical
director of Small Steps
Pediatrics, PC. Boyd’s
Dr. Shameza Boyd
Dennis
vision for Small Steps is to
provide quality healthcare
for all children. Boyd is a
board certified fellow of
the American Academy of
Pediatrics. She currently
serves as the second vice
president of the Xavier
University National Physician
Alumni Association. She is
active in her community
and enjoys speaking to
youth groups throughout
the city. Boyd is a member
of several medical societies
and organizations, including
American Academy of
Pediatrics—Alabama Chapter,
MASA, Jefferson County
Medical Society, Mineral
District Medical Society and
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,
Inc.
Dr. Tomeka Roberts
OB/GYN, Tomeka Roberts
MC, PC
Dr. Tomeka Roberts, a
proud parent and decorated
physician, received her
bachelor of science in
Engineering from the
University of Alabama at
Birmingham in 1995. She
then earned her doctorate
in medicine from Meharry
Medical College at Nashville
Dr. Tomeka Roberts
in 1999, where she gained
membership to the Alpha
Omega Alpha Honor Society.
From that point, until 2003,
Roberts completed residency
training at the University of
Florida in Jacksonville, with
a focus on obstetrics and
gynecology.
Since becoming certified
by the American Board of
Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Roberts has lectured on the
topic of women’s health
and has been featured on
the NBC morning news. She
has treated patients in the
Birmingham area for both
general and specific health
issues since 2003, and
participated in local health
fair events on numerous
occasions. Her other
professional associations
include Mineral District
Medical Society, The
American Society of Bariatric
Physicians, The Medical
Association of the State
of Alabama, The Jefferson
County Medical Society
and fellow of the American
College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists.
AVAILABLE AT: Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Joe Muggs | Little Professor | Publix
Piggly Wiggly | Sam’s Club | Urban Standard | Walgreens | Western | Whole Foods
BHAMMAG.COM