Dr. David L. Powe, son of the late Roy and Virginia Powe of Walthall County, displays the John H. Lee Memorial Award he received at the Mississippi Minority Business Association's ninth annual Awards Gala Oct. 2 at the Hilton Hotel in Jackson. Presented by Lee's son, Jonathan, president of Mississippi Products, Inc., the award recognizes "an individual that has greatly contributed to the Mississippi minority business climate while exhibiting the highest regard for ethics and integrity."
"It was an honor to receive this very prestigious award given in memory of the founder of the MMBA," said Powe, associate vice chancellor for administrative affairs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. "UMMC recognizes that small diverse businesses make up approximately 80 percent of the business base of the metro-Jackson area. They are frequently underestimated, overlooked and lack the necessary resources to build success.
"Those common challenges haven't prevented companies like the minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses that have been identified as UMMC's partners from enjoying success. As the largest employer in the metro region and the second-largest in Mississippi, UMMC has proven through a healthy reputation that supporting and promoting supplier-diversity programs makes good business sense.
Chartered in March 1997, the MMBA is a nonprofit corporation with a primary mission of enhancing business opportunities.