Issuu

Charlotteâ€™s Multicultural Resource Magazine

PRIDE 2014-2015

Compass

Group navigates inclusion

Regina Edwards leads

supplier diversity at Wells Fargo

Annual business and services directory

Human Trafficking rising in Charlotte

As with food, there is beauty,

balance and strength in diversity.

“What’s our priority for the rest of the year? Upgrading technology? Increasing staff?”

We’re here to help. Learn more about Corporate Supplier Diversity. You believe in your business — and why not? You’re making big plans and hitting exciting goals. We’d like to hear more about it. We work to build relationships with innovative and growing companies owned by members of the Charlotte business community. It’s a win-win. We gain strong suppliers, and they enjoy new opportunities to expand and enhance their businesses. These partnerships also contribute to the economic vigor and cultural vibrancy of the places where we live and work. So our communities benefit most of all. For more information, please contact the Wells Fargo Corporate Supplier Diversity team at corporatesupplierdiversity@wellsfargo.

The pathway to financial know-how is just a click away Financial education webinars By Glenda Gabriel, Neighborhood Lending Executive, Bank of America

Throughout the year, our webinars will cover topics such as: • Preparing a budget • Getting ready for homeownership

“The more you know about financial matters, the better prepared you’ll be to manage your money and reach your goals.” Achieving financial success starts with accessible guidance to practical and straightforward solutions. Developing good habits when managing money is essential. From understanding how a mortgage works, to creating a safety net for unexpected events, to basic budgeting, the best way to improve long-term financial success is by changing habits slowly, step by step. We’re here to help you reach your financial goals including homeownership. That’s why we’re connecting you to financial education webinars to help you increase your financial know-how. The webinars are free, online and available when you are.

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• Understanding and managing your credit • Homebuyer programs to assist with down payment and closing costs • Investing in real estate • Helping your children establish credit You’ll find the schedule of webinar broadcasts at bankofamerica.com/webinars. You can also find out the date and time of the next live webinar and register to watch online. If you register to watch a live webinar, you can submit any questions you might have before the live broadcast. Webinar replays are available to watch 24 hours after the live broadcast. We hope you’ll join us for one of our free webinars at bankofamerica.com/webinars and enjoy a fresh approach to developing your financial know-how.

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Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine July-August 2014

14 58

Departments 12 From the CEO 37 Annual business directory 62 FYI news & notes 78 Events calendar

Features

14 Committed to supplier diversity

Regina Edwards means business at Wells Fargo

18 Compass Group navigates inclusion

Employees and suppliers represent nearly every sector of the population

22 Team behind the scenes

CMEDI promotes relationship-building, business growth

24 Supplier diversity

Imperative to today’s businesses

On the

Web: More than 3,000 listings of minority and women-owned businesses in the Charlotte region. 54 Meet the sculptors

3 Zimbabwe artists in residence at Daniel Stowe

58 Dances of India

Maha Gingrich brings her world-acclaimed dancing, choreography to the stage

26 MBE certification

64 Human trafficking

28 Small business success

67 Abu Dhabi

32 Black women lead in business

70 Latino businesses ‘flourishing’

Why it’s important

Strategies for ‘staying in the game’ Ho w to earn key credentials

34 Energy abounds

NDR serves the globe

On the Cover Compass Group employees (L-R) Raj Pragasam, Kasheena Townsend and Chris Dupre.

Charlotte ranks 6th in modern-day slavery A destination for work and pleasure Local chamber offers education, networking and support

72 Latino ladies lead change

LAWA at work in the community

74 Welcoming the globe

International House helps immigrant families

76 Refugee resettlement

The success story of Praja Subedi www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com

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Charlotte's Multicultural Resource Magazine

CEO/Publisher Dee Dixon

Editor

Lee McCracken

Lead Writer Angela Lindsay

Design & Production SPARK Publications www.SPARKpublications.com

Creative Director Larry Preslar

Lead Designer Merissa Jones

Distribution/Web Site Liaison Watchdog Entertainment www.watchdog-ent.com

Account Executive Nikelle Fesperman

Public Relations Nepherterra Estrada

Intern

Katrina Robinson

Subscribe to Pride

$13.25. Please subscribe online at www.pridemagazine.net or mail to P.O. Box 30113, Charlotte, NC 28230

Letters to the Editor Please send an e-mail to info@pridemagazine.net fax to 704-375-9550 or mail to Pride Magazine 312 W. Trade St., Suite 600, Charlotte, NC 28202 www.pridemagazine.net

New size, new look, by Dee Dixon

appy July and welcome to the re-launch of Charlotte’s only multicultural publication. After six years of publishing this particular edition, we embarked upon strategically doing a revamp. Our new vision is for it to be an even more valuable tool corporations and minority business enterprises (MBEs) can use to help grow wealth in our city. Thanks to our supporters and sponsors, I’d like to stamp this issue “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.”

The back story

Let me rewind a bit for those who are picking up this multicultural magazine for the first time. Back in 2008, we got our creative juices flowing big time. Realizing Charlotte was beginning to emerge as a multicultural metropolis, we began to envision a unique publication that would reflect this new and exciting trend. We launched the inaugural edition of the “Charlotte Multicultural Resource Guide” in 2009, with Wells Fargo as our strategic partner. We designed it as a hybrid to engage corporations, small business owners and the community at-large with exciting features on our changing demographics, as well as including valuable business and organizational listings. We made it a unique size (7 inches by 11 inches) and stayed on this path for six years.

new mission

Applause is due

I must express my sincere gratitude to the corporations that stepped up to the plate to sponsor and make this production possible: Wells Fargo (sole sponsor for six years and lead sponsor this year!), Bank of America, Compass Group USA, the Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council, Carolinas HealthCare, Belk and Rodgers Builders. These organizations are at the top of their game when it comes to diversity and inclusion. The people who represent them are the epitome of LEADERSHIP in this town, with a sincere regard for helping small, diverse business owners succeed. Please turn to our official “Thank You” page (37) and join me in giving them a round of applause. Also, you will be able to put a name and a face to the corporation, especially if you are a diverse supplier seeking an opportunity. (Hint, hint!) In addition, we have some great advertisers in this issue — some of whom have never advertised in Pride before. They caught the vision this time and gave this multicultural issue their support; I thank you all so very, very much. Just a couple more things about this issue. The editorial is absolutely spot on! You’ll learn about Wells Fargo’s new supplier diversity leader, as well as how and why human trafficking is a huge problem in the Queen

City. And be sure to read about one sister’s travel to Abu Dhabi, of all places! Also, be sure to go to the multicultural resource website to find many, many more business directory listings. Finally, I encourage you to give us your feedback. Send your comments to info@ pridemagazine.net. We want to hear from you.

Zimsculpt

Have you seen this yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Pride is so proud to be a sponsor of this extraordinary Zimbabwe sculpture exhibit at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens. More than 100 huge stone sculptures have been shipped in, some over 9 feet tall and weighing over a ton. It is truly amazing. Our story on the artists begins on page 54. Did you know the word Zimbabwe itself means “house of stone?” And, get this, each sculpture has been carved BY HAND. Amazing! Please do yourself a favor and hop in the car with the kids and go for a visit. Leave the iPads and other electronic devices at home. Talk to one another and expose your family to the beauty of Africa that has been brought to Belmont expressly for your enjoyment. Africa doesn’t get any closer than this. The exhibit will run through September 28. CMRM

It’s a new day

Now, my friends, we have rolled out a bigger and better multicultural magazine with a greater focus on supplier diversity and business. Our expanded goal is to make the value proposition for this annual publication even greater. MBEs can use it to connect to corporations and corporations can use it as a platform to intentionally engage and expand their supplier diversity programs. While all this is going on, the community will continue to be enlightened, educated and energized by the editorial features which showcase the growing ethnic population and cultures within our city. It’s such a beautiful thing! 12

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

Charlotte Sunset Jazz Festival We are gearing up and set for Saturday, September 13 at Symphony Park, SouthPark. This free concert will begin at 2 p.m. as usual with lots of great music, food and fun for the children. Let’s get ready to have a blast. Visit charlottesunsetjazzfestival.com for details, and I’ll see you there!

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Feature Regina Edwards poses with students in the Pathways to Success program (left to right): Andrew Shurland, who is majoring in exercise science and minoring in economics at UNC-Charlotte; Cameron Deyampert, an aspiring surgeon who attends Ardrey Kell High School; and Henri Allgood, a pre-business major at UNC-Charlotte. 14

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

Committed to supplier diversity Regina Edwards means business at Wells Fargo by Zacch Estrada-Peterson photos by Jon Strayhorn

hen Wells Fargo & Company acquired Charlotte-based Wachovia Bank in October 2008, it became the largest bank in the United States in terms of market capitalization. However, even in the multitrillion-dollar financial services industry, where “green” is the color of prominence, the culture at Wells Fargo runs the entire color spectrum.

A threefold strategy

Regina Edwards, senior vice president and head of supplier diversity for Wells Fargo, is partially responsible for that. Edwards, a Thomasville, Ga., native who took her post at Wells in February, has been featured twice among the “Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity” by DiversityPlus Magazine. Prior to assuming her role, Edwards, who graduated from North Carolina A&T University with a degree in economics in 1996 and later earned her Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University, wanted to make sure the program stood behind its mission not only on paper, but in practice. “When Wells Fargo reached out to me, the first thing I looked into was their commitment,” says Edwards. “It’s known in the supplier diversity arena that a successful program must have commitment from the CEO all the way down through the organization. If that commitment exists, the ability to grow the program and leverage it in a very strategic way is there.” Edwards researched the Wells Fargo program from various angles before making her decision. “When I got to the point that I felt the commitment was at the right level, I felt like it was a great position for me to move into,” says Edwards. “And all of that has really been confirmed since I’ve been here.” To be fair, however, diversity, in this case, applies not only to race or ethnicity, but to a number of categories that help create a well-rounded pool of suppliers. “There are certification bodies within the United States that certify businesses as diverse,” explains Edwards, “And there are criteria to be certified. The business

has to be 51 percent managed, owned and controlled by a person or a group of people who represent a diverse segment. From an ethnicity perspective, we’re talking about African Americans, Hispanic, Asian, Native American and Indian ethnicities.

For businesses in these categories, Wells Fargo requires they be certified by their respective certification bodies before the bank will consider adding them to its diverse supplier portfolio. “The reason we do that is because it’s very

Student participants in the Pathways to Success program engage in workforce readiness through mentoring and professional development.

“It’s known in the supplier diversity arena that a successful program must have commitment from the CEO all the way down through the organization. If that commitment exists, the ability to grow the program and leverage it in a very strategic way is there.”

— Regina Edwards

There is a diversity factor for members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community, and of course, veterans and service-disabled people, women and small businesses.”

important the program be credible,” says Edwards, “And so we know that we’re working with who we think we’re working with.” According to Edwards, the strategies being established for the supplier www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com

Pathways is a coed program that exposes high school upperclassmen and collegiate freshman to entrepreneurial concepts early, hoping to mitigate the challenges many diverse businesses face down the road due to a lack of knowledge in key areas such as accounting and finance. Regina and the Pathways students are joined by Phil Butler (right), a 100 Black Men of Charlotte board member and the program manager for Pathways; Butler is the vice president for corporate accounts with CBI.

diversity program are virtually threefold. First is aligning all internal lines of business toward the shared goal of supplier diversity. Second is identifying capable diverse suppliers and building

those relationships within the entire organization. Third is accountability — looking critically at how the company holds itself accountable to perform based on their supplier diversity strategy.

Preparing a pipeline

The concept of “suppliers” can seem relatively confusing when referring to the financial services industry, whereby most businesses in the industry don’t

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To learn more, please visit www.charlottebusinessinclusion.com or call 704-336-3380. 16

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

manufacture tangible products. “When you start thinking about supplier diversity, there is a divide between businesses that make products and businesses that offer services,” says Edwards. “But there also are some really significant connections between those two types of businesses.” Edwards notes that there are some physical products in the industry — checkbooks, debit/credit cards, etc.; however, human resources, information technology, marketing companies and the like are all prime examples of “suppliers” that Wells Fargo contracts with. Recognizing that a diverse group of suppliers in certain industries isn’t always available, Wells Fargo’s diversity program is multi-tiered — requiring some suppliers to subcontract a certain amount of their work to diverse suppliers — and verifying compliance. Thanks also to a collaboration with 100 Black Men of America, an innovative economic empowerment training program called Pathways to Success, Wells Fargo’s commitment to supplier development goes one step further. “Pathways to Success is an invaluable mentoring and educational program that reinforces workforce readiness among our

“The program owes much gratitude to Wells Fargo and the overwhelming support they have offered to our managers and students.”

— Tony Perez

Tony Perez

students,” says Tony Perez, president of the 100 Black Men of Greater Charlotte chapter. “Through education, mentoring and personal and professional development, our program prepares students for entrepreneurship or corporate America.” Pathways is a coed program that exposes high school upperclassmen and collegiate freshman to entrepreneurial concepts early, hoping to mitigate the challenges many diverse businesses face down the road due to a lack of knowledge in key areas such as accounting and finance. “Supplier diversity programs typically begin from a time a minority-owned

business is established and certified,” says Edwards, “but there needs to be more pipeline development.” Now in its third year, the program has expanded to seven chapters, serving more than 130 students nationwide. “The program owes much gratitude to Wells Fargo and the overwhelming support they have offered to our managers and students,” says Perez. “The commitment from Wells Fargo has made a significant impact on the enhancement and growth of our program and in the lives of our students. We look forward to a continued relationship." CMRM

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Cover Story

Compass Group navigates diversity Employees and suppliers represent nearly every sector of the population by Angela Lindsay photos by Jon Strayhorn

Raj Pragasam talks with Kasheena Townsend and Chris Dupre about Compass Group’s 2013 Associate Engagement.

2013 Diversity profile at Compass

eeding hundreds of thousands in Charlotte as one of the city’s largest supplier diversity vendors, Compass Group North America’s food and support services have been a part of area residents’ lives for many years. Compass Group North America has more than 200,000 associates in all 50 states, 10 provinces and two territories. They serve seven million meals a day — from vending and office coffee solutions to restaurants, corporate cafes, schools, arenas, museums, remote sites and more. Compass Group’s diverse and inclusive environment feeds its innovation and collaboration, and significantly benefits its employees, clients and customers. “Our clientele is multigenerational and multiethnic, and therefore, we need to reflect our client environment in our own

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

environment,” says Raj Pragasam, chief inclusion officer and senior vice president of human resources for Compass Group North America. “Our associates help us deliver positive results. They’re a highly skilled workforce that reflects our diverse client and customer base. Also, we’re linked very closely to the communities we touch and serve.” Diversity and inclusion training and organizational opportunities abound at Compass Group. And it starts at the top. In 2013, more than 1,800 managers received diversity and inclusion training through Compass programs Managing Inclusion™ and Appreciating Differences™. “It’s about engagement — participation of our associates affecting our company goals. We have metrics that measure how we move in terms of career opportunities,” Pragasam says.

• 56 % women • 57 % minority • 42 % women in management • 28 % minority in management The talented workforce participates in associate resource groups, such as Diversity Action Councils (DACs), the Women's Leadership Network (WLN) and Veterans Associate Resource Group(VARG).

Sharing values, understanding differences

Compass Group has nine diversity and inclusion action councils nationwide, which serve as liaisons and advisors between the sectors and senior leadership. Launched in 2007, the Women’s Leadership Network has 2,400 members in 11 chapters across

and national organizations to identify and provide direct access to well-qualified veterans seeking employment. The company also works with Fedcap Rehabilitation Services which provides vocational training and employment resources to welfare recipients, displaced workers, the disabled and others who face barriers to employment. And, the Black Culinary Alliance helps prepare students and professionals of color with specialized skills needed to be successful in the hospitality industry. The Careers Through Culinary Arts Program works with public schools to prepare Kasheena Townsend, who is visually impaired and works in human resources, found out about Compass Group at a job fair at UNC Charlotte. She was trained to use a special speech software to do her job.

the country. Additionally, Compass Group invests heavily each year in a range of learning and developmental opportunities to help all associates achieve their individual goals. Every year, the company enlists a third party to conduct an Associate Engagement Survey. The 2013 results revealed that 80 percent of associates surveyed feel strongly that Compass Group embraces diversity. “It stems from the leadership,” Pragasam adds. “I’m excited to lead diversity and inclusion for Compass Group. In a time where we can see any place in the world with the click of an app, it feels like the world is becoming smaller, while at the same time, we are able to enlarge our own views.” He adds, “The issues of connectivity, sharing values, and understanding and appreciating differences become all the more

“We don’t ‘do’ diversity and inclusion; we are diverse, and we are inclusive.”

— Chef Chris Dupre

associate recipes from different cultures and backgrounds that appeal to a greater audience. Participation has been phenomenal based off of our collective efforts.” When Kasheena Townsend was hired at Compass Group as a human resources advisor, she was pleased to find the company already had mechanisms in place to assist with her visual impairment. “I use a speech software called JAWS (Job Access With Speech)¸ and it reads everything that’s on my computer screen,” she explains. Townsend, who has been visually impaired since she was 12, says help was on hand from day one to train her on the software. She was introduced to Compass Group during a college fair at UNC Charlotte and says the representatives

“Our associates help us deliver positive results. They’re a highly skilled workforce that reflects our diverse client and customer base. Also, we’re linked very closely to the communities we touch and serve."

— Raj Pragasam

important. It will continue to drive our success as an organization and is key to attracting, developing and retaining the best talent.” That talent includes associates such as executive chef Christopher Dupre, who is of Chilean decent and joined Compass Group in 2012. He says diversity and inclusion are more than just mere talking points at the company. “We don’t ‘do’ diversity and inclusion; we are diverse, and we are inclusive,” says Dupre. “For example, in my café, teamwork and valuing what everyone brings to the operation is essential. I’ve also started incorporating

were “very excited” from the beginning to have her potentially come on board. She adds the company's welcoming approach to inclusion has benefitted her and others.

Recruitment, campus celebrations

Compass Groups partners with several organizations to find future team members. Operation Veterans Employment Transition (Operation VET) is a recruiting program that was launched in 2013; it works closely with businesses, communities, and state

underserved high school students for college and career opportunities in the restaurant and hospitality industry, while Job Path supports those with disabilities in making choices about their lives and their roles in their communities, and then matches members with available employment opportunities. The company signs a number of purchasing agreements with a diverse group of suppliers. “Our sourcing team makes a concentrated effort to choose suppliers that reflect the diversity of the community,” says Jayne Buckley, vice president of Strategic Business Implementation, Foodbuy LLC, (a division of Compass Group North America). “Secondly, we maintain a prospective vendor database that is available to all decision-makers when reviewing for sourcing opportunity,” she adds. “In addition, supplier inclusion is always integrated into our contractual language with our major suppliers.” Buckley says the company is committed to working with small and diverse suppliers that can support its long-term growth objectives and add value to its business by providing innovative products and services to its customers. As proof, Foodbuy’s spend with diverse suppliers grew more than 8 percent in 2013. Some of the suppliers it partners with in the Charlotte region include Tropical Foods, Jennifer Temps, Mars Recycling and Shredding, and Hissho Sushi. Living up to its current mantra — Focus on Diversity While Driving Inclusion — Compass Group is an example to other corporations of how incorporating diversity and inclusion into the very fabric of a company’s operation nurtures meaningful relationships among associates, and it fosters success and growth beyond company walls. “We’re a global company,” says Dupre. “We must stay connected to our people by understanding and appreciating differences.” CMRM www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

Sponsored Story

Feature

Team behind the scenes CMEDI promotes relationship-building, business growth by Angela Lindsay photos by Jon Strayhorn

ince January 2013, the Charlotte Minority Economic Development Initiative (CMEDI) has generated about 185 new contract opportunities, valued at some $40 million, for local diverse suppliers. These opportunities resulted in the creation of more than 178 full-time jobs in the Charlotte Region. Overall, since CMEDI’s inception in July 2011, the program has served as a catalyst for more than $53 million in contract

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

opportunities, which has helped to create about 487 full-time sustainable jobs throughout the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region. CMEDI is a collaborative program combining the expertise of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and the Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council (CVMSDC). It is designed to build a bridge between Charlotte’s burgeoning corporate community and the minority-owned business community throughout the region. “We struggled in the minority business space for a long time,” says Mike Manning, chief financial officer of the Charlotte Chamber, who handles the budget and all fiscal

Members of the CMEDI operations team are (seated L-R) Priscilla Wallace, vice president, CMEDI; Kim Brattain, Phase II Productions, CMEDI media producer/consultant; (standing L-R) Mike Manning, chief financial officer, Charlotte Chamber; Keva Walton, senior vice president, Member Engagement, Strategic Partnerships and Diversity, Charlotte Chamber; and David Willis, principal-NuLevel Strategic Solutions, LLC, CMEDI consultant.

matters pertaining to the CMEDI. “We knew we were lacking in growing and capturing minority wealth of Charlotte’s diverse business owners. Through CMEDI, we’ve created a platform where minority business owners have the opportunity to align and partner with large corporations in our community.” Phase I of the organization’s launch rolled out in the summer of 2011 with 14 of the nation’s largest corporations and 18 of the Charlotte area’s most promising certified minority business enterprises (MBEs). Currently winding up Phase II, CMEDI has partnered with 15 corporations and 19 MBEs in our community. With Phase III set to begin in September, building relationships remains the primary focus of the initiative and is at the core of CMEDI’s value.

“We focus heavily on relationship-building.

“We focus heavily on relationshipbuilding,” says Priscilla Wallace, who is employed with CVSMDC and serves as vice president of CMEDI. “Relationships are the key — understanding a corporation’s supply chain strategy, having an innovative pitch and delivering a sustainable product and/or service generates access to opportunities.

Relationships are the key — understanding a corporation’s supply chain strategy, having an innovative pitch and delivering a sustainable product and/or service generates access to opportunities.” — Priscilla Wallace

Core group, big goal

The CMEDI operations team is a small group of professionals working together to ensure the organization fulfills its mission: to become a national model for business inclusion and help make the Charlotte metro region an economic powerhouse, so the area becomes one of the most desirable places in which to live and conduct business. “We didn’t create CMEDI to scale quickly. … We needed to keep it manageable with minimal overhead, and we’re beginning to see results,” says Manning. Other members of the CMEDI operational team include Keva Walton, Charlotte Chamber senior vice president, who oversees strategic partnerships and diversity at the Chamber, and David Willis, principal at NuLevel Strategic Solutions, LLC, who is the MBE program consultant for CMEDI. Willis adds, “The average AfricanAmerican owned business makes less than $90,000 in revenues annually. Statistically, we lag behind; there’s a huge disparity. … It’s critical to change the landscape, of how minority businesses are perceived in our market.”

Creating and retaining jobs

The purpose of CMEDI is to accelerate the growth of local minority businesses over an 18-month time period. The criteria for on-boarding are very intentional. CMEDI considers whether a business possesses sufficient internal, organizational and financial infrastructure to support corporate demand while building a partnership that can grow. Wallace and Walton both emphasize that CMEDI focuses on making sure MBEs and corporations have consistent access to each other and are well-aligned. “Contract opportunities are outcomes of those activities,” says Wallace. Walton adds, “CMEDI portfolio companies are gaining access to compete. That wasn’t happening prior to CMEDI.” To keep investors, stakeholders, media and the public aware of CMEDI activity, CMEDI works with Phase II Productions (woman-owned) to capture monthly videos, testimonials and corporate-MBE partnership success stories. They also produce informative and educational videos that cover a variety of topics from how to win a

contract, innovation in the marketplace, business sustainability and supply chain re-alignment, etc. CMEDI testimonials can be viewed at Youtube.com/cmedichannel. The strategy is working. Near the completion of Phase I, the team saw impressive results in a key metric for the Charlotte Chamber reporting on job creation. They saw a 30-percent jump in the cumulative total of jobs created among the participating CMEDI MBE companies. At the end of Phase II, CMEDI anticipates an even larger percentage of job increase in the Charlotte market. “We’re talking about new jobs, but also helping these companies retain jobs,” says Walton. “For me, it comes down to a household, a family and their livelihood.’ That’s success!”

It takes commitment

CMEDI would not be possible without financial commitment from its investors, many who are actively involved as CMEDI MBE sponsors and business partners. These investors include some of the most respected companies in Charlotte, such as Bank of America, Belk, Duke Energy, Enterprise Holdings, Fifth Third Bank, Messer Construction, Piedmont Natural Gas, R.J. Leeper Construction, Rodgers Builders, TPM Consulting, Turner Construction, Sunbelt Rentals and Wells Fargo, etc. A full list of the investors and stakeholders is online at Charlottemedi.com. The CMEDI operations team remains focused and positive about its vision, knowing their task is on-going with a goal that is long term. Wallace says she believes the corporate partners and investors support CMEDI because they want to help boost the economic landscape of Charlotte by supporting minority business inclusion. “They also realize there is great value in local market penetration to meet supply chain demand; it’s cost effective for them,” says Wallace. “Our CMEDI corporations want to grow their local minority supplier base, and they are partnering with CMEDI to get it done!” CMRM

Become a corporate partner or sponsor of CMEDI:

Charlotte Minority Economic Development Initiative 704-549-1000, ext. 226 www.charlottemedi.com; www.cvmsdc.org www.youtube.com/cmedichannel

CMEDI Corporate Partners • Bank of America • Wells Fargo • Belk • Duke Energy • City of Charlotte • Messer Construction • Rodgers Builders • Carolinas HealthCare System • Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools • Novant Health • Enterprise Holdings • Lowes • Sunbelt Rentals • Turner Construction • Piedmont Natural Gas

Minority Business Enterprises • American Product Distributors • BrandRPM • Bunty • CGR Creative • Diversant • Environment Service Systems • EZ Parking • Greenspeed Energy Solutions • Gregory Art • Jennifer Temps • Metcon • Metro Transportation • Miriam Davis Cleaning • Network Cabling Systems • R.J. Leeper Construction • SMS Energy Group • TPM Consulting • Titan Commercial Services • United Painting Services

www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com

Feature

8 best practices

Supplier diversity Imperative to today’s businesses by Lee McCracken

eginning in the late 1960s in conjunction with the civil rights Movement, supplier diversity has grown into an essential part of how companies stay competitive in today’s global economy. Today, minority owned businesses are the fastest-growing business sector and create more jobs than any other sector. According to the Minority Business Development Council (MBDC), minorityowned firms have outpaced the growth of non-minority firms in gross receipts (55 percent), employment (27 percent) and number of firms (46 percent). Supplier diversity is a business imperative. It’s a program that encourages the use of historically underutilized minority-owned businesses for the purchase of goods or services. Experts, such as Ralph Moore, say supplier diversity enables companies to deliver on customer expectations and “facilitates economic stewardship into the fastest growing demographics in the country.” 24

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

Moore, president of Ralph G. Moore & Associates (RGMA), an investor and expert of supplier diversity in corporate America, has contributed to the Harvard Business Review, Black Enterprise Magazine and MBE Magazine. He has participated in global supplier diversity forums in South Africa, England, France and China. His website states, “Many sizable companies have had supplier diversity programs in place for years. But as MBEs continue to grow, so do the scope of these programs, which are fast evolving into full-scale partnerships.” It continues, “Sourcing 20 percent of supplies from a minority-owned business to meet a company quota is no longer enough. Pilot projects spearheaded by minority leaders are helping large companies deepen collaboration with diverse suppliers at a core strategic level.” Here’s a look at the key components of developing a supplier diversity program, according to the National Minority Supplier Development Council. CMRM

1. Starts with the president/CEO; part of the company’s DNA. 2. Full-time personnel and resources a priority. 3. All levels of management held accountable. 4. Promoted company-wide. 5. Corporate policy clearly defines expectations, goals and metrics. 6. Performance goals tracked and reported. 7. On-going education for all procurement employees. 8. Supplier diversity development part of strategic sourcing.

How it began

On March 5, 1969, President Nixon signed an executive order that required government agencies and their contractors to contract with minority-owned companies. The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) was formed during the 1970s to certify businesses as Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs). In addition, the Small Business Administration began making loans to minority businesses in the ’70s.

By the numbers

• 1 in 2 Americans will be a minority by 2050. (U.S. Census Bureau) • 34 percent of the U.S. population will be represented by minorities by 2020. (U.S. Census Bureau) • Minorities own 15.1 percent of all U.S. businesses, or more than 3 million firms, and 99 percent of these firms are small businesses. (SBA) • Over $2.5 trillion is the buying power of minority communities. (MBDA) • Minority-owned businesses account for $591 billion in revenues. (SBA) • 1 in 7 small businesses is owned by a veteran. (SBA) • Women-owned firms are out-pacing nonWBEs by double. (MBDA)

PrideHalfPage.pdf 1 1/21/2013 3:50:54 PM

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Feature

Minority Business Enterprise certification

ecoming a certified minority business opens new doors for opportunity. To qualify for MBE certification, a business must be at least 51-percent owned, operated and controlled by an American ethnic minority group member who is a U. S. citizen (not a green card holder), physically located in North or South Carolina, and authorized by the state and county to do business. In this region, the Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council helps to create mutually beneficial links between corporations and MBEs. The benefits of certification include: • More opportunities. More than two-thirds of MBEs confirm an increase in revenues as a result of partnership with corporate CVMSDC members. • Local, regional and national referrals to member corporations, as well as exposure to about 3,600 leading national companies. • Access to corporate buyers. • Listing in the CVMSDC and National Minority Supplier Development Council MBE computer database. • Participation in education programs and workshops for personal and professional growth.

For more information about certification, visit www.cvmsdc.org.

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

A certified MBE partnership that works

John Hamm, owner of ADP (American Product Distributors) and Kendall Taylor, owner of Metro Transportation, which has been part of the Charlotte Minority Economic Development Council Kendall Taylor (CMEDI) since its inception, began a partnership in September 2012 to facilitate the delivery of supplies to APD customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia. “APD is projected to spend more than $1 million with other MBEs this year,” says Hamm, noting the relationship with Metro Transportation began with the desire to streamline the process of the delivery of office supplies to Carolinas HealthCare Systems hospitals throughout the Carolinas. The strategic partnership has enabled both firms to expand and grow. “Our partnership with APD has exceeded our initial expectations,” says Taylor. “It has expanded our business to serve multiple healthcare networks from the Mid-Atlantic region down to Georgia.” He adds that both companies also are creating more jobs in Charlotte. “Our advice to other MBEs is to remain creative and open-minded,” says Taylor. “Never overlook opportunities with other small businesses that can prove to be just as sustainable and rewarding as those found with larger corporate entities.” CMRM

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Feature

Small business success

Pride Magazine publisher Dee Dixon poses with the three finalists for The Perfect Pitch competition (L-R): Jennifer Szakaly, Caregiving Corner; Nyshia Cook, N.C. Music Center; and Tyrone Harmon, vice president and director of business development with R.J. Leeper Construction.

Strategies for ‘staying in the game’ by Abby Flanders photos by Jon Strayhorn

t was a field of dreams presented at the Wake Forest University School of Business in Uptown Charlotte in May by Pride Public Relations. The third annual Small Business Luncheon provided an opportunity for seasoned small business owners to win up to $5,000 in prizes to boost their business to the next level. A “shark tank” of financial moguls, representing the most elite institutions throughout the region, listened intently while three finalists gave “The Perfect Pitch,” describing the trajectory and elevation of their business goals. The finalists had seven minutes each to convince the panel of the impact their business have on existing customers and the potential for their enterprise to grow.

The players

Jennifer Szakaly, owner of the geriatric care management firm Caregiving Corner, started her business in 2005 to assist

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

caregivers with resources and programs that benefit both patients and homecare providers. “Our job is about being able to be objective in the midst of family turmoil,” says Szakaly. Nyshia Cook developed N.C. Music Center in 2007. The music education school is reviving the nearly extinct art of piano lessons and was formerly called Piano Passion. Cook is an award-winning entrepreneur, who often provides free lessons to those who cannot afford to pay.

The winning pitch

Szakaly threw one in for a home run, when she elicited an emotional response from the audience and panel of judges by talking about the catalyst for starting Caregiving Corner (www.caregivingcorner.com). “I was inspired by my grandmother, who taught us to look for those in need and help them find solutions to their problems.” The astute entrepreneur help up a gold-framed picture

of the deceased family matriarch. It is an age old premise, even Biblical in its inception — one that SBA Regional IV Director Cassius Butts addressed as the key to success. “The American dream is not about owning a house. … (It is) not about

Jennifer Szakaly holds a picture of her grandmother, the family matriarch who inspired her to start her business.

Cassius Butts:

‘Business is a higher calling’

being debt-free. We must acknowledge the presence of others for the higher calling,” he said during his motivational speech at the luncheon. Caregiving Corner is answering its higher calling by providing a service to families who are adjusting their lives to care for the needs of their ailing elderly loved ones. And its program transcends medical necessities. Szakaly and her employees guide families through the bureaucracy of long-term care, while constructing a system that annihilates the confusion and chaos associated with finding optimum solutions that benefit the

entire family unit. That includes counseling for family caregivers whose lives are torn by their commitment to their aging parents and their responsibilities to their spouses and children. Most caregivers are mothers, according to national statistics, which means they are juggling with putting out “fires” for their elderly parent(s) that spark over seemingly small things (getting a call about there being no lettuce in the frig for their sandwich) with the daily responsibilities they have at home and work. These are the women who “can’t find time to go to the doctor to investigate that lump in their breast,

“I was inspired by my grandmother, who taught us to look for those in need and help them find solutions to their problems.”

— Jennifer Szakaly

When President Obama appointed Cassius Butts as the Region IV Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in 2011, overseeing eight states and nine district offices, he presented him with the challenge to “carry the SBA message for the bigger calling.” That calling goes beyond the dreams of entrepreneurs with a hunger to sustain or start small businesses. “We need to talk about a platform to address the billions (of dollars) available for small businesses, but we must also move egos out of the way,” says Butts. “If you don’t, you will short your opportunities.” His job is to assist small businesses in finding access to capital, and uncovering existing or new methods for their financial counseling. As Butts stood before the crowd at the Pride small business seminar on May 12, he unveiled the potential for small businesses to slice into the available small business loan pie — of which $500 billion is earmarked for North Carolina. “My job is to connect people with opportunities, but how do we carry the message if we’re not invited to the party?” The Morehouse and Clark University graduate refers to his gratitude for the opportunity to address small business owners, noting that he has crashed many other events to get the encouraging message to those who need it most. “In order to succeed, we must acknowledge the presence of others. Your existence is for the purpose of helping other people.” According to Butts, it begins with extending the desire for success into a passion for accelerated performance. He says, “Ninety-eight percent of this economy is run off small businesses… So, have a plan. Your passion is your purpose, and your purpose is your plan.” www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com

The distinguished panel of judges for the small business competition included (L-R): Donald Moore, Carolinas HealthCare System; Derek Canty, Wells Fargo; Vonshe Jenkins, Bank of America; Eric Watson, Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council; and Glenn Wright, Worth Financial Advisory Group.

hear from their boss about taking on more responsibility and feel guilty because their spouse needs to feel loved and appreciated, too,” says Szakaly. “These family caregivers are our clients, too.” Additionally, the company concentrates on the independence of aging older adults — the ones who are left behind by family and need an advocate. Speaking of her grandmother, Szakaly says, “She spent time in an orphanage, helped to raise her sisters, became a seamstress, and when she had

little or nothing, she still continued to give.” Szakaly earned a master’s degree in gerontology from UNC Charlotte and began working in the aging industry in 2000. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers and a certified care manager since 2006. The compassionate, yet professional, businesswoman built Caregiving Corner on a blend of entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for our country’s aging population. She says her company unveils hope, when

hope is dwindling in the critical moments of the life cycle. Szakaly says she will use the prize money to expand the provisions of her business to include more social services and to add providers to their current roster. A single point separated Caregiving Corners from the other contestants. One panel judge said it was her emotional appeal — the genuine connection between passion and purpose. “Personal experience broke any ties.” CMRM

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Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

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Vilma Betancourt-O’Day is founder and president of Women Wrule (Mujeres Mandan), an organization helping minority and women-owned small businesses achieve M/WBE certifications and increase revenue. Visit http://womenwrule.com.

Feature

African-American women own 1,237,900 firms, a 296 percent increase since 1997, generating about $49.5 billion in revenue.

Black women lead in business Certification matters by Vilma Betancourt-O’Day

adies, give yourselves an applause. We’ve launched an estimated 1,288 women-owned businesses daily throughout the past year. Today, there are an estimated 9.1 million womenowned businesses. Currently, it’s estimated African-American women own 1,237,900 firms, a 296 percent increase since 1997, generating about $49.5 billion in revenue and employing 287,100 individuals, plus the owners. According to WomenAble.com (author of the 2014 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, soon to be published by American Express, and whose statistics are referenced

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

in this article), “While firms owned by women of color are smaller than non-minority womenowned businesses, both in terms of average employment and revenues, their growth in number and economic clout is generally far outpacing that of all women-owned firms.” North Carolina ranks No. 3 for the fastest growth in women-owned firms, with an increase of 91.4 percent to 267,800 (1997-2014). Revenue for these firms has increased by 48.6 percent to $35,905,900 and employment by 20.9 percent for a total of 268,300 employees. The combined economic clout ranking for our state is 17. In fiscal year 2013, the

State of North Carolina spent 58.1 percent of their purchasing dollars on certified Women Business Enterprises (WBEs). What are certified women-owned businesses and why does certification matter? • Janet Harris-Lange, founder and president of the National Women Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC), says, “WBE Certification is important because it legitimizes that the company is majority woman-owned and -controlled. Companies have to go through a thorough review of an application and documents by a trained committee of attorneys, CPAs and business professionals, and by a credible nonprofit 501c3 organization, NWBOC. WBEs receive extra points in the bidding process when they are certified. In other words, they are not just stating they own and run their companies, but they have proven it to a review committee. Many companies have goals or percentages they are trying to attain with WBEs, MBEs, etc., and, occasionally, they have contracts that require they use certified women-owned companies in their subcontracting process.” • PNC Bank has employees who are “PNCCertified Women’s Business Advocates,” such as Julie L. Stout, senior vice president of commercial banking in Charlotte. These women are committed to doing business with WBEs and, while their program recommends WBE certification, they also accept self-certifications. PNC’s supplier files get vetted during the registration and self-certification process. Another type of certification for WBEs is the Federal Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Certification and Procurement Program (www.sba.gov/content/women-ownedsmall-business-federal-contract-program). WBE Certification can serve as a growth strategy and can take your business to the next level. Is it in your toolbox? On August 19, there will be an event in Charlotte to discuss this program; visit WIPP.org/ ChallengeHER. CMRM

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Feature

Energy abounds NDR serves the globe by Zacch Estrada-Peterson

“We routinely engage in very large In plain speak, NDR acts as an energy broker, rom coal to nuclear to solar, the natural gas transactions, with the buying natural gas and power from suppliers, energy industry is big, very big. average one exceeding $1 million,” says and selling it to utility companies that deliver Yet, it’s still growing at a furiously Hart, NDR’s sales topped $64 million it to consumers. rapid pace. Rickey Hart recognizes in 2013. “We started that growth potential, this business with and he’s ready for it. $150, and we haven’t “Our view of the Nods for NDR looked back since.” future is unlimited,” •R anked in Black Enterprise Magazine’s “BE’s 100” for industrial services companies From humble says Hart. “There are for the last eight years. beginnings, Hart’s no boundaries here. • One of the “Top 10 Growth Leaders for 2012” by Black Enterprise Magazine. strategy to bring We are in the energy • The second highest-grossing black industrial/service company in North Carolina. together some of the business — the most • Rickey Hart recognized as the “2012 Top Business Leader of the Year” by the U.S. brightest minds in the important industry in Black Chamber. industry has led NDR the world. Nothing else to a position of high goes anywhere without visibility and strength what we do.” in the global energy industry. Hart is an As a former headhunter, Hart had advisory board member of the U.S. Global a chance meeting more than 20 years Prominent leader Leadership Coalition and was recognized ago with an energy executive to provide Hart is the founder and chief development in 2012 by the Chicago Museum for Science staffing services. That turned into a headofficer of NDR Energy Group, LLC (www. & Industry in its exhibit entitled “Powerful: first plunge into the energy business. Hart ndrenergy.com), a wholly minority-owned African-Americans in the Energy Industry.” started NDR with Gina Roy in 2000. energy consulting and management company. 34

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

He says he has always followed these statements to keep NDR Energy Group relevant and successful: Chance favors the prepared mind; The struggle continues; Dare to struggle, dare to win; and Keep your chin up, keep moving, don’t stop.” For the size of the industry the company services, NDR’s operations are remarkably lean — handled by a staff of only five people. “We are flexible and nimble,” says Hart. “We’re able to deal with major situations, but we’re not encumbered by a top-heavy administration. We can turn on a dime, and we’ve been able to do that very successfully.” The carefully-chosen staff includes local attorney Ken Harris, who met Hart when he represented him in a case several years ago. Harris has worked for NDR since 2008 and has served as its president and chief executive officer since 2011. “I was at a hotel, and I bit into some glass off of a fruit cup,” recalls Hart. “Ken was my attorney for that case. Once he found out what I did, we got the case out of the way, and it’s been a friendship and business relationship ever since.”

A future of opportunity

Rickey Hart

Harris works to ensure an adequate supply of product is available to serve its clients nationally. He also negotiates all of the company’s contracts. NDR is one of only a handful of minority-owned energy sector businesses of this magnitude, and Harris says there’s a greater message to be gleaned from their success. “It is very important to us as a company to enlighten minority youth about the importance of being involved in the energy trade,” he says. “America is soon to be a net exporter of natural gas, and we, as minorities, have to impress upon our children the importance of looking at the energy trade as a viable vocational alternative,” Says Hart. CMRM

www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com

LEADING ECONOMIC IMPACT ONE CONNECTION AT A TIME

CarolinasHealthCare.org

At Wells Fargo, we know cultural diversity is a competitive advantage, because it gives us access to a wide variety of perspectives and resources. Here in the Carolinas â€” and all across the country â€” weâ€™re working hard to build relationships with diverse suppliers so that they can better compete for supply chain opportunities, and so that we can better serve our diverse customers and team members.

WE APPLAUD...

...and thank Wells Fargo and all of our Multicultural Resource Magazine sponsors for all they do to help MBE’s and other small business owners thrive! CaSondra Devine Senior Vice President Senior Business Manager Wells Fargo Supplier Diversity At Wells Fargo, Supplier Diversity works to build relationships with diverse suppliers, and to help them grow, develop and compete for opportunities within Wells Fargo’s supply chain and elsewhere.

Vonshe Jenkins Senior Vice President Director of Supplier Diversity & Development Bank of America is committed to the inclusion of diverse businesses within our supply chain. We have supported diverse suppliers for over 25 years and will continue to provide education, drive usage internally and identify opportunities for growth of minority-owned businesses.

Eric Watson President & CEO At Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council, our focus is economic inclusion in partnership with our corporate members, MBE’s and strategic partners. Our vision is to Innovate our work, Elevate our brand and Transform our model. We Certify to provide access, Develop to create wealth, Connect for strategic partnerships and Advocate to strengthen empowerment.

Jim Olsen Senior Vice President, Materials Resource Management Supplier Diversity is important to Carolinas HealthCare System because it integrates suppliers into the execution of our corporate commitment to diversity and inclusion. The creativity and flexibility these suppliers provide contribute to our supply chain excellence and strengthens our commitment to economic development in the communities we serve.

Eboni Haynes Director of Supplier Diversity Supplier Diversity at Belk is a strategic initiative that aligns well with our corporate focus on diversity and inclusion. We strive to work with qualified minority and women-owned businesses that give us a competitive advantage and access to innovative solutions through their products and services. Our Supplier Diversity initiative also enables us to be a good steward in our communities by stimulating economic development, and it helps our business by strengthening our brand.

Raj Pragasam Chief Inclusion Officer & Senior Vice President of Human Resources I’m excited to lead diversity and inclusion for Compass Group North America in a time where we can access any place in the world with the click of a button. Connecting, sharing values and understanding and appreciating differences become all the more important in a global community. - Raj Pragasam

James Clayton Director of Diversity & Community Development Rodgers is fully committed to diversity and inclusion. Our focus is on building sustainable relationships, growing the capabilities of local and historically underutilized business partners, and exceeding our clients’ participation goals. Our diversity and outreach program results in stronger communities, increased local employment and meaningful construction workforce development.

Resource directory presented by Wells Fargo Supplier Diversity

Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Training and Support Minority Business Development Agency www.mbda.gov N.C. Coordinators’ Network www.mwbenetwork.org N.C. Institute of Minority Economic Development 919-956-8889 www.ncimed.com United Minority Contractors of North Carolina www.umcnc.org

MWBE Certification Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Council 704-549-1000 www.carolinasmsdc.org info@carolinasmsdc.org

Belk, Inc. Eboni Haynes Director of Supplier Diversity 704-357-1000 supplierdiversity@belk.com www.belk.com Carolinas HealthCare System Donnie Moore Manager of Supplier Diversity 704-512-7772 donald.moore@carolinashealthcare.org www.carolinashealthcare.org Compass Group/Foodbuy Skyne Betha Supplier Diversity Manager 704-328-1129 sbetha@foodbuy.com www.cgnad.com Duke Energy Andrew Grier Supplier Diversity Specialist 704-382-7690 andrewgrier@duke-energy.com www.duke-energy.com/ suppliers/default.asp

Harris Teeter Kim Powers Director of Diversity City of Charlotte Small Business 843-971-3611 kpowers@harristeeter.com Opportunity Program www.harristeeter.com Nancy Rosado Neighborhood and Business Services 704-336-2116 N.C. Procurement Technical Assistance Center Small Business and Technology Development Center 704-548-1090 www.sbtdc.org Statewide Uniform Certification Program (SWUC) *N.C. Dept. of Administration Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses 919-807-2330 www.doa.nc.gov/hub Women Wrule Women, Minority and Small Business Certification Assistance and Government Contracting 803-517-4030 www.womenwrule.com vCertified MWBE Business

Corporate Supplier Diversity Balfour Beatty Construction Calvin Stevens Director of Business Development and Diversity 919-233-5137 cstevens@balfourbeattyus.com www.balfourbeattyus.com Bank of America www.about.bankofamerica.com Visit “Our Story, How We Work, Supplier Diversity”

Snyder’s-Lance, Inc. Joe Machicote Vice President of Human Resources 704-557-8001 jmachicote@snyderslance.com www.snyderslance.com Lowe’s Home Improvement James Frison Director of Supplier Diversity 704-758-4762 james.r.frison@lowes.com www.lowes.com/supplierdiversity Novant Health Kevin Price Director of Supplier Diversity 704-920-7904 kjprice@novanthealth.org www.novanthealth.org/supplierdiversity Nucor Corp. Donavon Marks 704-366-7000 www.nucor.com Piedmont Natural Gas Summer Nichols Diversity Sourcing Specialist 704-731-4116 supplierdiversity@piedmontng.com www.piedmontng.com/ about/supplier-diversity Time Warner Cable – Carolina Region David Wiehagen Vice President, Strategic Procurement 704-731-3261 david.wiehagen@twcable.com www.timewarnercable.com

Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club Michael Byron Senior Director of Supplier Diversity 479-204-9037 michael.byron@wal-mart.com www.walmart.com www.samsclub.com

Cannon Advertising Specialties 704-597-1547

Wells Fargo Regina Edwards Head of Supplier Diversity 704-383-6445 regina.o.edwards@wellsfargo.com www.wellsfargo.com/supplierdiversity

Charlotte Hotel TV 704-806-5692 www.charlottehoteltv.com www.fitcitytv.com

Businesses Administrative Services Cybertary 704-256-4717 www.charlotte.cybertary.com The Marjon Corporation 704-455-1825 Simply Virtual 704-719-2202 www.simply-virtual.com

Advertising Agencies/ Promotional Products

Carolina Corporate Wear, Inc. 704-540-4613 www.carolinacorporatewear.com

Cook Information & Packaging 704-376-6324 Creative Marketing Ideas 704-684-5344 www.cohenmkg.com Dream Media Studios 704-777-5898 Equine Marketing Group 704-663-4487 FES, Inc. 704-398-0436 www.fleminges.com Image Solutions 704-847-1329 www.imagesolutions.biz

3L Graphics 704-549-1211

KS Image Solutions, LLC 704-786-7763 www.ksimagesolutions.com

Ad Concepts, Inc. 704-366-1616 www.goadconcepts.com

Logo’d Gear 704-334-9333 www.logodgear.com

Ad Consortium 704-341-0789

Logo Pros 704-545-7408

AdSpark Promos 704-781-8790 www.adsparkpromos.com

Luna Spanish Advertising Agency 828-327-8045

Alliance Document Solutions, Inc. 704-583-3409 www.adocument.net

Lyerly Agency 704-525-3937 www.lyerly.com

Bantra Corp. 704-372-3400 www.bantracorp.com

Malveaux Creative Services, LLC 504-220-9677 www.judithmalveaux.com

BluePeppper Public Relations 704-777-9346 www.bluepepperpr.com Bonnie B. Thyer Specialties Co. 704-331-0645 www.bonniebpromomall.com BrandRPM 704-225-1800 www.brandrpm.com

Marketing and Media Resource 704-334-3322 Media Mark US 704-504-1256 www.mediamark.us Media Power Advertising, Inc. 704-567-1000 www.mediapoweradvertising.com Nice & Intelligent Business Solutions 704-953-8379 www.niceandintelligent.com

See ALL 3,000+ listings online at www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com

Phoenix Rising Group 704-618-0105

*NOTE: The North Carolina Office for Historically Underutilized Business instituted a Statewide Uniform Certification Program effective July 1, 2009. This program replaced all minority/woman-owned business enterprise certifications offered through local municipalities, except the city of Charlotte and Durham. The SWUC Program allows MWBE firms to certify their business at the state level, allowing them to compete for state and local contracts. The SWUC must be accepted by all North Carolina municipalities, removing the burden of MWBE firms to certify with each municipality. vCertified MWBE Business

www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com

ResourceListings PIA International 704-593-1256 www.piapromo.com Piedmont Marketing Concepts, Inc. 704-347-0202

Resource directory presented by Wells Fargo Supplier Diversity

Ferguson Stein Chambers Gresham & Sumter 704-375-8461 www.fergusonstein.com Gardner Skelton, PLLC 704-335-0350 www.gardnerskelton.com

 Susan D. Brotherton 704-873-7529 Sybil Barrett, PLLC 704-944-5546

Amy K. Steinmetz, LLC 704-577-4737 Aquent 704-338-9119 www.aquent.com Atlantic Communication Products, Inc. 704-676-5880 www.goacp.com

Pride Communications, Inc. 704-375-9553 www.pridemagazine.net

Gary Henderson 704-599-4577 www.ghendersonlawoffice.com

QCityMetro.com 704-442-1565 www.qcitymetro.com

Hands Law Office, PLLC 704-248-7976 www.handslawonline.com

T. Michael Todd 704-343-9700

Brand Equity Marketing, LLC 704-372-3982 www.brandequitymarketing.com

Select Media Partners, Inc. 704-552-8131 www.selectmediapartners.com

Hoover, Williams & Exum, P.A. 704-332-5583

Tamela T. Wallace 704-371-4212 www.tamelatwallace.com

CITI, LLC 704-969-2484 www.citi-llc.com

The Klauk Law Firm 704-258-7973 www.klauklaw.com

Expert Services International, LLC 704-969-9200

Tin Nguyen 704-461-1527

The Agency Marketing Group 704-333-0667 www.gettheagency.com Tropical Concepts 704-342-4575 Zuri Creative Services 704-380-0278 www.zuri.com

Attorneys A. Gray Bonding Company 704-347-2545 www.agraybonding.com Anne McCrowel Mickle, LLC 803-980-0083 Anthony G. Young, PA 704-334-2488

Janice V. Coulter 704-334-1811 James Ferguson 704-375-8461 www.fergusonsumter.com Ken Harris & Associates 704-343-2620 www.kenharrisassoc.com

The Justice Firm, LLC 704-377-4747

Kimberly E. Fox, PLLC 704-439-2720 www.kimfoxlaw.com

The Law Office of Algernon Williams 704-531-1905

Karin Lukas Technical Writing, LLC 704-756-0458

The Law Offices of Javá O. Warren 704-568-8439 www.jwarrenlawfirm.com

Kineta Corporation 704-752-7994 www.kinetacorp.com

 Kimberly Poe Law Office 704-489-8182 Law Office of Marcia Burton 704-342-5009 Law Offices of Michelle Vereck 704-283-5555 www.vereckey.com  Lisa Andrew Dubs 828-323-1926 Maxwell Law Firm, PLLC 704-461-1883

Barbara L. White 704-375-9411 www.barbaralwhite.com

Morris York Williams Surles & Barringer, LLP 704-375-4480

Benjamin M. Li 704-527-0878 www.benlilaw.com

Paul Suhr 919-876-4707 www.paulsuhrlaw.com

Brady & Kosofsky, PA 704-849-8008 www.bandklaw.com

Rachel Pickard 704-867-5341

Cheryl R. Watkins 704-552-3993 www.crwatkinslaw.com David A. Concha 704-525-8824 Denise L. Presley 704-676-4622 www.presleylawpllc.com

Ramsay Law Firm, P.A. 704-376-1616 www.ramsaylawfirm.com

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

The Wright Law Firm 704-332-2274 www.wright4justice.com

Network Cabling Systems, Inc. 704-523-8606 www.networkcablingsystems.com

Watson & Robinson LLP 704-333-4663

Yellow Duck Marketing, LLC 704-271-9555 www.yellowduckmarketing.com

Weaver, Bennett & Bland, PA 704-246-3552 www.wbblawyers.com

Computers/Printers/Web

William R. Echols, PLLC 704-540-2550

Adaptquest Consulting 704-968-1136

Young Law Firm, PC 803-980-2765

Allegra Print & Imaging 704-708-5818 www.allegracharlotte.com

Book Stores

Application Consultants, Inc. 704-573-7677 www.appconsultinc.com

Book Lady 704-753-1001 Lillian’s Library Antiques 704-636-4671

Applied Data Technologies 704-847-3000 www.applieddatatech.com

Shapack & Shapack, PA 704-375-7500

Main Street Books 704-892-6841

Automation Business Concepts 704-279-2535

Shawna Davis Collins 704-289-3250 www.shawnacollins.com

The Book Rack 704-544-8006 www.thebookrack.com/charlotte

Blueline Technologies 704-542-1514 www.bluelti.com

Starrett Law Firm, PLLC 704-887-4944 www.starrettlawfirm.com

Douglas H. Kim Law Firm 704-504-0962 www.douglaskimlawfirm.com Eric Montgomery 704-749-3135 www.themlawfirm.com

Synergy Legal Staffing 704-366-4540

Interamerican Sport Organization 704-201-7791 www.ligaiaso.com

Ballantyne Settlement Services, Inc. 704-752-0010

Calvin L. Brown 704-376-1521

Stone Bennett, PC 704-612-0077 www.stonebennettlaw.com

See ALL 3,000+ listings online at www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com

Communications/MediaRelated Services

Business Policy Solutions, LLC 704-921-9556 www.bpolicysolutions.com

Acceso Strategy, LLC 704-451-2124 www.accesostrategy.com

Carlisle & Gallagher Consulting Group 704-936-1600 www.cgtechnology.com

Advanced Imaging Systems 704-525-4392 www.advancedimagingsystems.net

Carolina IT Consulting, Inc. 704-577-0687 www.citconline.com vCertified MWBE Business

Resource directory presented by Wells Fargo Supplier Diversity Carolina Cartridge & Supplies 704-347-2447 www.ccsinside.com Carolina IT Consulting 704-339-2200 www.citonline.com Classic Graphics 704-597-9015 www.knowclassic.com Computech Consulting, LLC 866-631-2194 www.computech-consulting.net Computer Functions, LLC 704-333-2827 www.cfcomputerstore.com Computer Harmonie 704-607-7558 Computer House Calls 704-549-4334

Metalogix, Inc. 704-543-1616

Felecia Burridge, DDS 704-536-0811

Metrolina Printing & Promotional, LLC 704-262-3939 www.metrolinaprintpromo.com

Friendly Neighborhood Dental Center 704-494-7990 www.friendlydentalgroup.com

Millennium Business Company Jackson Orthodontics 704-464-0696 704-523-2764 www.drjacksonsmiles.com JJ Computer Services Kathleen Boyd, DDS, 704-542-6254 MS, DDS, PA Limelight Web Development 704-637-3636 704-644-3737 Luong-Huy Le, DDS Newton IT Services 704-295-0151 704-561-7099 Lynne Murchison Cadieu, DDS www.newtonits.com 704-365-6505 Paperless Digital Matthews Periodontics Solutions, LLC 704-847-5657 704-357-8881 www.matthewsperio.com www.usascanning.com

Webber Dentistry 704-332-5848, 704-392-9357 www.webberdentistry.com Xin Chen, DDS English-Chinese 704-405-5690 Young & Polite Children’s Dentistry 980-245-3451 www.youngandpolite.com

Ethnic Food Items/ Grocery Stores A&A International Food 704-531-1151 A1 Express Mart 704-735-8621 A1 Stop Food Store 704-347-1747

Copy Cat Instant Printing of Charlotte 704-529-6606 www.copycatsouth.com

PK Technical Services, LLC 704-287-4209 www.pktechservices.com

Michael Stout Dentistry 704-332-7737 www.michaelstoutdentistry.com

CPI Training Solutions Inc. 704-358-3383 www.solutionsrus.com

Provish Consulting, Inc. 980-297-4855 www.provish.com

Minh Oai Vo, DDS 704-364-6666

Ann Doa Sakura Oriental Market 704-525-9840

Dat-A-Syst, Inc. 704-523-3548 www.datasyst.net

Regal Finance, Inc. 704-882-3933 www.theregalgroup.com

Monique D. McEachern DDS, PLL 704-971-7272

Bharat Bazaar 704-494-4845 www.bharatbazaarcharlotte.com

Nguyen Nguyen, DDS 704-910-4720

C and J Super Discount Groceries and General Merchandise 704-445-1400

ESoucre Systems and Integration 704-895-3520 www.esandi.com Frontline Consulting Services 704-510-1998 www.fcs-inc.com GDKN Corporation 704-491-3133 Global Networkers 704-343-0094 www.globalnetworkers.com Hardison Cartridge, LLC 704-334-5844 www.hardisoncartridge.com I.T.E., LLC 704-568-6863 Irvin Networks, LLC 888-775-1115 www.irvin-networks.com

Seloc Design, LLC 704-488-2668 Sirian Technologies, Inc. 704-607-9097 www.siriantec.com SMS Tech Solutions, LLC 704-545-5603 www.smstechsolutions.com

Rolle Oral & Facial Surgery 704-892-9500 www.rolleoralfacialsurgery.com

Zenmonics, Inc. 704-971-7315 www.zenmonics.com

Sandra Merrill, MD 704-684-0195

Compare Foods 704-536-3176 www.comparesupermarkets.com

Sandy Stovall, DDS 704-549-5600

Corner Store 2 803-366-3116

SouthEnd Dentistry 704-335-8266 www.southendsmiles.com

Eang-Hong Grocery & Fresh Seafood 704-566-1272

Smile Family Dentistry 704-549-1199 www.Smile4ucharlotte.com

International Super Market 704-509-1799

Dentists/Orthodontists AAA Dental Office 704-364-6666

Carmel Commons Dental & Imaging 704-540-2443 www.carmelcommonsdental.com

vCertified MWBE Business

Central Oriental Market 704-532-9888

Xtramile Soft, LLC 704-699-9912 www.xtramilesoft.com

Laury Controls & Design 704-785-6788 www.laurycontrols.com

Newton IT Services 704-561-7099 www.newtonits.com

Regina Henderson, DDS 704-503-0202

Central Market 704-567-2071 www.mycentralmarket.com

Renda L. Welch, DDS 704-786-9123

Carlos A. Sanchez, DDS 704-938-7505

Network Cabling Systems 704-523-8606 www.networkcablingsystems.com

Pompeii Dentistry 704-662-6020

Carolina Smoothies 704-358-0006

Synergy Network Concepts 704-333-1996

JCMR Technology, Inc. 704-562-6120 www.jcmr.net

Logical Advantage, LLC 704-606-8479 www.logicaladvantage.com

Orthodontic Care 704-509-4999 www.drcooperortho.com

Anderson Deli 803-325-2977

Dasling Dentistry 704-594-9250 www.daslingdentistry.com Derek C. Barnes, DDS 704-849-6700 www.drderekbarnes.com Diane E. Haberl, DDS 704-663-3001

Susan M. Collins, DMD 803-324-3277 Steven Ghim, DDS 704-293-0213

Cilnecerea 704-569-0132

LaBella Estrella 704-569-1899 Lucky Oriental Grocery 704-568-8666

New Century University Pediatric Dentistry 704-921-1716 704-688-1664 www.universitypediatricdentistrync.com Ole Mexican Foods 704-587-1763 U. Phillip Igbinadolor Organic Marketplace & Associates 704-864-0605 704-494-8484 www.organicmarketplacenc.com www.upidental.com www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com

ResourceListings Oriental Food Market, Inc. 704-537-4281 Overseas Oriental Food 704-522-9111 Passmore Grocery 803-328-1541 Plaza Sundries 704-333-2652 The Corner Store 704-888-4046

Events/Party Planning Blessed Occasion Event Planner 704-697-8200 Botanica Lights, LLC 704-737-0962 www.botanicalights.com Creative Catering 704-373-2900 www.creativecateringinc.net Events & Celebrations, Inc. 704-246-7619 www.eventscelebrations.com It’s My Affair 704-394-4928 www.itsmyaffair.com

First Personal Financial Services, Inc. 704-374-0646 www.rinehartassociates.com Freedom Financial Advantage, LLC 704-905-9867 www.freedomfinancialadvantage.com The Henderson Financial Group, Inc. 704-749-3830 J. Mattier & Associates 704-919-0507 www.jmattier.com Lex, Inc. 704-503-7412 Mechanics & Farmers 704-332-2121 www.mfbonline.com Network Financial Strategies 704-373-2525 www.network-financial.com

Fit4Life 704-491-2216 www.tiffanysfit4life.com MLB Mobile Fitness 336-669-7120 N’Shape with ’N 704-334-4848 www.nshapewithn.com Shabaka Body of Your Dreams Studio 704-449-1476 www.bodyofyourdreamsstudio.com The Yoga Center 704-372-4289

Jewell Treats 704-371-4949 www.jewelltreats.com Kai’s Kookies & More 980-819-8256 www.kaiskookies.com Luckey Cupcakes 704-677-4438 www.luckeycupcakes.com Nona’s Sweets 704-717-6144 www.nonassweets.com Sadie’s Soulful Southern Experience 704-532-5570 SouthernCakeQueen 704-287-8314 www.southerncakequeen.com

Rose & Associates Southeast 704-896-0094 www.roseassociates.com

Food/Catering/ Food Trucks

Wingzza 704-737-1040 www.wingzzatruck.com

Shear Expressions, Inc. 704-847-8571

A. Oronde Culinary Services 704-819 3251 www.aoronde.com

Graphic Design

Personal Dynamics 704-366-9555

Terry Spicer Enterprises 704-953-2445

The Main Event 704-332-5819 www.themaineventnc.com

US Financial Alliance Consultants 704-887-9710

Tribble Creative Group 704-376-1943 www.tribblecreativegroup.com

Wealth Builders 704-890-2522, 877-279-9922

Anderson, Campbell, & Associates 704-777-1122 www.acassociates.us

Energyve Fitness 704-763-6556 www.energyve.com

Howard & Howard Event Planning and Chef Services 704-332-5777, 888-609-2350 www.howardandhowardevents.com

Work Physiology Associates, Inc. 704-965-6697 www.workpa.com

The Stock People, Inc. 704-215-4690 www.thestockpeople.com

Financial Services

Curves-Lucy Hall 704-658-1037

Prestige Capital Advisors 704-754-8765 www.prestigecaptialusa.com

Occasions Catering and Event Planning 704-333-1060 www.occasionscater.com

Wadsworth Estate 704-332-3050 www.wadsworthestate.com

Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. 704-909-2855 www.woodburyfinancial.net Worth Financial Advisory Group 704-731-0121 www.worthadvisors.com

Fitness/Wellness

Big “L” Enterprises 704-392-8717 Bushelle Seasonings, Inc. 704-947-0056 www.bushelleseasonings.com Cake and Craft Creations 704-577-4400 Cakes By Bela 704-506-3771 www.cakesbybela.com Catering By Tara 704-492-3791 www.cateringbytara.com Charleston House Catering 704-837-6187 www.herbin.com/charlestonhouse.html Courtney Paul Chocolates 704-629-8824 www.courtneypaulchocolates.com

The Southern Gourmet 704-849-SOGO (7646) www.thesoutherngourmet.net

Brinkley Design, Inc. 704-372-8666 www.brinkleydesign.com CM Design Associates 704-771-3425 www.cmdesignassociates.com Creative Thinking 803-467-1140 Jervay Agency, LLC 704-780-7004 www.thejervayagency.com Kineta Corp. 704-752-9094 www.kinetacorp.com Lkblake Graphic Design 704-408-8865 Moonlight Creative Group 704-358-3777 www.moonlightcreative.com Moore Creative Ink, Inc. 704-726-6007 www.moorecreativeink.com

Carter Insurance 704-542-7500 www.agents.allstate.com/luthercarter-jr-charlotte-nc.html

4 Your Body, Inc. 704-200-6846 Anti-Gravity Gym 704-866-0040

Creative Catering 704-373-2900 www.creativecateringinc.net

SPARK Publications 704-844-6080 www.sparkpublications.com

Consolidated Planning 803-518-1083

Better Bodies 4 Us, LLC 980-721-1866 www.betterbodies4us.com

Essie’s Catering 803-329-2228 www.essiescatering.com

Steele Creek Printing & Design, Inc. 704-583-0600

Carl W. Jarrett 704-399-6671

FDY, Inc. 704-523-6605 www.fdyinc.com

TC Design Solutions, Inc. 704-971-7854 www.tcdesignsolutions.biz

Heaven Sent Catering 704-399-0088 www.heavensentcatering.net

Virtual Illustrations 704-287-7023 www.virtualillustrations.com

Cosmos Financials 704-890-6000 www.cosmosfinancials.com First Legacy Community Credit Union 704-375-5781 www.firstlegacyfcu.org 42

Resource directory presented by Wells Fargo Supplier Diversity

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

Core Elevation Fitness & Wellness 980-355-4502 www.ce-fit.net

vCertified MWBE Business

ResourceListings

Resource directory presented by Wells Fargo Supplier Diversity

Vistec Graphx, Inc. 704-377-6626

JP Chiropractic & Posture 704-841-1701

Wyatt Design, Inc. 704-542-0205

vLancaster One Medical 803-286-5700 www.lancasteronemed.com

Zuri Creative Services 704-380-0278 www.zuri-creative.com

Health Care/Medical Advantage Vision Center 704-375-3935 www.advantagevisioncenter.net Americare Health 704-941-2080 Arboretum Obstetrics & Gynecology 704-341-1103, 704-841-7225 www.arboretumobgyn.com

vLaser Studio, PA 704-664-4247 www.mdlaserstudio.com vMount Holly Eye Clinic, Inc. 704-822-0099 www.mounthollyeyeclinic.com Nguyen TA Pediatrics 704-554-8880 PrimeCare Medical Center 704-335-0806 www.primecaremed.org vPrimary Health-Care of Charlotte, PA 704-347-1172 www.getwellnesscare.com

vBarbara G Green Physical Therapy 704-377-0020 Starks Pediatrics www.barbaragreenphysicaltherapy.com 704-717-2826 www.starkspediatrics.com Carolinas Eye Center 704-510-3100 vTotal Touch Therapeutic www.carolinaseyecenter.com Massage 704-720-7354 vCarol Zoret, MD 704-543-4058 vCarolina Family Healthcare 704-847-4000 www.carolinafamilyhealthcare.com vCarolina Pediatric Therapy Cooperative 803-980-4900 Centers for Advanced Medicine and Clinical Research 704-895-9355 www.drbuttar.com Center for Integrative Medicine and Wellness 704-543-2325 www.medicineandwellness.com

See ALL ALL 3,000+ 3,000+ listings listings online online at at See www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com

Vector Supply Group, LLC 704-892-9347 Patterson Heating & Air 803-285-4454 PWP Contractor Services 704-829-7972 www.pwpcsi.com Refresco, PLLC www.refresco-pllc.com 704-293-8011 Superior Mechanical Systems, Inc. 704-335-1942 www.superiormsinc.com

Human Resources/ Executive Search Absolute Business Connections, Inc. 704-537-0010 www.absolutebusinessconnections.com

AccruePartners, Inc. AME Consulting Engineers, PC 704-632-9955 www.accruepartners.com 704-295-4263 www.ame-pc.com Advantage Personnel Alpine Heating/AC Service, Inc. Solutions, LLC 704-891-1580 704-821-6702 www.advantageaps.com www.alpine-heat-ac.com AT’s Heating & A/C 704-568-3147 Champion Heating & Cooling, Inc. 704-391-2077

vCenter for Personal Growth 704-655-2828 www.center-for-growth.com

Climate Control of Charlotte 704-588-2066 www.climatecontrolcharlotte.com

vCenter for Speech Excellence, Inc. 704-375-5231 www.speechexcellence.com

Commercial Controls, Inc. 704-535-1281 www.ccihvac.com

Allegiance Staffing 704-556-1770 www.allegiancestaffing.com Alpha Labor Contractors, Inc. 704-398-2741 www.alphalaborcontractors.com Before You Hire, Inc. 704-878-3600 Bergman Brothers Environmental Staffing 704-537-1230 www.bergmanbrothers.com

Corestaff Services 704-554-1960 www.corestaff.com Creative Job Search Consulting Associates, Inc. 704-236-3007 Diversant, Inc. 704-817-1329 www.diversantinc.com EPIC Placement Services 704-287-5365 www.epicplacementservices.com Ethel Harris, Inc. 704-377-8600 www.ethelharris.com Execquest, Inc. 704-871-1036 www.execquest.com Globus Consulting 704-335-0182 www.globusci.com Ifexsa Staffing Consultants 704-910-1893 www.ifexsa.com Insurance Professional Search, Inc. 704-362-5638 IST, Inc. 704-323-5637 www.ist1usa.com Integrity Staffing and Consulting 704-676-9244 J.W. Smith and Associates, LLC 919-649-4055 www.jwsmithconsulting.com Jennifer Temps, Inc. 704-510-1556 www.jennifertemps.com Kavaliro Staffing Services 704-525-3457 www.kavaliro.com

Cost Effective Maintenance, Inc. Bergman Brothers 704-332-9711 Staffing, Inc. Crawford Heating And Cooling 704-537-1230 www.bergmanbrothers.com 704-919-0340

Klydesdale, Inc. 704-846-2054

Link Staffing Services 704-525-4555 www.linkstaffing.com

Crown Clinic 704-527-5522 www.crownclinicpa.com

Environmental Heating and Air Burnett Resources, Inc. 888-237-4108 704-910-2692 www.burnettresources.com Gordon’s Heating & A/C C.T. & Associates 704-370-7789 704-372-4046 McKenney’s Mechanical Cato’s EEO Consulting 704-357-1616 704-537-1014 www.mckenneys.com

vCynthia Busher 704-522-8300 www.cynthiabusher.com

Native Air Heating & Air Condition, LLC 704-824-0380

Career Match Solutions 888-570-8837, 813-412-6560 www.careermatchsolutions.com

Medical Administrative Solutions 980-721-9764 www.mas-cpdomg.com

Jenny Thao Ngo OB/GYN Certified Nurse Midwife 704-536-7233

Norcor Tech. Corp. 704-309-4101 www.norcortechnologies.com

CEO, Inc. 704-372-4701 www.ceohr.com

Metro Staffing 704-535-3559 www.metrostaffingservice.com

Central Care Clinic 704-567-8218 vCharlotte Premiere Health Care, PLLC 704-510-4366 www.premiere-health.com Charlotte Primary Care 704-342-8115

Heating and Air Conditioning

Compass Career Management Solutions 704-849-2500 www.compasscareer.com

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

Kmapp Solutions, LLC 704-847-8006

Magic Touch, Inc. 704-363-0781 Mann Staffing, Inc. 704-944-9100

vCertified MWBE Business

Resource directory presented by Wells Fargo Supplier Diversity

MP International Service, Inc. 704-634-4201 MPS Staffing Agency 704-679-9200 Multilingual Placement Service 704-788-2558 On Site Testing 704-521-5390 Patriot Services, Inc. 704-846-0887 www.patriotservicestriad.com Performance Staffing Solutions, Inc. 704-927-1477 www.performss.com PrideStaff 704-817-3980 www.pridestaff.com Pro Labor Power 704-491-0678 Public Data Works, Inc. 888-725-4456 www.publicdataworks.com QCentric Consultants 336-324-5591 www.qcentricconsultants.com Quality Personnel 704-332-2527 Reliance One, Inc. 704-625-0754 www.reliance-one.com Resources Employment Services, Inc. 704-846-0887 www.resourcesemployment.com

Insurance Services

AVON Products Myriam Gladney 704-814-7318

Altmann & Porter Insurance 704-795-9001 www.altmannporter.com

Beauty & Body Rituals 704-568-5458 www.bbrituals.com

Carolina Insurance School, Inc. 704-489-9440 www.carolinainsuranceschool.com

Bon Maison Properties 704-541-2500

Kubota Music Productions 803-810-0343

Carnitas Guanajuato Mexican Restaurant 704-563-1651 www.carnitasmexican.com

La Noticia, The SpanishLanguage Newspaper 704-568-6966 www.lanoticia.com

Celia Estrada Realtors 704-335-4400

La Patisserie Bakery, Cafe and Catering 704-779-1631

Carolyn Green, Lutcf 704-504-0564 www.allstateagencies.com/ carolyngreen/welcome

Colon Annie Insurance Agency Cloud 9 Confections & Bakery 704-332-1221 704-334-7554 Dawn Johnson Agency www.cloud9confections.com 803-980-1414 ColombiaCharlotte.com Group Insurance 704-890-6099 Solutions, Inc. www.colombiacharlotte.com 704-543-9314 Concepcion Barajas Painting www.groupinsurancesolutions.com 704-557-5072 Hayes Insurance Agency Criss Cross Mangosauce, LLC 704-545-3337 888-448-6762 www.hayesinsuranceagent.com www.ccmangosauce.com Kotka Group, Inc. CSB Promo 704-366-7043 704-708-5088 Landmark Insurance Agency www.csbpromo.com 704-633-7283 Desing and Decorations Lee Linda Vibbert Insurance, Inc. 704-400-3332 704-545-2454 East Coast Realty Group www.lvibbertinsurance.com 704-287-2969 Preferred Adjusters of Eden Flowers the Carolinas, Inc. 704-905-6313 704-529-1017 www.preferred-adjusters.com El Progreso Hispano Newspaper 704-529-6624

Sign World, Inc. 704-529-4440 www.consultsa.com

Prestige Insurance Agency, Inc. 704-321-3900 www.prestigeinsagency.com

Social Work Staffing Services 704-717-8922 www.swstaffingservices.com

Rankin Insurance Group, Inc. 704-896-9393 www.rankininsurancegroup.com

Elite Touch Cleaning Services, Inc. 704-606-3509

Stower’s Professionals 704-222-3344 Touch, Inc. 704-596-6036

Latin American Chamber Charlotte

Transamerica Staffing Service, Inc. 704-586-0777

1900 Mexican Grill 704-678-7070

Trinity Strategic Consulting, Inc. 704-788-6468 www.trinitystrategicconsulting.com Tru Solutions, Inc. DBA Express Personnel Services 704-971-3270 www.expresspersonnel.com Wilson Capital Management, Inc. 704-374-5522 www.wcmfirm.com Workforce Integration, Inc. 704-896-3110 vCertified MWBE Business

A&C Stone Masonry 704-588-3481 Allstate-Alvarado Insurance Agency, LLC 704-846-9700 www.agents.allstate.com/j-calvarado-charlotte-nc1.html Apex Exterminating, Inc. 803-979-7556 Arronte Law Firm, PLLC 704-774-6292 www.arronte.com AVON Products - Cynthia Garcia 704-999-5581

El Soplon Deportivo 704-238-0260

Esperanza Es Vida 704-449-6960 Fast Signs 704-531-8000 www.fastsigns.com

JDC Construction 980-721-2882 Johamar, Tires/Wheels 704-651-3671 Juanita’s Bakery 704-523-0020

LaCa Projects 704-837-1688 Las Delicias Bakery, Inc. 704-568-2120 Latorre Insurance Group 704-566-8181 www.latorreinsurance.com LaTorres Disco 704-377-4448 www.latorresdisco.com Law Offices of Stefan R. Latorre, PA 704-344-0004 www.latorrelaw.com Linzac Corporation, Inc. 704-307-0551 Mundo Uniforms, LLC 704-287-1527 Neighboring Concepts 704-374-0916 www.neighboringconcepts.com Optimum Income Property 888-294-9998 www.optimumincomeproperty.com Parks Insurance Group 704-831-6677 Pio Pio Peruvian 704-541-4235 Precise Translating, LLC 704-488-5584 Premier Home Healthcare Services 704-521-4901

Fiesta Maya Mexican Restaurant Puente Media Solutions 704-509-9402 704-576-4492 Fig’s Auto Repair www.puentemediasolutions.com 704-399-5808 Punta Cana Grill www.figsautorepair.com 704-529-3599 Ganetti, Inc. Que Pasa Mi Gente Newspaper 704-804-2003 704-319-5044 Heits Building Services www.quepasamedia.com 704-535-2852 Rent@meUSA House of Bartlett, PA 980-355-9696 704-375-6101 www.rentameusa.com HPS, Inc. 704-552-8077

Rooster Communications 336-210-3806

Into Languages Global 704-408-3132 www.intolanguagesglobal.com

Royal Roofing, LLC 704-634-4622 www.royalroofingusa.com www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com

ResourceListings Sign Connection 704-868-4500 Talent Hired, LLC 704-978-9187 The Artistic Gourmet/Gelitas 704-877-2464 USTT, Inc. 704-676-0990 Why Not Pizza 704-536-0891

The Lyerly Agency 704-525-3937 www.lyerly.com Mansion-Hughes Enterprises, Inc. 704-335-0770 Mythic Advertising & Marketing 704-227-0700 MC3 Sports & Entertainment 704-395-4706

Radio One — Old School 105.3, Praise 100.9FM 704-548-7800 www.oldschool1053.com www.praisecharlotte.com The Charlotte Post 704-376-0496 www.thecharlottepost.com The Latin Focus 704-909-7945 www.thelatinfocus.com

Photography/Aerial/ Commercial Avioimage Mapping Services, Inc. 704-573-7080 www.avioimage.com Alex Newton Photography 704-491-8338

Today’s Charlotte Woman 704-677-9159 www.todayscharlottewoman.com

Donna Jernigan Photography, Inc. 704-364-1215 www.jerniganphoto.com

WGIV —103.3FM, 1370 AM 980-297-7256 www.wgivcharlotte.com

Edison’s Photographics 704-333-0123 www.edisonsphotographics.com

Queen & Associates 704-345-7021

Mental Health

721im Interactive Marketing 704-759-6483 www.721im.com

Trueblue Management Group 864-406-9881 www.truebluemanagementgroup.com

Essential Assessments & Behavioral Health 980-939-5099 www.essentialhealthnc.com

Graceful Imagery 704-491-6060 www.gracefulimageryphotos.com

AC & M Group 704-697-4400 www.acmconnect.com

Unlimited Vision Promotional, Inc. 704-846-9122

Apple Rock Displays 704-598-4920 www.applerock.com

Unique Investments, Inc. 704-665-8231

Windsor Jewelers 704-556-7747 www.windsor-jewelers.com Yamada Dobby America 801-787-4164

Marketing/Public Relations

Brand Central 704-614-2786 www.brandcentralpromotions.com Catch Creative 980-322-3418 www.catchnc.com CGR Creative 704-334-2232 www.cgrcreative.com Cohesion Marketing & PR 704-296-2174 www.cohesionmrktg.com Digital Divas 201-304-2933 www.digitaldivasevents.com Eaddy, Perry & Associates, Inc. 704-965-6956 www.eaddyperry.com Golden Crest Executive Consulting, LLC 704-408-9606 www.goldencrestexecutive.com HDS Manufactures Representatives 704-504-1032 www.hdsreps.com IT Factor 310-910-1837 www.theitfactormedia.com

Resource directory presented by Wells Fargo Supplier Diversity

Overflow Printing, Inc. 704-333-3553 www.overflowprinting.com Pride Public Relations 704-375-9553 www.pridepr.net

Media/Magazines/ Newspapers/Radio Asian Herald 704-334-3450 www.asianherald.org CJ Ramirez 704-377-5987 www.cjramirez.com La Noticia 704-568-6966 www.lanoticia.com Lake Norman Currents 704-749-8788 www.lncurrents.com Lake Norman Woman 704-895-6168 www.lakenormanwoman.com LaRaza — 106.1FM 704-579-1828 www.larazalaraza.com Mi Gente 704-319-5044 migenteweb.com Norsan Media 704-442-7277 www.norsanmedia.com Qcitymetro.com 704-442-1565 Qcitymetro.com

LDR Marketing 704-615-6893

Qué Pasa Media 704-319-5044 www.quepasamedia.com

Lockman-Brooks Marketing Services 704-944-3188 www.lockmanbrooks.com

Pride Communications/ Pride Magazine 704-375-9553 www.pridemagazine.net

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

JB Long Photography 803-517-7159 www.jblongphotography.com

The FMRT Group 866-761-0764 www.fmrt.com

JP Media and Sound 704-942-1324 www.jpmediaandsound.com

Life Enhancement Services 704-342-9595 www.lifeenhancementservices.org Me’lange Health Solutions 704-567-8690 www.melangehs.com

Joanna Dehart Photography 704-545-5850 www.joannadehartphotography.com

Office Supplies/Services Aaron Rents 877-607-9999 www.aaronrents.com Advanced Imaging Systems 800-332-6793 www.advancedimaging.net American Product Distributors, Inc. 800-849-5842 www.americanproduct.com Beardsley Office Solutions, LLC 704-395-3081 www.bosrepair.com Carolina Marking Devices 770-525-7600 www.caromark.com Debriants Office Service 800-279-8161 www.debriants.com

Optometrists

Lisa Adams Photography 704-334-3231 www.lisaadamsphotography.com Media Arts Collectives, LLC 704-746-9566 www.mac330.com On Demand Photography 704-391-7361 www.ondemandphotography.com Photographic Elegance, Inc. 704-598-9099 www.photographicelegance.net Photography By Annell 704-847-8281 www.photographybyannell.com PPT Photography 704-293-7459 www.pptphotography.net Rob Armstrong Photography 704-904-3466 www.robarmstrongphotography.com The Sanborn Map Company, Inc. 704-347-4552 www.sanborn.com Timeless Arts, LLC 803-493-7086 www.timelessartsonline.com

Advantage Vision Center 704-375-3935 www.advantagevisioncenter.net Fort Mill Vision Center 803-547-5547 www.fortmillvision.com

See ALL ALL 3,000+ 3,000+ listings listings online online at at See www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com vCertified MWBE Business

Strengthening our supply chain through diversity. Good for our community. Good for our customers. Good for business. We recognize that having a diverse supplier base supports Belkâ€™s focus to build an inclusive culture that celebrates diversity and helps us be the best of the best in the communities where we live, work and play. Weâ€™re making that happen by aligning ourselves with qualified minority- and women-owned business enterprises that are able to provide Belk with innovative solutions. Belk, Inc. is the nationâ€™s largest family owned and operated department store company.

Visit us at Belk.com/getconnected

ResourceListings

Resource directory presented by Wells Fargo Supplier Diversity

Plumbers

Classic Graphics 704-597-9015 www.knowclassic.com

Junk King 704-469-4815 www.charlotte.junk-king.com

Agua Source 704-831-8311 www.aguasourcellc.com

Copy Cat Instant Printing of Charlotte, Inc. 704-529-6606

Mar’s Recycling & Shredding 704-549-8409

Burris Plumbing 704-510-2123

Delargy’s Office Office Supply, Inc. 704-597-1422 www.delargysop.com

Dependable Plumbing 704-982-6938 Heyworth Plumbing 704-523-2696 www.heyworthplumbing.com

Imperial Printing Products Co., Inc. 704-554-1188 www.imperialprinting.com

K-MAR Plumbing Company 704-241-7908

Lake Printing and Design 704-895-3878 www.lakeprinting.biz

MRL Plumbing, LLC 803-980-7180 www.mrlplumbingllc.com National Plumbing Solutions 704-309-9565 Neely Brothers Construction Plumbing, LLC 803-322-1065 New Millennium Plumbing, LLC 704-309-9565 Pay Less Plumbing 704-393-9032 Purity Systems 704-309-6706 Quality Drain Cleaning & Plumbing Repair 704-231-1531 Reed’s Plumbing Company 704-399-7785 Rooter Man 704-647-0105

Printers Action Graphics 704-332-1164 www.actionprints.com Allegra Marketing & Print 704-708-5818 www.allegracharlotte.com American Labels & Printing 704-798-0638 Bantra Corporation 704-372-3400 BEC Car Printing Co., Inc. 704-873-1911 www.beccarprinting.com Carolina Cartridge & Supplies, Inc. 704-347-2447 www.ccs-ink.com

Marie’s Print Shop, Inc. 704-633-1125 Metrographics 704-375-2474 www.metrographicsprinters.com

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

Remodeling Do It All Interiors Remodeling & Renovations 704-492-9741 www.doitallinteriors.webs.com Free Agent Electric 704-502-4677 Jubilee Diversified Services 980-253-3219 www.jubileediversifiedservices.com

My Home Repair & Remodeling Co. Mid-Carolina Reprographics, LLC 704-956-4906 704-529-0612 Skyeline Construction, LLC www.midcarolinareprographics.com 704-890-2222 Precision Printing & Signs Sree Construction, Inc. 704-372-8218 704-364-6008 www.precision-prints.com Perfect Image Printing, Inc. 704-841-2466 www.perfectimagemktg.com

vToddCo Builders, Inc. 704-277-6338 www.todcobuilders.com

Proforma Impressions Group 704-575-2743 www.proforma.com/impressionsgroup

Restaurants

Pyramid Printing & Graphics, Inc. Asian 704-536-9027 88 China Bistro www.pyramidprintingink.com 704-335-0288 Rainbow Printing Co. www.88chinabistro.com 704-861-1820 Ben Thánh Vietnamese Richa Graphics Restaurant 704-331-9744 704-566-1088 www.richa.com www.benthanhcharlotte.com Squeegee Tees & More, Inc. Cuisine Malaya 704-888-0336 704-372-0766 Tower Guys, Inc. www.cuisinemalaya.com 704-845-1004 www.towerguysinc.com Dim Sum 704-569-1128 Vision Envelope 704-392-9090 DragonFly 704-527-3868 Vision Forms & Supplies, LLC 704-940-0741 Fujo Uptown Bistro 704-954-0087 www.fujobistro.com Publishing/Self-

Publishing Books

SPARK Publications 704-844-6080 www.sparkpublications.com

Recycling/Junk Removal/Shredding C & M Recycling, Inc. 704-599-1771 www.gotsomeconcret.com

See ALL 3,000+ listings online atat SeeALL ALL3,000+ 3,000+listings listingsonline onlineat See www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com

Mid-Atlantic Environmental, Inc. 704-489-6709

Hawk Sanitation & Recycling, Inc. 704-376-4295 www.hawksanitation.com

Golden Taipei 704-494-8688 www.goldentaipeinc.com House of Leng 980-207-3518 704-510-5081 www.houseofleng.com Nikko Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar 704-370-0100 www.nikkosushibar.net Soho Bistro 704-333-5189 www.sohobistro2go.com

Shun Lee Palace, Inc. 704-366-2025 Ishi Restaurant 704-921-9219 www.allmenus.com/nc/ charlotte/44319-ishi/menu Tin Tin Park Road 704-341-2293

Caribbean Anntony’s Caribbean 704-598-6863 www.anntonys.com

Indian Copper Cuisine of India 704-333-0063 www.copperrestaurant.com Jaipur Indian Restaurant 704-643-1421 www.jaipur-indian.com Maharani Indian Cuisine 704-370-2455 www.maharaniindiancuisine.com Saffron Indian Restaurant 980-297-7722 www.saffron-cuisine.com

Mexican Azteca Mexican Restaurant 704-525-5110 www.aztecarestaurantcharlotte.com Cantina 1511 704-331-9222 www.cantina1511restaurant.com Don Pedro Mexican Restaurant 704-921-2414 www.donpedrorestaurant.com Three Amigos Mexican Grill & Cantina 704-536-1851 www.threeamigoscharlotte.com Monterrey 704-593-0167 www.monterreyuncc.com

Organic/Vegan Luna’s Living Kitchen 704-333-0008 www.lunaslivingkitchen.com

Southern/Soul Food Bobbee O’s BBQ 704-509-6902 www.bobbeeosbbq.com Chicken Box 704-566-6000 www.thechickenboxsoulfood.com La’wan’s Soul Food Restaurant 704-665-7225 www.lawans.com Mert’s Heart & Soul 704-342-4222 www.mertscharlotte.com Price’s Chicken Coop 704-333-9866 www.priceschickencoop.com vCertified MWBE Business

We’re all heading in the same direction. When it comes to diversity, I have a saying: gumbo is the best-tasting soup. The diversity of ingredients makes it so delicious. Why should it be any different in the workplace? Compass Group evaluates you by your performance and commitment, not your nationality or ethnicity. No matter where any of us comes from, we’re all heading in the same direction – up!

Charles Senior Patient Service Manager, Morrison Father

•

Football Fan

•

Coach

www.compass-usa.com

S E N I O R

L I V I N G

ResourceListings Simmons Soul Food 704-334-6640

Thai Thai House 704-717-8006 704-542-6300 www.thaihouse.us.com Thai Orchid 704-469-4465 www.thaiorchidrestaurantcharlotte.com Thai Taste 704-332-0001 www.thaitastecharlotte.com

Other

Security Plus Protective Services, Inc. 704-201-9724 Security Solutions Group & Investigative Services 336-306-5545 www.ssgis.com vSoutheastern Company Police, Inc. 704-394-1500 www.secpd.com Touch Attention Protective Services (TAPS) 704-493-5740

Signs

Los Paisas (Colombian) 704-542-5477 www.lospaisasrestaurant.com

Bunn Barber Specialties 704-545-8002 www.bbunnspecialties.com

Meskerem (Ethiopian) 704-335-1197 www.meskeremincharlotte.com

Creative Enterprising 803-283-4688 www.creative-enterprising.com

Security Alarms and Services ADM Security Systems, Inc. 704-363-5179 Alpha Alarm Systems, Inc. 704-598-5829 www.alphasecurity.us Creative Enhancements 704-728-5921 www.creativeenhancements.net vHarrisburg Security, Inc. 704-789-3535 www.harrisburgsecurity.com Innovative Security Solutions 704-634-7360 Keyper Systems 704-455-9400 www.keypersystems.com Kodiak Special Police and Security, LLC 980-230-4171 www.kodaikspecialpolice.com Landmark Security, Inc. 704-527-7756 www.landmarksecurityinc.com vLifeGuard Protective Services, Inc. 704-201-9724 www.lifeguardprotective.com

Resource directory presented by Wells Fargo Supplier Diversity

DAWA, Inc. 704-322-3094 www.dawainc.com FastSigns - S. Tryon 704-527-9102 www.fastsigns.com/176 Graphical Creations, Inc. 704-888-8870 www.graphi-cal.com McCallum Sales, Inc. 704-377-2367 www.mccallumsales.com Petrie Sign Installation 704-599-6977 Pronto Signs 704-890-4554 www.prontosignsus.com Quality Neon, Inc. 704-598-2256 www.qualityneoninc.com Rutherford Media Group, Inc. 704-373-2522 www.rutherfordmedia.com

Tax Return Preparation ABC Tax Services 704-735-7900 Accounting Associates 704-864-0284 Accounting Payroll & Taxes, Inc. 704-482-1722

Video Production CJ Ramirez 704-377-5987 www.cjramirez.com Civilized Films, Inc. 704-904-6368 www.civilizedfilms.com Digital Oasis, LLC 704-348-4412

Angel E Guadalupe & Assoc. 704-531-3090

Kinloch Productions, Inc. 704-455-6836 www.kinloch-tv.com

Burchett Financial Services 704-549-9401 www.burchettfinancial.com

M.G.R. Productions, Inc. 704-948-6597 www.hoovers.com

Bustle Tax Service 704-873-3946

Narcel Reedus Film Media 404-405-1229 www.narcelreedus.com

D.W. Tax Service 704-847-9313 H&R Block 803-222-7468 Liberty Tax Service 704-948-1646 704-373-1343 704-779-4376 www.libertytax.com Lucas Tax & Energy Consulting 704-968-5506 www.lucastaxandenergy.com Marilynn Allred (H&R Block) 704-827-5761 Storey’s Tax Bookkeeping & Secretarial 704-865-0210 www.storeystaxservice.com TaxPro 1000 Instant Tax Centers 704-596-3400 www.taxpro1000.com

Phase2Productions 704-562-9161 www.kimbrattain.com Rutherford Media Group 704-373-2522 SL Media Productions 704-451-3566 The Inertia Group 704-301-2551 www.inertia-group.com

Web Design 721im Interactive Marketing 704-759-6483 www.721im.com ASKI Services Company US, LLC 704-597-2419 www.askimore.biz Cohesion Marketing & Consulting 704- 980-2932 www.cohesiondelivers.com

Village Tax Service 704-695-1201

CT Technology 704-563-9905

Sign Innovations 704-375-2338 www.signinnovations.com

Taxis

Sign of The Times, Inc. 704-536-9229

1st Choice Transportation Services, Inc. 704-537-1819 www.1stchoicetsps.com

Eastonsweb Multimedia 704-607-0941 www.eastonsweb.com

Signs, ETC of Charlotte 704-522-8860 www.signsetcofcharlotte.com

vOpsec International, LLC 704-222-1920 www.opsecintl.com

Signs by Tomorrow of Rock Hill, SC 803-981-9400 www.signsbytomorrow.com

Professional Protection, Inc. 704-523-1660 www.ppi-inc.net

Signz, Inc. 704-824-7446 www.signsnow.com

Professional Security Services 704-442-9499 www.pssprotection.com

Street Sweeping/ Parking Lots

SAF Technologies, Inc. 704-844-0955 www.saftechnologies.com

A + Power Sweepers & Pressure Washing 704-921-6732

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

Supreme Sweepers, LLC 888-698-9996 www.supremesweepers.com

Genniweb, Inc. 704-948-5347 www.genniweb.com

A & S Taxi 704-938-5440

MKE Project Services 980-254-6886

A Plus Taxi 704-829-0017

New Creations Enterprises, LLC 704-971-7854

Crown Cab Company, Inc. 704-334-6666 www.crowncabinc.com

NHP Productions 704-865-0373 www.noharm.com

Luxury Transportation 704-458-9126 Omera Benson 704-449-8506 Prestige Wheelchair Transportation 704-332-3939

Guinea Fowl, by Passmore Mupindika

See ALL ALL 3,000+ 3,000+ listings listings online online at at See www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com vCertified MWBE Business

Discovery Place Bank of America STEM Center for Career Development

Signature Healthcare Uptown

Central Piedmont Community College Academic Building Discovery Place STEM Center [correct name]

Sea Life Charlotte-Concord BB&T Ballpark, Home of the Charlotte Knights

Rodgers is proud to partner with diverse businesses to build excitement, engagement, and opportunities that enrich our community. RodgersBuilders.com

ResourceListings

Resource directory presented by Wells Fargo Supplier Diversity

STP Ventures, LLC 704-305-6217 www.stpventures.com

Charlotte International Cabinet 704-336-2174 www.charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cic

The Anstad Group 704-208-8304 www.anstad.com

Charlotte International Women’s Club 704-246-7619

Zuri Creative Services 704-380-0278 www.zuri-creative.com

Chinese-American Association of Charlotte 704-877-6759 704-307-5866 www.charlottechinese.com

Nonprofits Chambers of Commerce vCarolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce 866-937-2742 www.caacc.com Charlotte Business Guild (LGBT Community) 704-750-5224 www.charlottebusinessguild.org Charlotte Chamber 704-378-1300 www.charlottechamber.com Charlotte-Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce

704.378.1369 www.cmbcc.org

Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte 704-343-2525 www.lacccharlotte.com

Business & Civic Organizations 100 Black Men of Charlotte 704-375-7300 www.100blackmenofcharlotte.org

Crossroads Charlotte 704-973-4577 www.crossroadscharlotte.org Diversity Council of the Carolinas 704-338-1888 www.c-dcc.org The Diversity Forum 704-405-0607 www.thediversityforum.org eWomen Network 704-560-6788 www.ewomennetwork.com Filipino-American Community www.facc-charlotte.com German Language and Culture Foundation 704-372-2172 x 202 www.germanfoundation.com Hispanic Contractors Association of the Carolinas 704-583-4184 www.hcacarolinas.org Hmong Community 828-327-6137 www.hmongcarolinas.com Indonesian American Association of the Carolina 704-458-8532 India Association 704-545-3727

vInnerVision, Inc. 704-377-5042 Altrusa International of Charlotte www.innervisionnc.org 980-229-3110 Internal Revenue www.altrusa.com Service-Charlotte 704-548-4100 American Business Women’s www.irs.gov Association Charlotte Charter Chapter Korean Association 704-953-6169 704-214-0860 www.charlottekoreans.com Black Women’s Caucus of Lao American Association Charlotte-Mecklenburg www.laoamericanassociation. 704-336-7118 webs.com Business and Professional Women’s Club-Metrolina Chapter www.mbpw.org info@mbpw.org Carolinas Association of Black Women Entrepreneurs, Inc. 704-333-1690 Democratic Women of Mecklenburg County 704-525-5843 52

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

Latin American Coalition 704-531-3848 www.latinamericancoalition.org Latin American Women’s Association 704-552-1003 www.lawanc.org League of Women Voters of Charlotte-Mecklenburg 704-556-4600 www.goleaguego.org

Lesbian & Gay Community Center of Charlotte 704-333-0144 www.lgbtcharlotte.org Metrolina Minority Contractors Association www.mmcaofcharlotte.org N.C. Indian Economic Development Initiative, Inc. 919-232-9414 www.ncindian.com N.C. Small Business Administration (SBA) 704-344-6563 www.sba.gov/localresources/district/nc National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women’s Club-Charlotte 704-595-9473 www.nanbpwc.org National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Charlotte 704- 367-3454 www.nawbocharlotte.org

All We Want Is Love 704-625-6263 www.allwewantislove.org Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency www.carolinarefugee.com 704-535-8803 Center of Hope/ Salvation Army (Shelter for women and children) 704-348-2560 www.salvationarmycarolinas. org/charlotte/home/ Children and Family Services Center 704-943-9400 www.childrenfamily.org Community Link 704-943-9490 www.communitylink-nc.org Crisis Assistance Ministry 704-371-3001 www.crisisassistance.org

vGirl Talk Foundation, Inc. 704-335-5885 vNational Black MBA Association — Charlotte Chapter www.girltalkfoundationinc.com 877-732-0314 vHope Haven, Inc. www.nbmbaacharlotte.org 704-372-8809 vNational Hispanic www.hopehaveninc.org Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Inc. Kicking for a Dream 704-909-7945 www.nheo.org www.kickingforadream.org Neighborhood Good Samaritan Center 704-605-6723 704-531-9989 www.ngscenter.org

Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services 704-336-3150 www.charmeck.org/ mecklenburg/county/dss

Pride Entrepreneur Education Program (PEEP) 704-375-9553 www.peepcharlotte.org

Refugee Support Services www.refugeesupportservices.org

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Republican Women www.cmrw.org SCORE 704-344-6576 www.charlottescore.org Urban Financial Services Coalition 202-289-8335 www.ufsc-charlotte.org

Safe Alliance 704-332-9034 www.safealliance.org Supportive Housing Communities 704-335-9380 www.supportivehousingcommunities.org United Way of Central Carolinas, Inc. 211 (information and referral services) 704-372-7170 www.uwcentralcarolinas.org

Urban League-Central Carolinas 704-373-2256 Urban Ministry Center 704-347-0278 www.urbanleaguecc.org www.urbanministrycenter.org Vietnamese Association www.vietcharlotte.org YMCA of Greater Charlotte Women’s InterCultural Exchange 980- 355-7000 www.wi-ce.org

704-716-6200 www.ymcacharlotte.org

Community Services A Child’s Place 704-343-3790 www.achildsplace.org

See ALL ALL 3,000+ 3,000+ listings listings online online at at See www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com vCertified MWBE Business

Going above and beyond.

Real progress starts with people who are inspired to make a difference. At Duke Energy, inspiration is our fuel. It’s what drives us to generate the power of innovation. Here’s to those who look at things differently. Those who set the example. Those who inspire and serve others. And with that, Duke Energy is proud to sponsor Pride Magazine’s Multicultural Resource Guide.

www.duke-energy.com

Zimbabwe Sculpture Exhibit June 27-September 28 Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden 6500 S. New Hope Road Belmont, NC 28012 www.DSBG.org Visit website for admission prices and hours.

Creative Arts

• Patrick Sephani and Passmore Mupindiko are working 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, with special evening events. • Dominic Benhura is in residence August 26-September 1. • Mint Museum African Art Traveling Trunk Program at DSBG And mark your calendar for this special program: September 6 — Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture Family First

Tengenenge, one of the oldest and largest artist communities in Zimbabwe, supports some 300 artists, displays some 11,000 sculptures in the open air, and features a visitor’s center and guest house.

Meet the sculptors 3 Zimbabwe artists in residence at Daniel Stowe by Angie Moses photos by Zimsculpt

aniel Stowe Botanical Garden is blooming with African art. Shipments from Zimbabwe began arriving in April, and now three resident artists are sculpting and talking with garden visitors. Patrick Sephani and Passmore Mupindiko are here through September, demonstrating how they create stone sculptures from start to finish using only hand tools. Another Zimbabwean sculptor, worldrenowned Dominic Benhura, will visit for a week at the end of August. Zimsculpt is the curator of this traveling exhibit, which has shown in other parts of the United States, England, Dubai, Bahrain and Canada. English curator Vivienne Croisette, who founded Zimsculpt in 2000, currently represents about 240 Zimbabwean artists. “Visitors to our exhibition will learn a great deal from Patrick

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and Passmore. They’ll see the skill and time it takes to make the sculptures,” says Croisette. About 100 stone sculptures, some weighing as much as a ton, along with a variety of African plants, journeyed a long way to get to DSBG. Croisette explains the artwork was transported from all over Zimbabwe to the Zimsculpt studio in Harare, where it was packed and then shipped from Zimbabwe by road to Durban in South Africa. From there it was loaded onto a ship and then spent months by sea getting to the nearest U.S. port. The sculptures arrived at the garden by truck. “We hope that, by the end of the exhibition, visitors will be inspired and engaged enough to visit Africa (if they haven’t already) and even better, visit us in Zimbabwe,” says Croisette. “At the show, you can see the importance of this art movement globally

equality.

Patrick Sephani

and the quality of the work — not tribal African, but a universal contemporary movement unique to Zimbabwe.”

Patrick Sephani: art apprenticeship and Oprah

Sephani, 34, says he likes making sculptures “that reflect the role of families in the community.” He is the product of several generations of Zimbabwean artists who mentor younger artists in their craft. In Zimbabwe, sculptors don’t learn to sculpt at art school; they learn to sculpt via apprenticeships. In Sephani’s case, he first learned to sculpt when he was 11 from a mentor named Tapfuma Gutsa, in Gutsa’s own home. Then he trained under Agnes Nyanhongo, also represented by Zimsculpt. Nyanhongo is one of Africa’s most collected artists, who learned from her father, Claude Nyanhongo one of Zimbabwe’s (then Rhodesia) most famous and esteemed first-generation sculptors. Her work is in the private collections of Oprah Winfrey and the late Maya Angelou. Today Sephani passes along his experience to his 8-year-old son and to other apprentices.

Passmore Mupindiko: the Tengenenge community

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Mupindiko, 38, who often sculpts stylized birds, first learned wood carving from Sadman Nyamhondoro and made functional items, like bowls, cutting boards and spoons. But he didn’t learn to carve stone as www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com

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Passmore Mupindiko

a full-time artist until he became part of the Tengenenge artist community. Most Zimbabwean sculptors work in artist communities like Tengenenge, which is one of the oldest and largest. Tengenenge supports some 300 artists, displays some 11,000 sculptures in the open air, and supports a visitorâ€™s center and guest house. Croisette estimates that about 20 different artist communities cluster in the north of Zimbabwe. Sculptors either rent space or give a percentage of their sales to the community. In return, they can share tools, water and electricity, collectively pay for stone mining and transport, and benefit from the one-stop shop for tourists, collectors and curators. Communities like Tengenenge allow experienced sculptors to train inexperienced ones.

Dominic Benhura: Nelson Mandela and mentoring

Benhura, 46, known for his boxy, whimsical figures, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Gallery in Harare. His work is displayed

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Dominic Benhura

permanently all over the world, including the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg, the United Nations Development program and the Atlanta airport. But instead of playing the diva, Benhura has continued giving back to the community. In 1994, he started the Dominic Studio in his own backyard, where he has mentored many aspiring artists, providing them with free stone. In 2008, he became the director of Tengenenge, taking on the burden of that community, which in recent years has seen fewer and fewer tourists and whose artists have struggled to keep their families fed. As an orphan, Benhura learned the importance of community. When his father died before he was born, his uncle took him in to live in his house, and his cousin, Tapfuma Gutsa, the same person who mentored Patrick Sephani, taught Benhura to sculpt. CMRM

Watch Patrick Sephani and Passmore Mupindiko sculpt at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden through September. Here, they pose at a recent exhibit in England.

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Creative Arts

â€˜Dances of Indiaâ€™ Maha Gingrich brings her world-acclaimed dancing, choreography to the stage by Lee McCracken photos courtesy of Dances of India

Maha Gingrich performs a solo.

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

The Unity in Diversity dance features seven international dance styles.

aha Gingrich, known in Charlotte by many as the founder of the annual spring “Dances of India” stage production, says there is more to the Indian culture than just Bollywood. “India is one of oldest cultures in the world. It has a very rich and ancient heritage, which has influenced many cultures and dance styles across the world. An internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer, Gingrich began dancing at the age of 5 in India. She trained under the direct supervision of eminent gurus, and is an exponent of Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Kathak classical dance forms, along with folk dances of India. Her proudest accomplishment is winning the Best Dancer award from the former president of India, V.V. Giri. Gingrich says her mission is “to carefully choreograph each dance to represent the ancient dances in their purest form.” She has set very high standards of training and has been teaching these untarnished dances since 1986 in the Carolinas. Beyond dancing, Gingrich also is a 2009 graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy and a member of InfraGard. “InfraGard is a partnership between the FBI and the private sector — an association of businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the United States,” she explains. “I stay up to date and inform parties accordingly to ensure our assets are protected.” Gingrich came to the United States in 1984 and moved to Charlotte in 1986. Welleducated, with both a master’s degree from Wingate University and a doctorate from UNC Greensboro, Gingrich is the international community liaison and assistant to the vice president at Central Piedmont Community College. She has extensive experience in strategic planning, student services, academic affairs, facilities planning, construction and technology planning. Two of Gingrich’s many local awards include being honored as the 2014 Woman of Distinction for Community Building and Social Capital and among the 2012 50 Most Influential Women in Mecklenburg County. She currently serves on the boards of International House and Women’s Inter-

cultural Exchange. She served on the Board of the Arts and Science Council, 20/20 Vision Plan Steering Committee, Mecklenburg Women’s Summit and was the past chair of the Charlotte International Cabinet appointed by Gov. Pat McCrory. “I have been serving on many boards to promote international understanding in Charlotte and to help these organizations to strategize their vision and mission,” says Gingrich. “Being an immigrant myself, I understand the needs of the internationals, and I strongly believe I must give back to the

Jaren Abrah am is one of M aha Gingrich’s da nce students.

community that gave me so much, otherwise I am not using my talents and gift of life wisely.” The 13th anniversary of “Dance of India” is April 25, 2015. The event is a community outreach initiative of CPCC, with many employees and outside volunteers participating each spring. “We had 42 dancers this year,” says Gingrich. “Charlotte’s diversity has been growing exponentially and, by starting ‘Dances of India,’ we can share these 3,000-year-old dance styles with the community and help them understand Indian culture and its influence on world cultures.” CMRM

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Family fun in the city

From the arts to cultural celebrations, the Queen City boasts many events throughout the year. Here is a list of some of the offerings. Charlotte Dragonboat/Asian Festival May; Ramsey Creek Park, Cornelius 704-540-6808 www.charlottedragonboat.com Charlotte Sunset Jazz Festival September; Symphony Park, SouthPark 704-375-9553 www.pridemagazine.net Charlotte World Parade & Festival April; Independence Park 704-246-7619 www.worldparadefestival.org Jazz in the Village September; Johnson C. Smith University 704-372-2172 www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/__events/ GKs/ATLA/2012/09/21__Jazz__VS.html Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas June www.juneteenthofthecarolinas.com Pride Charlotte (LGBT Community) August; Uptown Charlotte 704-333-0144 www.charlottepride.org St. Patricksâ€™s Day Parade and Charlotte Goes Green Festival March; Uptown Charlotte www.charlottestpatsday.com The Carolinas Latin Dance Company April; Spirit Square at McGlohon Theatre 704-449-8868 www.thecarolinaslatindancecompany.org Yiasou Greek Festival September; Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral 704-334-4771 www.yiasoufestival.org 60

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Biz news & notes Branding change for N.C. Dance Theatre

Organizations collaborate on health care supplier diversity

Novant has entered into a collaboration with the Healthcare Supplier Diversity Alliance (HSDA) in Richmond, Va., Tuck Business School at Dartmouth (Tuck) in Hanover, N.H., and Novation in Irving, Texas. The purpose is to offer executive training for minority business owners in the healthcare industry in order to creating pathways to potential opportunities for historically underutilized businesses. “Novant Health is committed to developing mutually-beneficial and successful partnerships that support and encourage diversity,” says Kevin J. Price, supplier diversity and performance director. “Our organization believes these are the right strategic partners to share ideas, resources and strategies for success.” HSDA is a voluntary, not-for-profit trade association that performs a leadership role in promoting and preserving the role of diverse suppliers in the healthcare industry. Novation is a leader of healthcare supply chain expertise, analytics and contracting as a group purchasing organization. Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business is America’s oldest graduate school of management and recognized among the leading business schools in the world. The four organizations are offering the executive training program, Building a High-Performing Minority Business, November 16- 21 at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Owners and senior executives of minority owned companies can expect to develop the skills necessary to help their business thrive. To learn more visit http:// exec.tuck.dartmouth.edu/programs/ minority-programs/building-a-highperforming-minority-business/ apply-now.

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

North Carolina Dance Theatre has changed its name to Charlotte Ballet, as part of an initiative to define and clearly communicate the organization, its mission and its contributions to the region it serves. The Patricia McBride and Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux Center for Dance in uptown Charlotte has been the organizations home since 2010. Its 26 professional dancers annually present five performance series in Charlotte, during a season spanning from October to April. During the summer, the dancers and artistic staff serve as Company in Residence at The Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, N.Y. Charlotte Ballet also operates a school which trains 700 students annually; the school’s new name is Charlotte Ballet Academy. “This transformation is not about changing what we do — it’s about defining it,” says Bonnefoux. “Our dancers are known for their ability to perform classical ballets, as well as innovative, contemporary works. No matter how far we push the perceptions of ballet and infuse other dance styles, our performances have always been, and will continue to be, rooted in the tradition of ballet.” The organization’s annual revenues have grown to more than $5.5 million, with Nutcracker ticket sales increasing 112 percent over the last five years and steady growth in other areas of earned and contributed revenue. Since 2009, ticket buyers have increased by 70 percent.

Photo by Brown Girls Do Ballet

Novant No. 3 in Diversity Named one of the 2014 Top 10 Hospitals and Health Systems in the nation by DiversityInc, Novant Health debuts on this year’s list at No. 3, joining some of the country’s most prestigious healthcare systems including Cleveland Clinic (5th) and Mayo Clinic (8th). Diversity initiatives at Novant are driven through the Executive Diversity Council chaired by Carl S. Armato, president and CEO, and a System Diversity Council chaired by Deborah P. Ashton, vice president and chief diversity officer.

Earlier this year, The John S. & James L. Knight Foundation awarded the organization a $1.1-million grant. Of that, $1 million is dedicated to funding new contemporary ballets and masterworks, while $100,000 is set to support the company’s professional dancers.

AT&T applauds diverse suppliers

Earlier this year, AT&T was ranked No. 1 in DiversityBusiness.com’s Top 50 Companies for Multicultural Business Opportunities. The company also was listed to the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council list of top corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises for the 15th year in a row. AT&T spent $15.5 billion in 2013, or 28 percent of its total spend, with certified diverse suppliers — the highest percentage the company has ever achieved through its supplier diversity program. In 2012, the company spent $12.8 billion with diverse suppliers. “Supplier diversity is key to our overall success, and we take pride in being a leader in this area,” says Tim Harden, AT&T Supply Chain president. “Diverse suppliers are an integral part of our supply chain, as evidenced by achieving our largest-ever diversity spend in 2013. They bring valuable perspective to the table, and that benefits everyone — our customers, the community and our company.” AT&T’s Global Supplier Diversity organization gives certified diverse businesses worldwide an opportunity to provide the company with products and services. The company continues to look for diverse suppliers in key strategic areas like mobile Internet, wireless, U-verse and cloud services. Striving to identify and develop certified diverse suppliers, AT&T’s Operation Hand Salute is a national education and mentoring program for service-disabled veteran business owners. Visit www.attsupplierdiversity.com. CMRM

Feature

Human trafficking Charlotte ranks 6th in modern-day slavery by Valaida Fullwood

ueen City streets have a traffic problem, and the issue is of global concern. Ordinarily, Charlotte touts its national rankings, but this one is a disgrace. Local residents are being preyed upon and exploited. Charlotte ranks sixth in labor and sex trafficking. And when big events draw large crowds — an increased number of men here for conferences and sporting events — the ranking rises, because traffickers see business opportunities. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports human trafficking — a $32 billion per year enterprise — is the second largest criminal industry in the world, only second to drug trafficking.

Preying on vulnerable populations

“It’s a hotbed,” says Ashley Harkrader, director of programming at All We Want Is Love (allwewantislove.org), a local nonprofit

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

working to end human slavery. Charlotte’s location — centered between New York and Miami, and amid a web of interstate highways, byways and rural areas — make it ideal for trafficking.

Mourning established All We Want Is Love in 2012. She had experiences with trafficking during her teens and then did an in-depth study of human slavery in college. The organization’s mission is “to create an educated and informed world to end human trafficking.” “When people hear the term ‘human slavery,’ they think sex slavery, like the abducted Nigerian school girls, but it has broader implications,” explains Harkrader. Human slavery encompasses the exploitation of U.S. citizens and foreign nationals, both children and adults, in a range of industries. Labor trafficking in agriculture, construction, and hospitality and tourism contributes to North Carolina ranking among the top 10 states in human trafficking. Traffickers prey on vulnerable populations to benefit, financially or otherwise, from the body or labor of their victims. In labor trafficking, commonly, foreign workers come to the United States after a trafficker sells the American dream. Once stateside, the new immigrants find that traffickers confiscate their IDs and passports, and then use force and various ploys to exploit them as workers. Believing they have no recourse, many exploited immigrants remain trapped in a cycle of servitude. In plain view, yet still hard to detect, it occurs

Charlotte is a “hotbed,” ranking sixth in labor and sex trafficking. A midpoint, Charlotte is a hub for housing and transporting people along the Eastern seaboard. The city has emerged as a prime market also because of regularly hosted national conferences and major sporting events. Slavery isn’t dead, say experts. Human trafficking is the fastest-growing illicit business worldwide, with rising appeal over dealing drugs. Sex trafficking survivor and model Jillian

Big conferences and sporting events draw large crowds, because traffickers see business opportunities. “Prevention through education is important, because many don’t realize it’s an issue, especially in Charlotte. We are trying to educate people before they become victims.” — Ashley Harkrader in homes (e.g., domestic servants and nannies) and in nail salons, massage parlors, restaurants, hotels and farms.

‘Boyfriending’ lures girls

All We Want Is Love envisions a world where humans are not for sale. It raises awareness through training and rescue resources. “Prevention through education is important, because many don’t realize it’s an issue, especially in Charlotte,” says Harkrader. “We are trying to educate people before they become victims.” Harkrader says the average age of a trafficking victim is 12-14. Educating middle and high school students early on is crucial, because sex traffickers scout for vulnerable teens. At particular risk are young girls suffering from low self-esteem, depression or bullying and who can be easily manipulated. “Boyfriending” is a common practice where traffickers and pimps groom young people for eventual work in prostitution. “Clean Up the Traffick” is an initiative of All We Want Is Love. Bars of soap, labeled with anti-trafficking information, are placed

in hotels, truck stops and public bathrooms during major events. Harkrader reports the strategy has opened 50 new cases. The soap not only provides basic hygiene for people exploited in the sex industry, it also serves as a lifeline for victims and an educational resource for hotel staff. The movement to fight human slavery relies on numerous resources. In law enforcement, trafficking is an issue with oversight at the federal level, which can limit how local police address the issue. Locally, victims receive direct services from human service agencies and ministries (see box), which offer safe housing and support. All We Want Is Love focuses on public awareness and prevention among vulnerable groups. Harkrader speaks frequently at colleges and private schools, but she says she wants to reach more public schools students. Student Traffick programs are being started in high schools and universities across the country.

Harkrader also organizes programs to bring awareness to parents and training sessions for entities that are on the front lines, including the CharlotteMecklenburg Police Department. Utility and telecommunication workers are targeted for training because they often are inside homes and places where crimes are taking place. Local agencies and ministries striving to effect change in Charlotte implore people to become educated. According to reports by the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC), the three most common forms of sex trafficking are pimp-controlled prostitution, commercial-front brothels and escort services. The Polaris Project, a prominent resource in the global fight against modern-day slavery, reports that 41 percent of sex trafficking and 20 percent of labor trafficking involve U.S. citizens. The numbers in Charlotte do not need to continue to rise. CMRM

Help fight human trafficking

1. Learn what’s going on in Charlotte. • All We Want Is Love — www.allwewantislove.org • Justice Ministries — www.justiceministries.org • Lily Pad Haven — www.lilypadhaven.org • On Eagles Wings Ministries — www.oneagleswingsministries.org 2. Donate to help victims and promote prevention. 3. C all the NHTRC hotline at 888-373-7888 if you have a concern.

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Feature

Abu Dhabi A destination for work and pleasure Story and photos by Deborah J. Walker

The Emirates Palace features the horses that represent the seven United Arabic Emirates.

Editor’s note: Deborah Walker was contracted to work with an Abu Dhabi-based consulting and training firm in 2013. She has an ongoing relationship with the firm and its clients, and she continues to engage with them in work in the Middle East.

Abu Dhabi, founder and first president of the UAE, the city wisely invested its oil revenues into building a world-class infrastructure. More than 80 percent of those living in the country are expatriates, skilled professionals working there temporarily or permanently, or immigrants, usually manual laborers who have come to earn more money. These groups comprise Asians (largely Indians, Pakistanis, Ceylonese, Bangladeshi and Filipinos), Iranians or Arabs (primarily Jordanians, Palestinians and Egyptians) and citizens from Europe and the United States. Each contributes to sustaining Abu Dhabi’s standard of living and future growth and development.

oing business in Abu Dhabi, and living and working in Charlotte, offers a unique opportunity to take a glimpse at cultural differences between a Middle East country and a southern city that is becoming increasingly international in its business and community life. For me, sharing Charlotte’s vision of being a “new south” city in a global world is the backdrop for the exciting experience of working in Abu Dhabi and for contributing to Charlotte’s “international city” vision.

Multicultural workforce

Understanding the context of Abu Dhabi on the world stage is important. Abu Dhabi is one of the most modern and richest cities in the world. It is the second largest of the seven Emirates (Dubai is first) and the federal capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE was founded December 2, 1971. Abu Dhabi was the first of the seven emirate states to export its oil. Under the leadership of the late and much revered HH (His Highness) Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, ruler of

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ses with her students

Deborah Walker po The grand mosques in Abu Dhabi are open to non-Muslims.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan’s son, His Highness General Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and commander of UAE’s Armed Forces, continues his father’s traditions and actively engages the country in economic, educational and environmental protection projects that sustains its welfare and continues to position Abu Dhabi as a destination choice for the region.

Patience, open-mindedness

Abu Dhabi’s business, religious and cultural communities hold rich traditions, as well as modern values. Working here requires a willingness to check western assumptions and expectations, and to be open to learning. I have discovered that doing business in Abu Dhabi requires building good relationships and mutual trust. Patience is critical. For example, formal or informal meetings often don’t run in the ways you may be used to. Some people arrive late and go in and out of the room during the meetings, family and friends often are in attendance or might arrive during the meetings, people come in and interrupt with other matters, and mobile phones are used constantly.

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

Both Abu Dhabi’s and Charlotte’s progressive visions are tempered with a deep-seated respect for traditions and culture. In Abu Dhabi, priority has been given not only to future development but also to rediscovering its past. Especially honored is the Bedouin way of life in terms of the noble traditions and values of their desert ancestors. The religion of Islam and the heritage of a traditional tribal society form the basis for Abu Dhabi’s stable and essentially conservative social structure.

In Charlotte, the dedication of business leadership to ensure the city’s place in the global economy can be seen in the number of foreign firms locating to the region. Charlotte is home to more than 950 foreign-owned firms representing 796 different parent companies from 49 different countries. It, too, is a modern city with increasingly rich international business and cultural communities. While Abu Dhabi and Charlotte have certain similarities, each has built upon its cultural roots to become world-class cities. CMRM

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Don’t • Bring alcohol or pork products as a business gift. • Be impatient — you are trying to build a relationship; it takes time. • Be aggressive and pushy. • Be intimate or show affection in public. • Stare or look intently at women. • Order alcohol to accompany your meal if you are at a business function. • Call businesses (or expats) on Friday unless it is critical; it’s equivalent to Sunday and is a day off with family and for prayer. • Photograph people without permission, particularly women. Be careful about what else may be in the background of the photo that you are taking. • Discuss political or religious subjects during a meeting.

Do • Read and understand about Islam; it is central to life and business. • Take time to learn a few basic Arabic phases. • Accept that there is a hierarchy and a process to get to meet the senior and ultimate decision-makers. • Dress conservatively in a suit for at least initial meetings, or formal business wear, such as jackets and trousers for women. Arms and legs should be covered. • Don’t shake hands with Emirati women unless they offer their hand first. Have your business cards printed in both your language and Arabic (and have Arabic checked by an expert). • Understand that “yes” may mean either yes or possibly, and that you may not be told “no.” • Be on time for the meeting, although those you are visiting or meeting with may not be on time.

• Make sure you don’t create a situation where you cause someone to lose face in public. • Drink refreshments offered, accept food and hospitality, and chat with people in the room.

Do’s and don’ts in Abu Dhabi

A S T

Abu Dhabi is the second largest of the seven Emirates and the federal capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

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Feature

See a list of LACCC members in the business directory on page 45.

The LACCC meets monthly on the third Wednesday.

Latino businesses ‘flourishing’ Local chamber offers education, networking and support by Bea Quirk photos courtesy of the Latin American Chamber

he population of Latinos in Mecklenburg County is exploding. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the numbers here grew by 150 percent from 2000 to 2010, faster than either the state (111 percent) or the nation (43 percent). With the Bureau estimating Latinos comprise some 12.5 percent of Mecklenburg County’s population, the success of this community is vital to the region’s overall economic vitality. “The Latin American businesses in our region are maintaining a solid business base and are growing consistently,” says Jorge De La Jara, board chair of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce at Charlotte (LACCC) and the director of diversity at Lincoln 70

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

Financial Group. “And the future looks bright. This is a wonderful indicator that businesses and economic activity are flourishing.”

Mentoring and retooling

Often, Latino business owners and professionals face cultural and language issues that Anglo natives do not. Seventeen years ago, the LACCC was formed to provide education, support and networking opportunities. Today, it has some 550 members — three times what it was in 2011. Its programs have expanded and diversified significantly, which began with the first salaried president, Astrid Chirinos. Chirinos, a founding board member, was named LACCC’s president just over three years ago. “With a paid executive, we can accelerate

the process and the platform to integrate Latino entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals into the new economy through networking, retooling, mentoring and culturalization,” says Chirinos. The most visible part of these efforts is LACCC’s monthly meetings, which are held in locations all over the county. Speakers — who typically address economic topics — have included corporate leaders Ronald Carter, president of Johnson C. Smith University, and Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter. Board member Antonio Archbold says he has benefitted from the networking opportunities. “We also offer seminars and other services to help Latino businesses better navigate an economy and a country that are not originally their own.”

“These partnerships are bridges to help encourage and build trust among Latino and nonLatino businesses, so they can connect and prosper together.” — Astrid Chirinos Another important program is the Business Builder, which Archbold calls LACCC’s “most impactful program.” Each year, 30 business owners go through an intense 90-day program to learn the ins and outs of running a business. Archbold is the senior manager for multicultural target marketing at Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, which, along with Wells Fargo and Belk, is a sustaining sponsor of LACCC. “A lot of small Latino businesses do business with (Coca-Cola

Bridging trust

The Latin American Chamber also receives support from 22 corporate sponsors, including Food Lion, Carolinas HealthCare System, Fifth Third Bank and GreerWalker, CPA. LACCC has received grants from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and Foundation For The Carolinas. It currently is working with the Urban Institute at UNC Charlotte to implement a needs assessment study of Latino businesses. “Like all small businesses, their biggest challenge is access to capital,” says Chirinos. “But they also face challenges in understanding what it means to own and run a business in the United States, plus there are cultural and language issues to overcome.” LACCC also has strategic partnerships with 17 groups, such as the Charlotte Chamber. “These partnerships are bridges to help Chamber members at a recent event are (L-R); Veronica encourage and build trust among Calderon, Wells Fargo; Martha Bradley, Wells Fargo and LACCC board vice chair; Antonio Archbold, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and Latino and non-Latino businesses, LACCC board member; and Jorge De La Jara, Lincoln Financial so they can connect and prosper and LACCC board chair. together,” she adds. Other services to the Latino business community include assistance for job seekers, events for socializing and formal programs, such as the Leadership Development Institute, the Train-the-Trainer Program and an innovative Youth Entrepreneur Program. LACCC recently has converted its foundation into a nonprofit economic Astrid Chirinos development corporation. presents awards to The nonprofit’s mission, says Carol Hevey, Time Warner Cable, and Chirinos, is to “build capacity Julio Colmenares, and leadership in the community, past LACCC revitalize areas, such as Central board chair. Avenue, begin a business incubator and encourage international trade and promote job creation.” Bottling),” says Archbold. “They buy For more information about LACCC, visit and sell our products and support us a www.lacccharlotte.com or call 704-343-2525. lot, and we want to give back to them. Meetings are held the third Wednesday of That’s why we support the LACCC.” each month, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Meetings are He adds, “The group also helps us recruit $20 for members and $35 for guests. To find bilingual speakers — not just Latinos — to out about membership, call Rocio Gonzalez at work here. I am proud to serve my community 704-343-2525. CMRM as part of LACCC.”

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BB Dance Productions

5323 E. Independence Blvd., Suite B Charlotte, NC 28212 Office 704.563.8693 www.bbdance.com Office Hours: Mon-Fri. 4:30 pm -7:30 pm Sat. 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

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Feature

ra accepts a Estibali Carre scholarship LAWA college , co-chair of from Liz Linzan Committee. p the Scholarshi

Latino ladies lead change LAWA at work in the community by Bridgette Johnson photos courtesy of Latin American Women's Association

ith a 22-year history and 100 members, the Latin American Women’s Association (LAWA) is leaving its mark on Charlotte. The association, that draws members from Mecklenburg and Union counties, pushes improving selfesteem and providing countless resources among the Latino community. LAWA’s primary objective, however, is to support children. “Our mission is to promote education from the beginning so Latinos can have a better quality of life … so they can develop the skills needed for better jobs,” says Violeta Moser, LAWA’s executive director. Celebrating the Latino community at Carnival Charlotte are (L-R): Ana Flynn, LAWA board chair; Gustavo Arevalo and Carmen Arevalo; Ana Lemley, immediate past board chair; and Thomas Flynn. 72

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

Math, reading

The women use Padres y Padrinos, a program that helps get young children and parents involved in its educational mission. LAWA currently partners with five Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools

scholarships. Its annual Carnival Charlotte black-tie gala in February prompts community donations, support from Wells Fargo and PNC Bank, and grants enable LAWA to fund its own college scholarships for the Latino community. “Latinos are not granted the same opportunities as other groups,” says Flynn. “Most of this comes from misinformation and failure to reach out. LAWA hopes to help in whatever way individuals and families are struggling to meet Ana Flynn their long-term educational goals.” Moser says she is very happy with how LAWA has been growing over the past 22 years. “It’s more about personal growth (for Latino women) than membership,” she says. “LAWA truly is thankful for how welcoming the community has been, and we look forward to partnering with more businesses and organizations to ensure that we continue to offer a lifestyle change that will be open for the youth for many years to come.” CMRM

Latin American Women’s Association 704-552-1003 www.lawanc.org

Membership and volunteer opportunities: Violeta Moser at vmoser@lawanc.org General information and needs: Ana Flynn at ana@mvalaw.com Upcoming community events: Mexican Heritage Celebration — September 15-October 15 SABOR Latino — September 25 Dancing for Diversity at the end of each school year allows children of all backgrounds to celebrate their successes. Latino students learn to appreciate self-acceptance in their own community.

— Albemarle Road Elementary, Merry Oaks Elementary, Winterfield Elementary, Huntingtowne Farms Elementary and Albemarle Road Middle School — to help bridge the gap in academic and social performance among Latinos. Ana Flynn, chair of LAWA’s board of directors, says the organization uses measurable outcomes of reading and math among students in third through seventh grades. “Last year, there was a 10 percent increase in math and a 12 percent increase in reading, so we know what we are doing is benefiting the children,” she explains. Flynn noted that LAWA is looking to realign its programs for the 2014-15 academic year by adding an English as a Second Language specialist to assist with all tiers of education. In addition, LAWA hopes to build a larger network of non-Spanish-speaking volunteers to assist with homework and other program planning. While LAWA is all about education, the women are not afraid of making it fun for the kids. Each year as school draws to an end, LAWA puts on Dancing for Diversity to allow children of all backgrounds to celebrate their successes. Latino students learn to appreciate self-acceptance in their own community, as well as acceptance for students of other ethnicities.

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College scholarships

LAWA takes its commitment to education one step further through its High School Series program, which assists teen scholars to succeed in college. The women strive to help alleviate families’ fear of the college process and provide resources to explain the process of high school graduation, financial aid and scholarships. LAWA also raises money throughout the year to provide college www.charlotteresourcemagazine.com

Welcoming the globe Feature

International House helps immigrant families by Jared Chatman photos courtesy of International House

Denise Cumbee Long

t’s common for foreign-born citizens who relocate to the United States to have difficulty adjusting to life in their new city, while finding a suitable home and, perhaps, getting children enrolled in school. Things like language barriers, legal issues and job opportunities can make life tough to manage. In Charlotte, International House (which began in 1981) provides help to thousands of immigrants and foreignborn citizens who arrive here to settle. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to promote international understanding and acceptance, and to ensure immigrants are fully integrated into the Charlotte community. International House offers cultural, educational, low-income assistance and citizen diplomacy programs to people who come here from all over the globe. “I get tired of the myths and stereotypes about immigrants looking for a free handout. Many of them want to work,” says Denise Cumbee Long, executive director. Since November of 2010, before joining International House in 2010, Long worked closely with Latino immigrants and farm workers when she held the position of program associate of the N.C. Council of Churches. “At International House, we want to separate the truth from stereotypes,” continues Long, who also serves as a minister at United Church of Christ.

Free tutoring

International House is located at Midwood International & Cultural Center, which used to be the old Midwood

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

community of Charlotte. The English Tutoring Program (ETP) is one of International House’s oldest programs, providing classes The Young Professional group engages in events and activities for foreign-born residents to that build international understanding. VIP receptions are held with delegations of international visitors. learn English and have more practice speaking fluently. In 2010, International House extended the ETP program to children. YETP provides free tutoring throughout the summer for low-income immigrant children who do not speak English at home. The goal is to prevent the students from falling behind their native English-speaking International House, in partnership with the Immigrant Integration peers before the next Task Force, hosts Community Listening Sessions to discuss issues — ranging from transportation to how to better support school year starts. small businesses — in order to better understand the needs of The YETP program immigrants living in Charlotte. began with 35 children its first year, but grew to more than 180 students by 2013, thanks to International House’s 26th funders and a partnership with Charlotteannual gala is October 18, Mecklenburg Schools, such as Merry Oaks International Academy, Montclaire 6:30 p.m., at The Westin Elementary, Pinewood Elementary and Charlotte. Visit www.ihclt.org. Nations Ford Elementary. High School on Central Avenue. In association with International House, other organizations, like the Light Factory, Language Academy, Grameen America, the Japanese Association of Charlotte, All Ethiopian Community Center, Universal Institute for Successful Aging, League of Women Voters, Bosnian-Herzegovian American Cultural Center and others share a common bond in extending their services to help the growing immigrant

Legal help, global visitors

The Ginter Immigrant Law Clinic boasts a 98 percent success rate. This International House program has given aid to 1,268 low-income clients, who needed help with referrals, work permits, lost or stolen green cards and legal representation regarding U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Attorney Anne Crotty has led the law clinic since 2005, and each year she helps more 250 low-income immigrants

with their family reunification and naturalization needs. “I love being a witness to the many lives that are enriched and transformed by the work we do in legal services, education, international diplomacy and cultural interchange,” says Bruce Holliday, director of marketing and communications at International House. The Citizen Diplomacy Program allows business leaders from around the world to come to Charlotte to experience American culture and connect with U.S. businesses. In 2013, 22 groups of international visitors — from 61 different countries — came to Charlotte to get a closer look at the best U.S. practices in the areas of banking, finance, law, cyber security, education, health care, manufacturing, human rights and political processes. Johnelle Causwell, who hails from Jamaica, has been the program director since 2012 and will serve on the 2014-2015 National Committee for Global Ties. The Citizen Diplomacy Program has been recognized by the Department of State for its outstanding work with Open World groups. For the first time in many years, International House’s Diplomacy Department was selected to send a delegation to participate in a four-day presentation tour in Washington, D.C. Charlotte representatives met with the department heads of all the National Programming Agencies and the Department of State. The tour educated other organizations about the city of Charlotte and the many different programs International House organizes for visiting international delegations. With the amount of exposure and popularity the organization is gaining, International House expects to begin hosting even more groups in the near future. Also, it hopes to expand the YEPT program to more elementary schools, as well as develop new and better workforce development programs. For more information, visit www.ihclt.org or call 704-333-8099. CMRM

Dr. Kim Blanding, DDS

pediatric dentist

International happenings Charlotte will welcome the following visitors: • Latin America — “Engaging Underserved and At Risk Youth,” August 29-September 4 • Africa — “U.S. Judicial System,” September 17-23 • Thailand — “Parks, Biodiversity and Ecotourism and Management,” September 18-20 • Latin America — “Accountable Governance,” September 28-October 2

h a s r e c e n t ly j o i n e d

Citizenship classes are six-week programs on Sundays, 2-5 p.m. for $50 and includes a book and one-on-one tutoring. Language conversation hours are free for all ages with no registration and are appropriate for all levels. Drop-ins are welcome. • English — Fridays, noon; Tuesdays, 7 p.m. • Spanish — Wednesdays, noon; Thursdays, 7 p.m. • German — Tuesdays, 6 p.m., 1st and 3rd of the month • French — Tuesdays, noon; Wednesdays, 7 p.m. • Chinese — Tuesdays, 6 p.m., 2nd and 4th of the month • Japanese — Thursdays, noon • Portuguese — Thursdays, 6 p.m. • Russian — Wednesdays, 6 p.m., 1st of the month • Arabic — Wednesdays, 6 p.m. • Turkish — Fridays, 6 p.m.

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Refugee resettlement The success story of Praja Subedi Feature

Story and photos by Vidhyapati Mishra

In 2008, when Praja Subedi was 24, he arrived with his five-member family in the Queen City through combined efforts of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (www.unhcr.org), the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program (www.migrationinformation.org) and Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency (www. carolinarefugee.org). Praja’s community of 115,000 Nepali-speaking Bhutanese had been subsisting in seven UN-run refugee camps in Nepal for more than 20 years, stateless survivors of government-sponsored ethnic cleansing in neighboring Bhutan, their homeland. naturalized citizen of the United States later this year, which will mark the end of his almost lifelong statelessness.

Working for the family

harlotte is home to more than 2,500 Bhutanese refugees, many who are now finding familiarity and comfort in the family-owned and -operated Central Market, 2919 Central Ave. at the corner of Arnold Drive. The store was started in January 2012 by Praja Subedi and his family, and it is a perfect place for newly resettled Bhutanese refugee families to purchase their favorite ethnic food items. “I can’t believe that the success I have achieved is a reality,” says Subedi. “ I am blessed for my firm determination and strong passion for hard work.” In addition to helping to run the business, Subedi is completing his studies in civil engineering at UNC Charlotte. He will graduate next May. And, he is an engineering intern for the City of Charlotte, preparing to become a 76

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

In early 1992, when Subedi was only 7, he and his family were forced at gunpoint to leave Bhutan, a tiny Himalayan country sandwiched between India and China. The eight-member Subedi family, along with hundreds of others, crossed the Indian border and eventually found shelter in a refugee camp located in Nepal. They were there for 17 years. “A prolonged stay in the Beldangi refugee camp taught me well to work hard,” he says. Refugee camp life meant poverty, hunger, lack of employment and very limited educational opportunities. Additionally, always-mounting frustrations, depression and political insecurity, governed the family’s daily routine. Subedi attended UNHCR-funded schools through 10th grade. Being a bright student, the Association of Human Rights (AHURA-Bhutan) awarded him a partial scholarship to study in a higher-level school in India, from which he graduated high school in 2003. In 2005, when Subedi had just begun a college degree-granting program in Nepal, his father died due to a lack of adequate and timely medical attention. Being the son with the highest level of education, he assumed financial responsibility for his entire family. Out of necessity, he quit his education and began teaching in a private school in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, in order to earn money. “Abandoning my studies was, indeed, a Hobson’s choice — taking what is offered or nothing at all. However, I never felt sad, because I was supporting my siblings’ education,” Subedi explains.

Studying for the future

By 2008, the family’s request for refugee resettlement was approved, and they started

new lives in Charlotte. Initially, Charlotte was extremely challenging for the Subedi family. Everything seemed new and strange. Having spent so many years in a refugee camp with no access to electricity, they struggled with even basic things, such as using an electric oven and rice cooker, learning to ride a city bus and understanding the American banking system. “The transition from the poorly-managed refugee camp in the underdeveloped host country to sophisticated and highly advanced Charlotte required specific adjustments. I immediately understood that my life needed to commence from zero in many ways,” explains Subedi. “My top priorities were learning to drive, finding a job, polishing my non-English-speaking tongue to speak and be understood easily, and exploring how to resume my interrupted education.” Though he looked for a job a month after he arrived, his efforts failed, most likely due to the economic recession of 2008. “I continued searching for several months until I found a packaging job in a paper company. Sadly, I was laid off in a month.” In March 2009, Charlotte’s Language Resource Center (www.languagerc.net) hired him as a receptionist. Within six months, he was promoted to office coordinator. The bright young man resumed his education that year at Central Piedmont Community College. For three years, he worked full time and continued taking classes. He was so successful, that LRC promoted him to supervisor and trainer to oversee the entire team of over 160 interpreters and translators, as well as a dozen office staff. Subedi transferred to UNC Charlotte in August 2011. The Subedis and other Bhutanese families sorely missed their native foods. They had a dire need for a local grocery store where they could buy food items to satisfy their tastes and recipes. Although there is an Indian store that serves Charlotte and Concord, it does not sell items such as fermented green leaves (gundruk), nor their favorite spices or beaten rice. In 2012, Subedi and his brother, Dilli, were motivated to open Central Market in an effort to meet the needs of their fellow countrymen. Within walking distance to the apartment residences of many Bhutanese families, Central Market specializes in over 40 South Asian groceries, seasonal vegetables and other traditional items. Especially popular purchases include homemade kitchen utensils, popular Nepalese knives, and even cultural dresses and clothing. CMRM Vidhyapati Mishra is a Bhutanese refugee journalist associated with the Bhutan News Service. He has been living in Charlotte since July 2013, when he arrived as a resettled refugee. Currently, he is studying mathematics and statistics at UNC Charlotte.

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EventsCalendar Special Events July 1-August 23 SAT Prep/Mentoring The eight-session certificate/ awards program is for high school students from Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties who seek a high score on the SAT. Space is limited. Presented by McCullough’s Active Mentoring Services; Norman McCullough is a certified adjunct professor at Rowan County Community College. Call for price and to reserve your student’s spot. 704-787-8242 or normanmccullough1@aol.com. July 1-September 14 Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow: Jewish Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges This historic exhibit chronicles how the extreme biases of Hitler’s Germany brought together two disenfranchised races: African-Americans and Jews. This alliance that reaches back to the 1930s, is captured in a series of photographs, artifacts and interviews of how the two diverse groups worked together on campuses and throughout the Civil Rights Movement. $6-$8. Levine Museum of the New South, 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887. www. museumofthenewsouth.org. July 1-January 2015 Forty and Counting: Celebrating 40 Years at the Gantt Center Through Art, Culture and Community Opening July 12, this new exhibition celebrates the Gantt Center’s visual arts legacy with treasured works and artifacts from the Center’s permanent collection, as well as fine art from past exhibitions on loan from collectors and institutions across the country. Simone Lee, Jim Alexander, Roland Freeman, Susan Harbage-Page, Elizabeth Catlett, Juan Logan, Tarleton Blackwell and African art from the collection of Duke University’s Nasher Museum are among the local, regional, national and international artists featured. Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture, 551 S. Tryon St. 704547-3700. www.ganttcenter.org. July 8 Unleash the Genius Within: Using Your Natural Talents to Boost Your Success Learn what happens when you discover what’s buried deep inside and find out how 78

to release your inner genius to uncover true success and joy. Networking event of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Chamber. 6 p.m. Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. 330 S. Tryon St. 704-378-1300. www.cmbcc.org/events. July-Aug The Pride Entrepreneur Education Program (PEEP) Offering summer enrichment activities for middle and high school students: Entrepreneurship Education, Academic Enrichment and Financial Literacy. For more information, contact Pauline Feimster at pauline@ pridecommunications.net or 704-375-9553. July 12 The 20/20 Experience Tour: Justin Timberlake Shop Energetic and cool, the nonstop performance of Justin Timberlake rocks an audience! This musician gives everything he’s got during his shows, and those watching embrace every note. See website for ticket prices. 8 p.m. Time Warner Cable Arena. 333 E. Trade St. 800-430-8903. www.timewarnercablearena.com. July 12 The Royal Welcome The Beta Nu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha provides the ambience for a delightful Charlotte event, Phirst Phamily Affair. Proceeds will provide scholarships for area students. Tickets $25-$100. 8 p.m. Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture, 551 S. Tryon St. 704-547-3700. www.ganttcenter.org. July 15-20 Porgy and Bess The No. 1 musical of the year explodes on the stage. “Porgy and Bess” is the legendary showstopper of Broadway shows, with memorable performances. See website for times and ticket prices. 7:30 p.m. Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000. www.blumenthalcenter.org. July 17 Lionel Richie and CeeLo Green Two powerhouse entertainers come together in a performance that mesmerizes audiences. The legendary icon of three decades unites musical forces with one of the most inspiring musical talents, CeeLo Green, who

Charlotte Multicultural Resource Magazine

topped the charts in 2006 with his hit song “Crazy.” Don’t miss this stop on their USA All Night Long Tour. See website for ticket prices. 7:30 p.m. PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd. 800430-8903. www.charlotte-theater.com/ theaters/pnc-music-pavillion. July 18 Naturally Jazzed Concert Series Charlotte Jazz Orchestra performs classic and contemporary music from the big band era to today’s hottest tunes. This group has performed before President Obama and is sought throughout the world because of its pitch-perfect concerts. Hosted by Hair 180, LLC, a portion of the proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation. Call for ticket prices. Charlotte Scottish Rite Temple, 4740 Randolph Road. 704-365-3577. www.charlottescottishrite.com. July 23-August 9 Dream a Little Dream The story of the rise and fall of one of the 1960s golden groups, “The Mamas and the Papas,” that gave a glimpse into the amazing talents of the late legendary Mama Cass. Co-written by “Papa” Denny Doherty and Paul Ledoux, the performances will have audiences reminiscing about a musical yesteryear that was more than memorable. It is part of the 26 Main Stage Season. See website for times and ticket prices. Actors Theater of Charlotte, 650 E. Stonewall St. 704-3422251. www.atcharlotte.org. July 25-27 3rd Annual Charlotte Bachata & Salsa Festival Get up and dance, then become a star on the floor with this annual festival featuring the best dance instructors in the world. Here’s your chance to literally dance the night away and learn some of the most popular Latin dances, including the Cha Cha and Salsa. See website for all events and prices. Sheraton Charlotte Hotel. 555 S. McDowell St. 372-4100. www.charlottebachata.com. July 26 GanttFest! 2014 A signature festival, GanttFest! features a full-day celebration of art and culture of the Diaspora. Designed as an intergenerational

program for all Charlotteans, GanttFest! is a festive way to highlight the Center’s mission and support local and national artists of African descent. This year, it marks the anniversary with programs that look back at the past 40 years of local history, art and culture. It also celebrate new voices as the Center looks to the future. Families should expect a fun and educational day filled with music, storytelling, spoken word, dance, food, art and more. Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture, 551 S. Tryon St. 704547-3700. www.ganttcenter.org. August 9 Booker T. Jones Grammy award-winner Booker T. Jones shares his talent with traditional and contemporary songs that have secured his position among the greatest artists of all time. This classic song writer, band leader and tremendous performer made “Green Onions,” a tasty musical treat for listeners in the 60s. McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square, 345 N College St. 8 p. m. Tickets $34.50-$64.50. 704-3721000. www.blumenthalarts.org. August 22 The Jazz Room Lynn Grissett plays Lee Morgan. Enjoy affordable professional performances for the third season in a row presented by Jazz Arts Initiative. 6 p.m. or 8:15 p.m. Tickets $10-$12. Stage Door Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000. www.blumenthalarts.org.

Save the date! September 5 United in Jazz: Buff Dillard Season two of the United in Jazz series begins with this nationally acclaimed trombonist and his jazz group. Dillard has played with, and opened concerts for, some of the country’s most celebrated artists, like Shirley Caesar. Dinner 5:15 p.m.; concert 7 p.m. Tickets $15 for dinner and concert. First United Presbyterian

Church. 406 N. College St. 704-376-8014. www.fupcc.org. September 13 23rd Annual Pride Sunset Jazz Festival Join the family friendly fun for this popular event, and embrace all cultures with top-notch music. SouthPark Amphitheatre. www. charlottesunsetjazzfestival.com. September 18 2014 Diversity and Inclusion Conference The Diversity Council of the Carolinas hosts its annual conference. This year’s theme is “Leveraging Diversity & Inclusion Strategies for Impact” for human resource managers, diversity and inclusion managers, and talent management professionals. CPCC Harris Conference Center. 704-338-1888. www.c-dcc.org. September 20 Mike Epps This funny guy emerged from the HBO hit, “Def Comedy Jam,” and is now considered to be one of the best comedians in the country. His adult performance promises a hefty dose of major laughter and a hefty release from the cares of the world. $79- $210. 8 p.m. Bojangles Coliseum. 2700 East Independence Blvd. 704-335-3100. www.bojanglescoliseum.com. September 30-October 5 Once Two immigrants’ paths cross in a sharing of music and emotion in this Academy award-winning story that blossoms from independent screenplay to live stage performance. The songs and music make this one of the most memorable entertaining events of the season. See website to times and ticket prices. Blumenthal Performing Arts Theater, 130 N. Tryon St. $32 -$328. 704-372-1000. www.blumenthalcenter.org. January 17 Pride Awards Mark the calendar for this 22nd celebration of Pride Magazine’s annual gala. www.prideawards.net

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