By DAMON C. WILLIAMS Philadelphia Daily News williadc@phillynews.com 215-854-5924
Even in these trying economic times, some businesses in the Philadelphia region are doing well.
Nine of them, in fact, are doing so well that their owners and proprietors will be recognized Friday at the annual Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week awards luncheon in Center City.
"We are honoring nine minority-owned firms in Philadelphia for their accomplishments," said Bilal Qay-yum, this year's awards chairman. "It has been celebrated nationally for years and locally for 23 years. This year, what's unique is that we're having a two-day event."
All-day workshops will be held tomorrow, followed by the awards reception at noon Friday. Both will be at the Sheraton Philadelphia Center City Hotel, 17th and Race streets.
The MED program was instituted under President Richard Nixon. On March 5, 1969, Nixon said: "We must seek to involve [minorities] more fully in our private-enterprise system. Blacks, Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, Indians, and others must increasingly be encouraged to enter the field of business, both in the areas where they now live and in the larger commercial community - and not only as workers, but also as managers and owners."
Those being recognized for entrepreneurship include: restaurateur KeVen Parker; IBS Communications founder Darryl A. Boozer; Wyman Fisher, founder of the Wishler Group, an Internet-services company; and designer George A. Beach, founder of Beach Creative Communications.
William R. Reddish III, president of the Building Industry Association, will receive the Public Works Award.
Kyra Trent will receive the Youth Entrepreneur Award for her establishment of Kyra's Kakes, in Wilmington.
The Philadelphia Tribune, the oldest continuously published African-American newspaper, will receive the Pioneer Award.
Cassandra Hayes, owner of Bodacious Promotions, will receive the Supply Service and Equipment Award.
Virgen Ortiz, the only minority mattress-maker in the city, will receive the New Horizons Award.
"I think it means a lot if you're in business in today's economy and you get recognized," Qayyum said. "It's a booster for them, and the owners are really happy that someone recognizes them."
Perhaps none is happier than Beach, a Harlem native who has been in the design field for more than a half-century.
"I am absolutely thrilled and honored that after 50 years of toiling in the fields, MED Week has honored me and my organization," said Beach, 70. "Fifty years is a very important milestone for anything - certainly for a minority business in Philly in an industry not open to minorities, to be able to go through and still be standing."
Beach also is a founding member of the African American Chamber of Commerce and a founding member of the African American Museum in Philadelphia. He also has an extensive art background, serving as board member at Moore College of Art and Design and as president of the Artist Guild of the Delaware Valley.
* More information on the celebration and workshops is available at www.PhilaMEDWeek.com.
