Immediate Release; September 21, 2011 Contact

OPERATIONAL SERVICES DIVISION’S SUPPLIER DIVERSITY OFFICE TO RECEIVE GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR AWARD

The Associated Minority Business Enterprises of New England announced that the Operational Services Division’s Supplier Diversity Office will be this year’s recipient of the “Government Advocacy of The Year Award” as part of the 6th Annual Minority Enterprises Development Week Awards and Celebration Conference being held later this week in Boston. Since 1983, all U.S. Presidents have proclaimed this observance to recognize the outstanding achievements of minority business owners and to honor those corporations, agencies, and financial institutions that support minority business development.

“ The Supplier Diversity Office has gone beyond its core mission of certification, and has successfully delivered on a promise to provide and advocate for technical assistance, access to capital and contract opportunities to increase the capacity of Minority firms,” said Lonnie Daniels, President of AMBE.

Jay Gonzalez, Secretary for Administration and Finance added: “When we took steps to create the Supplier Diversity Office, we saw a real opportunity to bring enhance value to the firms that are served by the Office. I offer my congratulations to Reggie Nunnally and the SDO staff for this accomplishment.”

“This is a great honor, and we want to thank the Associated Minority Business Enterprises of New England for selecting the Supplier Diversity Office for this award,” said Reggie Nunnally, Executive Director, supplier Diversity Office.

The award presented to the Supplier Diversity Office is additional recognition of the Patrick- Murray Administration’s efforts to support minority and women businesses, especially in relation to state procurement opportunities. At the 2010 New England MED Week event, Ron Marlow, Assistant Secretary for Access and Opportunity, was presented the Massachusetts Minority Contractor Association’s Schwartz Award for his “dedication and invaluable contributions to the Minority Business Community of New England.” The Schwartz Award is the organization’s highest honor.