Governor O’Malley honored as MWMCA’s 2010 Most Distinguished Leader of the Year…Annual Minority Inclusion Breakfast Attracts State’s Top Leaders…Cordish Clarifies Why Arundel Mills is the Best Site… Lights, camera-action; it was the most attended (1,300 guests to be exact) and the most supported Minority Business Enterprise networking event of the year that occurred on Friday morning May 14, 2010 at Martin’s West catering facility in Baltimore County, Maryland. Md. Washington Minority Contractors’ Association, Inc. (MWMCA) proudly hosted its 7th Annual Spring Inclusion Membership Breakfast and Annual Meeting. The facility was jammed packed to capacity with a sea of minority businesses, governmental agencies, and private corporations. The attendees, as in our previous annual events, travelled from across the mid-atlantic region to explore and network with Maryland’s most inclusive small businesses, corporations and government agencies. Louis Cestello, Regional President of Greater Baltimore for PNC Bank said, “Oh what a magnificent display of unity and support for diversity. I am proud that PNC Bank is involved.” The Honorable Patricia C. Jessamy, State’s Attorney for Baltimore City who sat alongside Mr. Cestello at the head table agreed with Mr. Cestello’s assessment and said, “I am proud to be a part of minority business inclusion and excited that Maryland is the best in the nation.” This year’s theme, “One Maryland #1 In America For Minority Business,” was decided upon after discovering that no other state in the union supported and promoted minority business expansion similar to Maryland. Starting with aggressive goals, monitoring, compliance, legislation, executive support and cultural changes, the state of Maryland is the epic center for minority inclusion in America. The Honorable Governor Martin O’Malley, upon accepting his award as, “2010 Most Distinguished Leader of the Year for Minority Business Enterprise” said, “In spite of severe cutbacks in overall spending by State government over the last fiscal year, we have grown overall minority business spending as a percentage of overall spending.” In recognizing the importance of supporting minority business inclusion, in attendance were: US Senators, Barbara Milkulski and Benjamin Cardin; US Congressional representatives Donna Edwards and John Sarbanes; Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake; Helen Holton, Councilwoman of Baltimore City; Baltimore City Council President Bernard Jack Young; State Senator Catherine E. Pugh, who received honors as the “ 2010 Legislator of the Year for Minority Business Enterprise;” State Delegates Gerron Levi, Shawn Tarrant, Michael L. Vaughn; and Kenneth Oliver and Kevin Kamenetz, Councilmen of Baltimore County. As the morning progressed, and keeping with the breakfast theme, One Maryland #1 In America for Minority Business, Joseph Weinberg, President of The Cordish Company addressed the audience with his company’s plans to construct and operate a world class casino at Arundel Mills in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The State’s newest industry, gaming has goals set as high as thirty five percent (35%) on construction and operation of a casino when no other state in the union has mandated such goals. Proudly, Mr. Weinberg told the audience that he would deliver a state of the art facility and meet the minority inclusion goals as well. To emphasize his strong commitment to minority participation, Mr. Weinberg called on Kevin Johnson, President of Commercial Interiors, one of the most successful local minority business and general contracting companies in the State to stand alongside him as he announced that Mr. Johnson’s company will assist in the building of the Arundel Mills Casino to be known as “Maryland Live!” This unprecedented move resulted in excitement among the audience and further emphasized why Maryland is #1 In America for Minority Business. Seated at the head table as well was Jerry Johnson, General Manger of Washington Suburban Sanitary commission (WSSC), the nation’s eighth largest water and sewage utility company. Mr. Johnson, an African-American, was very proud to be among the head table guest and said, “I am proud to be seated next to Governor O’Malley this morning because he represents what is best about Maryland’s inclusive culture. WSSC is proud of its inclusion and meeting its goals and we look forward to maintaining a strong level of inclusion.” MWMCA acknowledges the fine work of Bernadette Woods, Meteorologist from WJZ (Channel 13) in serving as our Master of Ceremonies. Ms. Woods kept the program on time, interesting, high energy, and fun. We were lucky to get such a thoughtful, sincere and heartfelt local celebrity to assist us with such an important endeavor. Our 2010 Minority Business Enterprise of the Year honoree, Andra Cain of Cain Contracting, Inc. addressed the audience with such appreciation of receiving one of our top honors this year. Cain Contracting, Inc. is among the top minority businesses in the State of Maryland and in addition is a Service-disabled Veteran-owned business too. Maryland is blessed with having so many small businesses, corporations and governmental agencies that produce leaders that understand minority economic inclusion and the importance that it has for overall economic health of our local economy. Go to the link on the front page of the e-newsletter to view the listing of our 2010 honorees. Thanks to all of our sponsors and exhibitors, Minority Business Enterprise could not exist without your support. Go to the link on the front page of the e-newsletter to view the listing of our 2010 sponsors and exhibitors. Finally, a special thank you to Luwanda Jenkins, Special Secretary, Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs as the recipient of the “2010 Most Supportive Government Agency for Minority Business Enterprise,” for being a true servant to Minority Business Enterprise. Lastly, to our Governor and leader of the Great State of Maryland, thanks for being the number one supporter of minority business enterprise and lending your leadership. You make us indeed, One Maryland, #1 In America For Minority Business. As the saying goes, “It starts from the top.” Many thanks to our guests for taking the time from your busy schedules to show your support for Minority Business Enterprise. We could not have such a successful event without you. We are truly grateful! Wayne and Pat Frazier Md. Washington Minority Contractors’ Association, Inc. .