Caribbean American owned companies honored as a top minority business

MIAMI– The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of the Top 100 Minority Business Awards during a luncheon at the Radisson Hotel Miami on Thursday, March 29.

The luncheon highlights and celebrates our region’s rich diversity and spirit of entrepreneurship across a wide variety of industries. A total of 11 companies received awards.

Michelle Delancy and Marlon Hill

Caribbean-American owned law firm, delancyhill, P.A. won the Corporate Citizenship (small company) award for their members being actively involved in and holding leadership positions in various community organizations.

And, Caribbean-American owned LAW Real-Estate Investment Group, Inc. won in the category of High Revenue Growth Rate – for its tremendous 16-fold expansion rate by expanding its services to other cities in the U.S. and other parts of the globe. LAW Real Estate is owned by Lorne and Julien Wray.

Ten other companies received awards in the following categories:

• Commitment to Diversity – KIRA, Inc. for building a climate in which a diverse population can achieve an atmosphere of tolerance, civility and respect.

• Corporate Citizenship (large company) – McKinley Financial Services for contributing more than $300,000 to community projects and creating the McKinley Financial Foundation.

• High Employee Growth Rate – red design group for starting with three employees in 2004 and growing to 12 employees.

• Innovation in the Workplace (small company) – Maxiforce, Inc. for exceeding the industry’s standards with two-week return policies, fax and e-mail follow ups and free technical support to all of its customers.

• Innovation in the Marketplace (large company) – Victoria & Associates Career Services for keeping all of their computer systems up to date and using the most innovative testing and tutorial software.

• Innovation in Training and Development – Inktel Direct for creating the Inktel Direct Educational Academy (IDEA) where employees can receive funds for seminars, in-house training, personal certification and tuition reimbursement.

• Outstanding Expansion Plans- Farm Stores Corporation for its plans on running Gardner’s fine food grocers throughout South Florida and its plan on offering semi-prepared meals at their drive through locations.

• Outstanding Minority Business of the Year (small company) – NEO Concepts for striving to empower women and minorities to rise up to the challenges in both real estate and beyond.

• Outstanding Minority Business of the Year (large company) – Ocean Bank for nurturing the idea that a diverse workplace creates an atmosphere that generates better decision making, and recognizing that the essence of a financial institution is its skilled and qualified leaders.