EMPO Corporation Named Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, November 4, 2009—EMPO Corporation named Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC) Business of the Year—Over $10 Million.

EMPO Corporation CEO and President Alan Reid stated, “I am truly humbled and honored to receive this award. Like MBCC, EMPO Corporation believes we have a responsibility to help better our community. We truly look forward to supporting MBCC’s efforts within Minnesota.”

The Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce will honor EMPO at its annual Umoja (Unity) Awards Ceremony on Friday, November 6 at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. Each year, the awards ceremony and dinner recognizes outstanding business achievements of the African American community and those working as advocates of the business community.

The MBCC is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit established in 2005 affiliated with the National Black Chamber of Commerce. It is a vibrant business association representing the African American business community. The vision of the chamber is to promote and improve the general welfare, prosperity, and inter-connectedness of the community of African descent. The MBCC serves as a clearing house for business information and opportunity, as a business advocate, and as a referral and development resource.

EMPO Corporation Named Midwest Minority Supplier Development Council Supplier of the Year

EMPO Corporation named Midwest Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. (MMSDC) Class 4 Supplier of the Year. After being nominated by corporate MMSDC members including Cargill Inc, EMPO distinguished itself from hundreds of minority business candidates based upon the following criteria:

• • successfully demonstrating growth while overcoming obstacles;
• • consistently providing high quality products and services at competitive prices, offering innovative approaches, and cost-saving ideas;
• • continuously growing Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) to Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) partnerships; and
• • significantly contributing to the growth and development of society and its community.

Commenting on EMPO’s award-winning service model and offerings, THOR Construction CFO Ravi Norman said, “EMPO has been a valuable partner of THOR Construction for the last 3 1/2 years. By outsourcing our HR and benefits to EMPO, we have been able to ensure that we are compliant, our employees are taken care of, and that our company is able to focus on what matters most—growing the business.”

EMPO Corporation CEO and President Alan Reid stated, “This award honors the efforts of so many exceptional employees who have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to our organization through all the ups and downs of a start-up business. I am regularly impressed by the effort put forth by our team to support each other, our clients, and our vision.”

Cargill Director of Supplier Diversity Timothy Thomas stated, “EMPO is a genuine example of the resolve, humility and collaboration it takes to maintain and grow a business.”

EMPO Corporation will advance to compete on a national level against other regional winners. Sixteen regional award winners are invited to the NMSDC conference awards banquet held next fall in New Orleans.

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