Greater Shreveport Chamber: Greater Shreveport Chamber Announces 2021 Minority Business Opportunity Awards Honorees

Press release from the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce:

Paul Savage

5/11/2021

The Business Development Connection (BDC) of the Greater Shreveport Chamber will honor outstanding business owners and professionals who are making a difference in our community at the Minority Business Opportunity Awards (MBOA) Dinner, presented by Willis-Knighton Health System. The event will be held at 6:30PM on June 17, 2021, at Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino.

Each year, the BDC recognizes a diverse group of honorees. All the honorees inspire us by building a stronger business culture that involves empowering growth, creating leadership opportunities, and developing robust community support. Each honoree has made a commitment to connect, grow personally and professionally, discover strategies for positive change, and develop new ideas for their business and employees. The recipients of each category will be announced at the event on June 17th.  Sponsorships and tickets for the dinner are available now by visiting www.ShreveportChamber.org.

“We are delighted with this excellent list of nominees and recipients,” stated Carolyn Tillman, MBOA Event Chair.  “Each of our honorees is an active and involved member of our community and all are worthy of recognition.”

This year’s event will also name Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino as our Business of the Year. The Business of the Year recipient is awarded to an established business that creates opportunities for minority individuals and has a strong philanthropic commitment in our community.

Roy Griggs of Griggs Enterprise will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. The recipient of this award is an individual who throughout their long career consistently exemplifies the highest standard of professional excellence, has dedicated many years to providing service to our community, has an extensive record of accomplishments, and a has a reputation that is widespread.

“The range and diversity of this years’ group of honorees speaks to the entrepreneurial spirit and dynamic leadership that can be found in our Shreveport-Bossier community,” said Dr. Timothy Magner, President of the Greater Shreveport Chamber. “By celebrating these individuals and organizations, we not only lift them up for their own accomplishments but celebrate their trailblazing leadership as an example to others.” 

Our 2021 Honorees are:

Top Business Professional of the Year Honorees

Cathy Gates, Jean Simpson Personnel Services, Inc.

Felicia Lynn Bell, City of Shreveport

Ravon Dominique, MHA, BSN, RN, Brentwood Hospital

Rene’ Whitaker Davis, SWEPCO

Valarie Jamison, Parish of Caddo

Non-Profit Professional of the Year Honorees

Carly Koen, United Way of Northwest Louisiana

Erica McCain, M.A., CNM, Dress for Success Shreveport-Bossier

Taylor Jamison, Strategic Action Council

Verni Wright Howard, Providence House

Emerging Business of the Year Honorees

SOW & REAP Physical Therapy, LLC, LaTonya Mister

Paul Pratt Allstate Agency, Paul Anthony Pratt

Small Business Owner of the Year Honorees

Dana Jeter Williams, Jeter Therapy Group

Dr. Joslin Mar-Dai Pickens, Vegans on the Run

Richanjit Sidhu, Super S Stores

Sarah Smith, MA, CCC-A, Better Hearing Systems of Northwest LA LLC

This press release was produced by the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.