New York, NY (April 29, 2014) – The Minority Business Hall of Fame and Museum (MBHF&M) and the University of Washington – Foster School of Business announce a collaboration to honor individuals and institutions that are leading the growth of minority business enterprises. On May 13, the Foster School of Business will unveil an exhibit that will honor individuals who have been inducted into the MBHF&M.
The collaboration will include the first ongoing public display that recognizes members of the MBHF&M and reflects the Foster School’s desire to inspire the next generation of minority entrepreneurs and business leaders. Our future plans call for the enhancement of the website which will highlight historical papers and other important documentation of more than 50 inductees and future inductees.
Beyond the exhibit, the MBHF&M and the Foster School of Business will in future years jointly sponsor symposia on the state of minority-owned businesses and engage faculty from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MIs) in building the next generation of honorees.
In trying to find a permanent location for the MBHF&M, the executive committee and the board of directors of the Hall of Fame decided to collaborate with the University of Washington’s Michael G. Foster School of Business because of its outstanding commitment to minority business development. The MBHF&M was also impressed by the enthusiasm that the leadership of the Foster School of Business displayed in welcoming collaboration with the Hall and in making it a location that all who are concerned and involved in minority business development would want to come and visit for its historical significance.
“The MBHF&M is pleased to be associated with UW Foster School of Business in honoring individuals and organizations that have made a substantial contribution to minority business development. This collaboration with the MBHF&M is an important milestone and it takes recognizing minority business leaders to a new level, “said John F. Robinson, President and CEO of the MBHF&M.
ABOUT THE MICHAEL G. FOSTER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
The University of Washington’s Michael G. Foster School of Business (foster.washington.edu) was founded in 1917 and is ranked among the nation’s Top 25 business schools. For nearly 20 years the school’s Consulting and Business Development Center (foster.washington.edu/consult) has been a national leader in engaging students and faculty in growing minority-owned businesses through consulting and business education programs.
ABOUT THE MINORITY BUSINESS HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM
The MBHF&M was founded in April 2004 by the National Minority Business Council, Inc. and the Minority Business News USA publication out of Dallas, Texas. John F. Robinson, Don McKneely and Carol Foster are the charter founders of the MBHF&M. Since 2004, the MBHF&M has inducted over 50 plus pioneers and trailblazers of minority business development in the United States.
The major corporate funding sponsor of the MBHF&M was and is the Pepsico Corporation. Mr. Joseph Frederick Canady, former Vice-President for Supplier Diversity at Pepsico, serves as chairman of the MBHF&M Board of Directors. The MBHF&M is governed by an Executive Committee of the Board and a general Board of Directors of 10 individuals. The other officers of the Board besides Mr. Canady and Mr. Robinson are Carol Foster, Vice-President, Philip Duffy, Treasurer, Hollis Smith, Vice-President of Development and Jo-Ann Butler, Executive Board member.
For more information about the MBHF&M please visit our website at mbhf.org or contact us at 347-289-7620 or 214-334-9538 and for information about the MBHF&M at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business contact Michael Verchot at 206-543-9327.
