The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce will host an awards gala Tuesday to celebrate the achievements of minority entrepreneurs and the individuals and organizations committed to advancing minority business enterprise.
The Minority Enterprise Development (MED) awards gala will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom on the University of Central Arkansas campus. Corliss Williamson, head men’s basketball coach at UCA, will be the keynote speaker.
The Chamber of Commerce established the MED committee to foster growth and sustainability of minority businesses and as a way to recognize minority businesses and their supporters. It accomplishes this through five categories of MED awards. Community members nominated individuals or organizations for each category, and an outside selection committee selected the winners.
Award recipients include:
• Johnny Adams of First Security Bank — Access to Capital Award
• Ernesto Castro of Los Tres Potrillos — Advocate for Opportunity Award
• Chante Duncan of Funk Fusion Academy — Minority of the Year for Economic Development Award
• Country Inn & Suites, owned by Danny Patel — Outstanding Minority Business of the Year Award
• Ronnie Williams of the University of Central Arkansas — Lifetime Achievement Award.