GMSDC Named 'Council of the Year' by National Minority Supplier Development Authority

GMSDC Named 'Council of the Year' by National Minority Supplier Development
Authority
Historic Win for the Atlanta-based Non-Profit; Timely Launch Pad for
Organization's 35th Anniversary Celebration in 2010

ATLANTA, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Minority Supplier Development
Council (GMSDC), Georgia's leader in certifying, developing and connecting
ethnic-minority business enterprises (MBE) and corporate entities, was named
'Council of the Year' during the National Minority Supplier Development
Council's (NMSDC) 2009Conference and Business OpportunityFair, held in New
Orleans on Oct. 25-28. GMSDC was selected from a mix of nominated regional
councils from across the nation.

"I am honored and humbled by this recognition," said Stacey J. Key, president
& CEO of GMSDC. "I have a front row seat - everyday - to the remarkable
achievements taking place by way of our staff, Board, corporate partners and
MBEs. The greatest reward is having those efforts recognized on a national
level and coming home with tangible proof that we are making a difference,"
Key added.

The Council of the Year Award is one of many awards given out during the
largest national conference and trade fair held for professionals and
organizations in supplier diversity and minority business development.
Council of the Year nominees participate in a rigorous selection process
steered by NMSDC, and are evaluated based on their outstanding leadership and
achievement in their representing region during the prior calendar year
(2008). While the final tabulating is proprietary, GMSDC demonstrated its
impact and effectiveness through the volume and quality of program offerings;
its leading MBE certification initiatives; economic value creation generated
through its corporate partners' minority spend and the MBE to MBE spend of its
certified MBE partners; as well as its overall, seamless integration with the
priorities of NMSDC as its parent organization.

"As we prepare for a year-long celebration in 2010 to observe our 35th
anniversary, we've been reflecting on historical achievements generated
through our great constituency," said Dr. Rengen Li, Global Supplier Diversity
Manager for The Coca-Cola Company and GMSDC Chairman of the Board. "This win
not only validates our organizational sense of self, but it 'ups the ante' for
the role we will play in shaping minority supplier development in Georgia
moving ahead."

About GMSDC
The Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council is a not-for-profit
organization that fosters value-driven partnerships that may otherwise not be
possible between corporate entities, ethnic-minority owned businesses and
government entities in the state of Georgia. Visit www.gmsdc.org.

CONTACT:
Alexandria Taylor
Taylor Communications Group,
404.493.2391

SOURCE Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council

Alexandria Taylor, Taylor Communications Group,
taylor@taylorcommunicationsgroup.com, +1-404-493-2391