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Dr. Mel Gravely II (second from left), Managing Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Thinking, was the guest speaker at the 23rd Annual Benny Awards. He keeps company with BBA President Roby S. Williams (left), Terrance Bates of ABC24-CW30 Eyewitness News, and BBA Board Chairman Lee Harris. (Photos by Tyrone P. Easley)
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The BBA tapped Chism Hardy Enterprises as its Outstanding Business of the Year. Carolyn Hardy, who heads the bottling business, records a moment with BBA Board Chairman Harris (left) and guest speaker Dr. Gravely.
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The Black Business Association of Memphis held its 23rd Annual Benny Awards Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis. The Annual Benny Awards honors outstanding service and retail businesses, corporations and business professionals who have reached new heights, provided exemplary service, business opportunities, or leadership to further the vision of minority entrepreneurship, empowerment, business development or community service.
In addition to honoring minority- and women-owned businesses for their achievements, the Benny Awards also honors corporate organizations for their support as well.
The Benny Awards has been a longtime fundraiser for the Black Business Association of Memphis (BBA). B-E-N-N-Y is an acronym for “Black Entrepreneurship and Networking Needs You.”
“Tonight we celebrated our champions in the business community,” said Roby S. Williams, president and CEO of the Black Business Association. “They understand that the last movement of the freedom symphony is that of economic empowerment.”
The BENNY Awards winners list:
Corporate Involvement Award
Memphis Area Teachers Credit Union
Community Involvement Award
AT&T
Outstanding Business Purchasing Award
FedEx
Outstanding Business Development Award
BAMM
Outstanding Woman-Owned Business Award
Carter-Malone Group
Outstanding Business Facility Award
Eat Well Sushi & Grill
Outstanding Professional Service Award
Perkins Productions
Outstanding Service Provider Award
Discount Uniforms
Outstanding Business Professional Award
Dr. Marcus Dorris
Outstanding New Business of the Year Award
Optimal Health Chiropractic, LLC
Outstanding Business of the Year Award
Chism Hardy Bottling
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Among the winners were Marcus Dorris of Pope Animal Clinic, Maurice Tucker of Optimal Health Chiropractic as well as Carolyn Hardy of Chism Hardy Enterprises. The Memphis Area Teachers Credit Union, AT&T and FedEx were among corporate winners.
Proceeds from the BENNY Awards support the efforts of the association. The BBA seeks to promote the creation, expansion and development of black, minority and woman-owned businesses through networking, procurement opportunities, training, mentoring and information sharing.
“Our experience in America has been a continuum of progress through enslavement to emancipation to enfranchisement and now what is left is economic empowerment,” said Williams.
“These champions are carrying the baton on this last leg of the freedom relay. We need to develop more such champions. We can effectively do this by supporting our own businesses.”
