Investing in our community— because everyone deserves a chance to pursue a healthier life.
PROGRAM COCKTAIL RECEPTION Riverview Ballroom, Terrace
WELCOME
Presenting Sponsor, CareFirst Mistress of Ceremony.............................................................................................................Sunni and the City
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Alexander K. Austin, President & CEO, PGCOC
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Maryland Governor Wes Moore
DINNER & AWARDS PRESENTATION
Innovator of the Year....................................................................................................................Vennard Wright Industry Trailblazer of the Year................................................................................Topcurl Beauty Academy Visionary of the Year......................................................................................................Dr. Madeline Ann Lewis Strategic Partner of the Year.................................................................................................................Inncuvate Corporate Social Responsibility Pioneer..................................United Way of the National Capital Area Career Educator of the Year..........................................................................................................Husein Sharaf
SPECIAL AWARD PRESENTATION
David C. Harrington Lifetime Achievement Award Live Entertainment.................................................................................................................................Keri Nicole
DANCING
Music provided by AJ Showtime, 92Q Jams
CLOSING REMARKS
Cassius Priestly, Chairman - Board of Directors, PGCOC Alexander K. Austin, President & CEO, PGCOC
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
Welcome to the 2023 Excellence in Business Awards Gala! We come together to recognize and honor the exceptional talents, unwavering dedication, and extraordinary contributions of six individuals and businesses who are a testament to the power of perseverance, innovation, and the pursuit of excellence. I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each honoree. I also want to express my profound appreciation to our sponsors, supporters, Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce members, and everyone involved in making this evening happen. The Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce is embarking on a milestone next year as we celebrate 100 years of being the “Voice of Wealth Creation” for Prince George’s County. We’re raising the bar by creating more opportunities for businesses to have a healthy economic balance. As the business climate continues to evolve, I am confident that the Chamber, with your support, can move the needle in helping the County’s business ecosystem. This new season for the Chamber is promising, and it’s an honor to serve as your President & CEO. Thank you, and congratulations to the award recipients on your recognition. Sincerely,
Alexander K. Austin Alexander K. Austin, President & CEO Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce
GREETINGS FROM THE CHAIRMAN Congratulations to our 2023 Excellence in Business Awards recipients! Your exceptional contributions and outstanding achievements in business help advance the interests of Prince George’s County’s thriving business landscape, drive economic development, and improve the quality of life for the community. You are a change agent and inspiration to us all. To everyone here with us tonight, you exemplify what makes Prince George’s County a treasure. Your dedication to the work of the Chamber is instrumental as we continue to create pathways for business leaders to expand their networks, gain a competitive edge and grow. The Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce is an anchor in the region that assembles diverse businesses, drives meaningful collaboration and promotes the success of our members. We are proud to serve as a hub for businesses to connect and forge relationships with industry leaders, potential clients and other strategic partners. Through the Chamber’s advocacy work, we deliver a powerful, collective voice to shape local and regional policies to promote the pro-business interests of our members and Prince George’s County. The Excellence in Business Awards Gala, along with other programming hosted by the Chamber, is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and thanks to all of you. We ask for your continued support. Please consider serving on one of our many committees, leveraging sponsorship opportunities, and becoming a mentor to other businesses. Or if you are not already a member, we invite you to join us! Simply put, we are stronger together and stronger with you. Once again, congratulations to our honorees on your remarkable achievements. Thank you for all that you do for Prince George’s County’s thriving business community and we wish you continued success! Sincerely,
Cassius Priestly
Cassius Priestly, Chairman - Board of Directors Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce Truist Bank
October 2, 2023 Alexander K. Austin President & CEO Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce 4640 Forbes Blvd #130, Lanham, MD 20706 Greetings Mr. Austin & The Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce, I am pleased to commemorate you and the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce on your annual Excellence in Business Awards Gala. I would also like to extend my congratulations to this year’s honorees. Thank you for your partnership and for being a voice for businesses in Prince George’s County and the state of Maryland. Your commitment to the creation of wealth and quality of life in our community is applauded. I celebrate your work and wish you and your members many more years of success!
In Service,
Senator Melony G. Griffith
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY GOVERNMENT Office of the County Executive “Prince George’s Proud”
October 6, 2023
Dear Friends: On behalf of the residents of Prince George’s County, I congratulate and extend greetings to the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce (PGCOC) executive members, board of directors, staff, guests, and sponsors as you gather to celebrate your 2023 Excellence in Business Awards Gala. Your exemplary leadership and dedication to the continued contributions of our growing business community have made a lasting and profound difference. As you gather for this worthy event, I am encouraged by your dedication to serving the community and uniting our business community while promoting both economic and social advancement. Your strong commitment to growing our local economy and to helping Prince George’s County enhance the vibrancy of our business community is indeed commendable and vital to our continued prosperity. I applaud the members of the PGCOC and your supporters for organizing this significant occasion. It is the perfect opportunity to network and collaborate on issues while hearing from our elected and appointed municipal, County, and State leaders. I am Prince George’s Proud to salute you and the honorees who have demonstrated measurable growth, community involvement, and leadership throughout our region. Congratulations to the 2023 award recipients and best wishes for an enriching event and continued success in your efforts. Enjoy the celebration! You have my best wishes for continued success. Sincerely,
Angela Alsobrooks County Executive
Wayne K. Curry Administration Building 1301 McCormick Drive, Largo, MD 20774 (301) 952-4131 www.princegeorgescountymd.gov
Cgrulis TO OUR 2023
HONOREES
HONOREES INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
This award recognizes an individual whose culture, creativity, products or services, and people advance the business landscape with solutions that bring new ideas to life Vennard Wright is the President and CEO of Wave Welcome, a leading digital transformation and IT optimization firm headquartered in National Harbor, MD. In an era dominated by tech innovation, Wave Welcome has become a leader in the tech industry. Prior to founding Wave Welcome, Vennard’s professional experience was comprised of multiple executive leadership roles including serving as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Vice President of Operations for Iron Bow Technologies, CIO for WSSC Water, CIO for Prince George’s County Government (MD), and Director of Technology for Hillary Clinton during her successful United States Senate re-election campaign and subsequent 2008 Presidential Campaign. In addition, he held the distinction of being the Chief Technology Officer & Technical Organization Delivery Manager for Electronic Data Systems (EDS).
VENNARD WRIGHT
As a complement to his decades of IT leadership experience, Vennard brings an equal amount of hands-on experience in working with young people through his volunteer efforts that include: mentoring students in hybrid settings and, as a Roadrunners Club of America (RRCA) and USA Track & Field (USATF) certified coach, he has coached a host of young athletes into NCAA scholarships.
INDUSTRY TRAILBLAZER OF THE YEAR
This award recognizes a business who demonstrates exceptional leadership, groundbreaking achievements, and significant contributions to the business world Topcurl Beauty Academy and Topcurl Foundation Incorporated has a mission to educate underserved populations through scholarship based programming, in the areas of cosmetology, self awareness and personal development education, health education and overall wellness. Topcurl Beauty Academy employs and trains beauty staff who use their expertise to assist students.
HONOREES VISIONARY OF THE YEAR
This award recognizes an individual who inspires and encourages the next generation of business leaders while serving as an advocate for entrepreneurship Dr. Madeline Ann Lewis is President/CEO of the Executive Women’s Success Institute, a 22-year Army veteran, International TEDx Speaker, International Bestselling Author, creator of the online course “Crack The Career Code: Unlock The Amazing Power Within To Lead With Confidence, Charisma, and Credibility”, host of the Success 4 Women Radio/TV Show, Career Strategist, Trainer, and Business Consultant. She helps women progress in their career into upper management and executive level positions by providing them with a fast track, yet comprehensive toolkit of life skills and abilities. She also helps women and female veterans who are transitioning out of the workplace and military into business entrepreneurship. Dr. Lewis has numerous awards and accolades. She was selected for the 2022 Joe Manns Black Wall Street Award and the 2022 Veteran Champions of the Year (VCOY)” in Corporate America” list. The 2022 VCOY Corporate list honors 30 champions who advocate for our nation’s veterans in the civilian workforce.
DR. MADELINE ANN LEWIS
STRATEGIC PARTNER OF THE YEAR
This award recognizes a business who demonstrates a strong alignment to the mission of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce, and demonstrates a collaborative effort to impacting the economy, locally and regionally Inncuvate is a full stack entrepreneurship-led economic empowerment enterprise focused on redefining how communities connect all residents with opportunities to improve their quality of life specializing in creating purpose-built programs and places that attracts the best talent and creates an environment that encourages innovation, collaboration, and the commercialization of new ideas. Founded by Mark Lawrence, Mark serves as Inncuvate’s Managing Partner. He has worked strategically with businesses and non-profit organizations throughout Prince George’s County to develop innovative solutions for economic equity.
HONOREES CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PIONEER
This award recognizes a business that demonstrates exemplary commitment to corporate social responsibility, dedication to sustainable practices, and transformative impact on the business community For nearly 100 years, United Way NCA has worked diligently to change the lives of people and families in the National Capital Area by improving the health, education, and economic opportunity of every person in our community. United Way of the National Capital Area is uniquely positioned at the intersection of the public, private, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors, and the only organization that can mobilize the best resources and people to lead collective impact for our community. Since 2016, United Way NCA has supported 32,000 low-income middle school students in performing at or above grade level and successfully transitioning to high school through our Title I community schools across the region, including support to 93 Community Schools in Prince George’s County that serves more than 57,000 students and families. United Way NCA’s five Financial Empowerment Centers in the region have served 140,000 area residents with free financial and tax services, earning back nearly $131M in tax refunds through no-cost tax preparation and Earned Income Tax Credit. United Way NCA has distributed 17,000 kits containing food, hygiene, and warm clothing to students and families in need, and helped residents save more than $49.5M in prescription costs to date.
CAREER EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
This award recognizes an individual for their extraordinary commitment to workforce development by creating meaningful opportunities that will influence, mobilize, and energize a diverse, skilled and creative talent pipeline Vision. Purpose. Humility. Throughout his whirlwind career, from Booz Allen engineer at age 18 to Enterprise Architect for the Federal Government in his twenties, to business founder, leader, and community visionary to this day, Cloudforce CEO Husein Sharaf has always brought a true passion for harnessing the power of technology to make lives better. Today, Sharaf leads his carefully curated, eclectic team of engineers to bring human-centric Microsoft solutions to clients and never lose sight of any opportunity to mentor next-generation talent. Husein is an award-winning entrepreneur and serves as Co-Chair of the Employ Prince George’s IT Business Advisory Council.
HUSEIN SHARAF
Under Husein’s leadership, Cloudforce has supported Prince George’s Community College by providing students with hands-on experience and networking opportunities to launch their careers. Cloudforce has hired PGCC students and alumni through its Technical Internship Program. Cloudforce raised funds through their Laptops for Good campaign to provide 100 laptops to our students.
SPECIAL AWARD
The David. C. Harrington Lifetime Achievement Award is a prestigious honor given to an individual who has made significant contributions in their field or industry over the course of their entire career and has demonstrated integrity as a leader. The Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce and its Board of Directors have established the David C. Harrington Lifetime Achievement Award. As the first African American Mayor of the Town of Bladensburg, to the Prince George’s County Council, Mr. Harrington rose to the position of Chair of the Council to Maryland State Senator, District 47. He was always committed to “Community First.” Having served as PGCOC’s President & CEO from 2012-2022. Mr. Harrington truly has left a lasting footprint of courage and compassion and has been a change agent for our County. THE HONORABLE DAVID C. HARRINGTON July 31, 1954 - September 19, 2022
EVENT SPONSORS PRESENTING PARTNER
PLATINUM PARTNER
EVENT SPONSORS GOLD PARTNER
SILVER PARTNERS
BRONZE PARTNERS
MENU SPONSOR: Special Care Dentistry • RED CARPET SPONSORS: Bowie State University • Wave Welcome TABLE SPONSORS: Captivate Perspectives • CDEEM, Co • Cloudforce • Corenic Construction Council Member Sydney J. Harrison • Employ Prince George’s • Prince George’s Arts & Humanities Council Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation • The Arc of Prince George’s County • Verizon
MC & ENTERTAINMENT SUNNI AND THE CITY | WHUR Radio Host, Author & Philanthropist Sunni Puric is a radio host at WHUR 96.3, a contributing host at WTTG’s FOX5 DC, author, and philanthropist. Previously, Sunni graced the airways on WPGC 95.5, Power 96 in Miami, FM 98 WJLB, and Channel 95.5 in Detroit. As a Bosnian refugee who relocated to the United States in 1997, Sunni taught herself to speak English in less than six months. She also became the first woman from her native country of Bosnia to have her own show on an urban radio station, making her also one of the youngest radio personalities in Detroit at the age of 21. Interviewing celebrities and attending fabulous events is just another day in a life of a radio host, but Sunni always finds the time for charity work. She has been involved with U.S. Special Olympics, Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure, NBA/WNBA Read To Achieve Programs, just to name a few.
KERI NICOLE | Singer & Songwriter Keri Nicole, an international singer and songwriter, is back on the road, this time bringing her worldwide pop anthem “Freedom”––produced by Billboard-charting producer Art The Great and featuring hip hop artist and humanitarian DELLASIE––to the forefront of the international and national conversation about social justice and upliftment. The hit single “Freedom” from the EP “The Real Keri Nicole” is sweeping the music scene.
AJ SHOWTIME | 92Q Jams DJ & Host Graduate of Frostburg State University and member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., AJ is a host/DJ of 92Q’s Rap Attack Sunday nights @ 7:00pm and Imaging Director of Radio-One Baltimore. Holding it down with his partner AngelBaby, Rap Attack is the #1 show that does all things hip hop from exclusives to showcasing underground and local artist.
Making Powerful Connections Meeting the needs of local businesses with safe, reliable, and affordable energy helps our communities grow. We’re proud to support the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Business Awards Gala, and join in honoring all those who come together to energize the local communities where we live and work. pepco.com © Potomac Electric Power Company, 2023
ex is proud to sponsor the
Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce’s
excellence in business awards gala
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When you start with care, you get a different kind of bank. Care isn’t just what we do at Truist—it’s who we are. We make sure people around us feel supported and more in control. We find out what’s important to our clients, and make it important to us. We get involved in meaningful ways with our communities. Why? Because real connections and real care create better outcomes. Now that’s powerful.
Truist.com Truist Bank, Member FDIC. © 2022 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, the Truist logo and Truist Purple are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation.
Your Passion. Your Path.
CONGRATULATIONS
to the 2023 Excellence in Business Award Winners Bowie State University, a Top 20 HBCU, delivers an immersive entrepreneurial experience preparing the next generation of innovators. Learn more at bowiestate.edu
M A R Y L A N D ’ S P R E M I E R PA R T N E R I N
BUSINESS GROWTH
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PRINCE GEORGE’S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Every day, FSC First works to build financial health and opportunity throughout Maryland. Through training, technical assistance programs, and flexible financing options, FSC First is committed to empowering Maryland’s business owners with the of hosting the capital and insights for success.
EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS AWARDEES
Maryland Washington Minority Companies Association
Visit our website to learn more Spring Breakfast www.fscfirst.com
1801 McCormick Drive | Suite 300 | Largo, MD 20774 P: 301-883-6900 F: 301-883-6160 fscfirstpgc fscfirst_ fsc.first fscfirstpgc Dawn Medley President & CEO FSC First
Residential
Hotels
Commercial
Congratulations to this Year's Excellence in Business Award Winners Southern Management is a proud member of The Prince George's County Chamber of Commerce
Thank you for your continued service and commitment to the Prince George’s County business community.
WSSCWater.com 14501 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, MD 20707
LEADERSHIP
EXECUTIVE BOARD Chair - Cassius Priestly, Truist Bank Chair-Elect/Treasurer - Tony Ruffin, Pepco Past Chair - Brian R. Wheeler, CareFirst BlueShield Secretary- Courtney Edmonds, Washington Suburban and Sanitation Commission (WSSC) General Counsel - Jason DeLoach, Esq., Alexander & Cleaver, P.A. President & CEO- Alexander K. Austin, PGCOC Member at Large - Shameeka Price, Capital Structures Real Estates, LLC
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Thomas McLaurin, Industrial Bank Donna Graves, Kaiser Permanente Leslie Jefferson, Giant Food, LLC Michael Cohen, Top Dollar PawnBrokers Tom Farasy, Corner Media Manuel Geraldo, Washington Gas (9/8/22) Mark Lawrence, Inncuvate, LLC Enor Williams, The ELOCEN Group, LLC Will Groben, The Walrus Oyster and Ale House Edward J. Grenier, III, Junior Achievement of Greater Washington (Ex-Officio) Adenia Bradley, Misson of Love Charities Dr. Aminta Breaux, Bowie State University Ashley Powell, Southern Management Companies Dr. Regina Tawah, Bowie State University James Marrow, Corenic Construction Robert Malone, The Arc Prince George’s County Tony McBarnette, WesBanco Eben Smith, Three | E Consulting James Henderson, J.E. Henderson Financial Wes Stith, Clark Construction Company Dr. Falecia Williams, Prince George’s Community College Katie McEvoy, AT&T Dr. Sherrie Johnson, Prince George’s Community College Anton de Roo, UnitedHealthCare of the Mid-Atlantic, Inc Gregory Real, PNC Bank * Charlene M. Dukes, Prince George’s Community College Denita Conway, PROVEN Management, LLC * Honorary Member
“The voice of wealth creation in Prince George’s County” www.pgcoc.org
Thank You
Dear Sponsors, Elected Officials, Members, Partners, and Community, Thank you on behalf of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Team! We appreciate your unwavering support of our organization and this Celebration of Excellence. In addition to our sponsors and supporters, we wish to extend very special thanks to the following:
VENDORS 2Have 2Host • Awards Plus • Everyday LaVan, LLC • Gaylord National Harbor It’s Poppin Events, LLC • Pinnacle Linens • Skycon Media • The O Agency
Design & Printing by SkyconMedia.com
HOST COMMITTEE Billye Pounds • Jacqulyn Priestly • Thomas Graham • Rhonda Dallas