Comerica Wins Ninth Consecutive Supplier Diversity Award
DETROIT, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michigan
Minority Business Development Council (MMBDC) named Comerica
Incorporated as "Corporation of the Year- Finance Sector" at its
annual awards dinner, held October 5, 2004, at Cobo Conference
Center in Detroit. This is the ninth consecutive year the Detroit-
based banking company has earned the top honor for its supplier
diversity efforts.
"We're proud to be
the hometown bank, and recognize the value of supplier diversity and
minority business development in our great state," said Ralph W.
Babb Jr., Comerica's chairman and chief executive officer. "We're
especially proud of our dedicated colleagues who help us to achieve
our supplier diversity and minority business development goals. We
also are thankful for the minority entrepreneurs who are our
customers and suppliers of goods and services."
The
21st annual awards dinner carried the theme, "Supplier Diversity: A
Celebration of Excellence," and featured former basketball standout
Earvin "Magic" Johnson, now a successful business person, as guest
speaker.
"It was a magical night for a
lot of companies and individuals who were recognized for their
outstanding efforts to advance minority businesses in Michigan,"
said Linda Forte, senior vice president of Business Affairs, who
accepted the MMBDC award on behalf of Comerica.
Comerica's commitment to supplier diversity is backed-up by a
support system focused on building long-term relationships. This
includes having a national minority business development
coordinator, Don P. Alessi, vice president of Corporate Purchasing,
who helps identify and personally assist minority vendors with
technical help or advice.
"We are proud of the
MMBDC award because we take supplier diversity and minority business
development seriously, and recognize the value in mirroring our
supplier base to our customer base," said Alessi.
Comerica colleagues Chequita Smith and Charlene Cole were nominated
as MMBDC "2004 Corporate Buyer of the Year" and "2004 Corporate
Minority Business Advocate of the Year," respectively. Smith is an
officer in Corporate Purchasing and Cole is an officer in Corporate
Public Affairs.
Established in 1978, MMBDC is a
privately funded, Detroit-based non-profit corporate services
organization that promotes linkages between major companies and
minority businesses.
Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company
headquartered in Detroit, strategically aligned into the Business Bank,
Small Business & Personal Financial Services, and Wealth &
Institutional Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping businesses and people be successful. Comerica
reported total assets of $55 billion at June
30, 2004.
Source: Comerica Incorporated