Alabama Power and Alabama Power President and CEO Charles McCrary are this year's winners of the South Regions Minority Business Council's (SRMBC) Corporation of the Year and CEO of the Year awards. The awards will be presented on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the SRMBC Crystal Reception and Awards Gala at the Birmingham Marriott Hotel.

Alabama Power was awarded the Corporation of the Year award because of the company's solid support of SRMBC and its commitment to helping promote and develop minority businesses. McCrary was chosen as the CEO of the Year because of his extraordinary leadership and dedication to minority business development.

"There are no two more deserving recipients of these awards -- SRMBC's highest honors -- than Alabama Power and Charles McCrary," said Chris Lewis, Supplier Diversity Manager for Birmingham-based Motion Industries Inc. and selection committee chairman. "For years, Alabama Power has been a strong supporter of SRMBC and a leader in minority business development."

Alabama Power has been instrumental in assisting SRMBC as it establishes new headquarters in Birmingham. The company also has worked closely with SRMBC on its efforts to help minority businesses grow and prosper. In September, for example, Alabama Power hosted SRMBC's first-ever State of Minority Business Summit at the company's headquarters in Birmingham. The event drew hundreds of minority and women business leaders from across the state.

"Alabama Power is setting an example for many companies in its efforts to nurture and support minority businesses," said SRMBC interim Executive Director Jarvis Patton.

Established in 1983, SRMBC is a non-profit, privately funded organization that promotes economic development opportunities for minority-owned businesses. SRMBC is one of 43 regional purchasing councils affiliated with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), one of the country's leading business membership organizations with more than 3,500 corporate members nationwide. SRMBC and NMSDC work together to help develop and expand minority business purchasing programs.

As winners of this year's SRMBC awards, Alabama Power and Charles McCrary will be automatically nominated for NMSDC's national awards, to be presented next year.

"We look forward to many more years of successful partnership with Alabama Power Company," Patton said.

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SOURCE: South Regions Minority Business Council