Georgia Minority Supplier Development CouncilNational Hispanic Heritage Month – celebrated from September 15th to October 15th – is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to appreciate the contributions of businesses owned by people of Hispanic heritage and celebrate the diverse and inclusive cultures that are so integral to the American experience. Some of the longest-tenured and most successful MBEs are in this community, including a number of phenomenal stories of the transition from startup to struggle to success. We are proud of our association with these amazing companies and pause to acknowledge them and thank them for their many contributions to Georgia’s economy and the GMSDC family.
Hispanic Heritage Month began with President Lyndon Johnson proclaiming the first Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968. The proclamation required the celebration to include September 15th and 16th, in recognition of the Independence Day celebrations of the nations of Central America and Mexico, respectively. President Reagan expanded the commemoration to a 30-day period in 1988, taking the unusual step of having the celebration begin mid-month to align with our neighbors to the south. Today, America’s Hispanic population exceeds 60 million is both the nation’s largest minority population, at 18.5%, and the fastest growing. Within the next thirty years, more than 100 million Americans will have roots in Latin America, Central America, Mexico or Spain. The GMSDC would like to spotlight just a few of the many amazing MBEs of Hispanic heritage in the GMSDC family –
Anasteel and Supply Company is a manufacturer of rebar for the construction industry, headquartered in Ellenwood. A 27-year old enterprise headed up by Ana Cablik, Anasteel specializes in commercial and heavy-duty projects such as highway bridges and other public works.
Display America, headquartered in Stockbridge, provides a comprehensive suite of services for conferences, trade shows and exhibitions. Under the leadership of Carlos Quiñones, Display America seeks to provide brand-driven, customer focused exhibits, events and experiences.
IP Comm is a branding and marketing agency based in Decatur, and one of the Council’s oldest MBEs. Founded in 1983 by Nelson Fuentes and now led by Monica Maldonado, IP Comm seeks to empower organizations to grow through creative, strategic and impactful brand experiences.
These wonderful MBEs represent only a very small sample of the many phenomenal companies that make up this segment of the GMSDC family. Please join us in honoring the contributions of these MBEs to Georgia’s economy and our communities. For more information about Hispanic Heritage Month, visit hispanicheritagemonth.gov.
