[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 101 (Wednesday, June 18, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTS OF HARRIET R. MICHEL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 18, 2008

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the work and 
accomplishments of Ms. Harriet Michel. I would like to thank Ms. Michel 
for all of her hard work and her contribution to the minority business 
community.
  Harriet R. Michel's work as president of the National Minority 
Supplier Council, NMSDC, has created a platform for the growth of 
minority business development. Ms. Michel has contributed greatly to 
the empowerment of minority business owners by creating opportunities 
to compete for corporate contracts.
  I would like to again thank Ms. Michel for her great contribution to 
the minority business community and I would like to wish her luck in 
all her future endeavors.

                  [From the CaribWoman, June 3, 2008]

                   NMSDC President To Retire in 2009

       New York, NY.--Harriet R. Michel, president of the National 
     Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), announced that 
     she will retire after 20 years of service effective January 
     31, 2009. Ms. Michel was named president of NMSDC in 
     September 1988.
       ``I'm very proud of what the NMSDC has accomplished in my 
     20 years with the organization,'' said Ms. Michel. ``We have 
     created programs to assist our corporate members in improving 
     their minority supplier development processes, offered 
     valuable training for supplier development professionals and 
     provided thousands of minority business owners with the 
     opportunity to compete for corporate contracts. While it 
     saddens me to leave NMSDC, I have the comfort of knowing that 
     the organization is as strong as it's ever been, and will 
     certainly remain an invaluable asset to corporate America and 
     minority business owners.''
       During her tenure, NMSDC'S corporate membership nearly 
     quadrupled, and corporate member purchases from minority-
     owned businesses increased from $10.5 billion to more than 
     $100 billion. The organization's staff increased from 8 to 
     22, and its annual budget grew from $2 million plus to $16 
     million, which has strengthened the affiliate network, too.
       Since Ms. Michel became president, nine chairmen from major 
     corporations served as chairman of the NMSDC board, including 
     David E. Miller (JCPenney Stores and Catalog, 1986-88); 
     Joseph E. Antonini (Kmart Corporation, 1988-1991); Robert C. 
     Stempel (General Motors Corporation, 1991-93); Arthur C. 
     Martinez (Sears, Roebuck and Co., 1994-1997); George A. David 
     (United Technologies Corporation, 1998-2000); Daniel P. 
     Burnham (Raytheon Company, 2001-03); John M. Barth (Johnson 
     Controls, Inc., 2004-05); and Steven S. Reinemund (PepsiCo, 
     Inc., 2006-07), Terry J. Lundgren, chairman, president and 
     chief executive officer of Macy's, Inc., is the current 
     chairman.
       Under Ms. Michel's leadership, the NMSDC experienced 
     tremendous financial growth and implemented all of the core 
     national programs available to its corporate members and MBEs 
     today.
       Under Ms. Michel's guidance, the organization expanded the 
     size of its annual conference from 700 attendees in 1998 to 
     more than 7,000. A one-day business opportunity fair was 
     added to the conference, which is considered the nation's 
     benchmark forum for minority supplier development.
       The NMSDC's Minority Business Information Center was 
     created in 1994. It is the only national centralized source 
     of information about minority business development and 
     trends.
       The Center's resources include access to online databases; 
     a vast collection of magazines, newspapers and journals with 
     articles pertinent to minority business development; 
     statistical data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census; books 
     containing corporate facts and figures; information on 
     legislation affecting minority business development; links to 
     relevant sites for the government, media, and other 
     organizations; publications, order forms, audio and video 
     cassettes; NMSDC Council referrals for certification; and the 
     organization's e-Newsletter and archives.
       In 1990, the NMSDC created the annual Minority Business 
     Leadership Awards Dinner-Dance to recognize MBEs and 
     corporations for their long-standing achievements in minority 
     supplier development. Today, more than 1,700 guests attend 
     the event.
       Ms. Michel will remain in her position through the end of 
     January 2009. An NMSDC search committee will work with a 
     national executive search firm that specializes in non-profit 
     leadership recruitment to fill the position.

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