Marilyn Robinson
This week marks the beginning of a plethora of activities that will be helpful to old businesses, new businesses and those contemplating a start up business as well as supporters…there is something for the entire business community. The Nashville Minority Business Development Center is in the process of hosting 29 years of celebrating minority businesses in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
The 2013 Minority Enterprise Development Week, also known as MED Week, is billed as a business development conference. This “business development conference” will consist of workshops, seminars, meet and greet networking events, business recognition through the churches and schools, and the 11th Annual Business/Career Opportunity Expo at Mt. Zion Church on October 5th from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and Temple Baptist Church. The first of the activities began on Oct. 1 and will continue through Nov. 17, 2013.
The Nashville Minority Business Center, established by Marilyn Robinson in 1984, was formerly Nashville Minority Business Development Center. At that time there was a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency. The Center is now the oldest, continuously operating minority economic development institution in Middle Tennessee. Through the efforts of Ms. Robinson, the Center has been a catalyst in the creation of economic independence for minorities through advocacy for contract equity, business loans, and business development.
Robinson, who has been a principle advocate for increased minority participation in government contracts for over 20 years said, “Hopefully, we have made a difference in encouraging minority businesses through our advocacy, conferences, workshops, and presentation of awards.” “We hope you will be able to participate in some of the activities being sponsored throughout the next two months,” she added.
This year Robinson, MED Week board members and the planning committee members are so proud to have as co-chairs: Nancy A. Vincent, counsel, Baker/Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell and Berkowitz, PC and Mary Pat Barrett-Teague, Associate Director for Community, Neighborhood, and Government Relations at Vanderbilt University.
More information and a schedule of activities can be found at www.minoritybusinesscenter.com
Co-chairs for Minority Enterprise Development Week
The Nashville Minority Business Development Center is proud to announce the co-chairs of 2013 Minority Enterprise Development Week business development conference slated for October 1- November 17, 2013. The co-chairs this year are Nancy A. Vincent, of counsel with Baker Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell and Berkowitz, PC. and Mary Pat Barrett-Teague, Associate Director for Community, Neighborhood, and Government Relations at Vanderbilt University.
Nancy A. Vincent
Nancy A. Vincent, of counsel in Baker Donelson’s Nashville office, is a member of the Firm’s corporate group and concentrates her practice in the areas of complex litigation, state and federal procurement transactions, administrative law and public policy. Ms. Vincent was general counsel for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce for two terms, and she was the first Vice-President of Legal Affairs & Government Relations for the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority. Ms. Vincent is married to Mark A. Baugh, who is a shareholder and Chair of Diversity at Baker Donelson. Ms. Vincent received her Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University School of Law, and she also holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology, and a Master of Business Administration.
Mary Pat Barrett-Teague
Mary Pat Barrett-Teague serves as Associate Director for Community, Neighborhood, and Government Relations at Vanderbilt University. She joined Vanderbilt in January 1991. Mary Pat’s work includes collaborating with Vanderbilt and its neighbors and on issues before Metro Government. In her pre-Nashville life, Mary Pat spent ten years working on Capitol Hill as a congressional staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives. Mary Pat is married to Phil Teague. They have two children, Barrett, a CPL in the U.S. Marines currently serving in Afghanistan and Ellen, a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee. She holds a B.A. from St. Norbert College.
