Mega Deals completed with local minority-owned businesses—representing billions of dollars in spend—have been recognized by the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Supplier Diversity Council (D/FW MSDC).
The recently held D/FW MSDC E Awards Gala commemorated 13 Mega Deals by AT&T, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), and PepsiCo. In total, the deals represent $7 billion in spend with D/FW MSDC certified ethnic minority-owned businesses.
The Council first began recognizing Mega Deals in 2008. They are defined as any contract of at least $25 million for business performed in or completed and paid in a year. They also must be between a certified D/FW MSDC Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and a Buying Entity Member (a corporation or public sector agency).
The awards were created to highlight the growth of minority business capacity and the extent of minority business solutions available to Buying Entity Members.
“The D/FW MSDC focus has not wavered since its inception,” said Margo J. Posey, CEO and president of the D/FW MSDC, in a statement. “We are about helping to build sustainable minority-owned businesses that can fulfill the opportunities of our Buying Entity Members and their supply chain needs. This requires developing minority business capacity through facilitating connections for business opportunities that challenge and grow minority-owned companies.”
This year’s recognized Mega Deals, along with each company’s Minority Business Enterprise partner, include:
AT&T
- Argent Associates, a Plano-based telecom and IT company
- Asociar, a Plano-based supply chain company
- Diamond P Enterprises, a Brownwood-based infrastructure company
- Group O, a Milan, Illinois-based supply chain company with a regional office in Roanoke
- LinkAmerica, a Rowlett-based telecom wholesale company
- LogistiCorp Wholesale Trade LLC, a Grapevine-based logistics company
- Pinnacle Group, a Dallas-based employment agency
- SHI International, a New Jersey-based computer software, hardware, and IT solutions company with Dallas operations
- World Wide Technology, a Maryland Heights, Missouri-based technology solutions company with a Plano office
DART
- Omega Contracting, a Dallas-based general contractor
PepsiCo
- Group O, a Milan, Illinois-based supply chain company with a regional office in Roanoke
- Universal Concepts, a Virginia-based company
The D/FW MSDC said each minority-owned business demonstrated industry excellence, whether it be through strong business operations, continuous improvement models, innovative solutions, or secure financial risk management. The yearly Mega Deals awards illustrate how scalable minority-owned businesses can get and execute large-scale contracts.
The privately funded nonprofit D/FW MSDC was founded in 1973 with an initial spend of $1 million with minority businesses. Since, it has grown to verified spend with certified ethnic minority businesses headquartered in North Texas of $25.2 billion. This reach represents 939 D/FW MSDC certified minority-owned businesses and more than 55,776 jobs maintained and created by the businesses.
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