- Each year, BLACK ENTERPRISE welcomes new companies to its BE100s lists, which chronicle the most successful African American companies across the nation. We call them our Freshman Class. Through uncertain economic times, several companies have held fast, growing their bottom line and refusing to let the economy dictate whether they will or won’t succeed. This year, as we watch and wait for a rebound, we celebrate 20 black-owned enterprises that made it through the storm.
- Of the 20 companies, there is one auto dealer and two financial service institutions. The other 17 are industrial/service companies providing services in construction, energy, supply chain, food services, commercial transportation, IT, packaging, product manufacturing, and medical supply. Take a look at the 2011 BE100s Freshman Class.
Harvey Industries L.L.C. — Harvey Industries is a high quality aluminum casting, machining, assembly, testing, polymer injection molding producer. Founded in 1982, the company is based in Livonia, Michigan, and has three plants located in Wabash, Indiana; Westland, Michigan and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. The company’s mission is to fulfill all of their clients’ manufacturing needs while helping them complete projects at the highest quality standards and utilizing the latest technology. (Photo: Jerome Harvey, President & CEO of Harvey Industries L.L.C.; Courtesy of Harvey Industries)
The Lewis Group L.L.P. — The Lewis Group is a petroleum marketer and operator of 20 Shell-branded convenience stores. The company also owns Jack in the Box restaurants throughout the Houston area and Cabo’s, the Original Mix-Mex Grill, in downtown Houston. The company is a member of the National Urban League, Greater Houston Partnership and NAACP, and was recognized as one of the largest minority-owned businesses in Houston by the Houston Business Journal. (Photo: Sherman Lewis Jr., Owner (l) and Sherman Lewis III, Owner, CEO & President (r) of The Lewis Group L.L.P.; Courtesy of The Lewis Group L.L.P.)
Vendor Managed Solutions Inc. — Vendor Managed Solutions is a custom service integrator and provider of integrated MRO (maintenance repairs and operations) and vendor management services. An innovator in supply chain management, VMS is changing the face of the supply chain and how clients implement purchasing operations, materials management, logistics, and inventory programs. The company consolidates clients’ purchasing operations and customizes a broad spectrum of viable value chain solutions. (Photo: Rumia Burbank, President of Vendor Managed Solutions Inc.; Courtesy of Vendor Managed Solutions)
Promet Energy Partners L.L.C. — Promet Energy Partners supplies natural gas and electricity to local distribution companies and large industrial businesses. Headquartered in Chicago, the company works with leading energy companies to provide electricity to industrial consumers in deregulated states. It also offers specialized energy consulting services. Promet Energy Partners was founded in 2004 and is one of the few minority energy companies licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to supply wholesale power. (Photo: Gregory R. White, CEO of Promet Energy Partners L.L.C.; Courtesy of Promet Energy Partners L.L.C.)
K. Neal International Trucks Inc. — K. Neal is a full-service commercial truck dealership representing the International, Hino, Mitsubishi Fuso, and IC Bus brands. The dealership has locations throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and provides new and previously owned sales, service, parts and maintenance for commercial trucks and buses sold under the abovementioned brands. Prior to being acquired by current owner Stephen W. Neal in 2006, the dealership was formerly known as District International and J. Price International, and had been in Prince George’s County, Maryland for more than 40 years. (Photo: Stephen W. Neal, President & CEO of K. Neal International Trucks Inc.; Courtesy of K. Neal International Trucks Inc.)
Invizion Inc. — Invizion is a company that delivers management, technical and consulting solutions worldwide. The company was established in 2003 as a privately-held Virginia corporation and was created, in part, to contribute to the transformation of the nation’s intelligence and homeland security communities. The company has implemented state-of-the-art technologies and business tools that allow it to move quickly and make sound management decisions. (Photo: Steven Johnson, Chairman & CEO of Invizion Inc.; Courtesy of Invizion Inc.)
Maricom Systems Inc. — Maricom Systems Inc. is an information technology solutions firm, specializing in data management, software engineering, business intelligence solutions, and contact center services. The company has worked with government, healthcare, and commercial sectors, providing management, maintenance, and support of large and complex data environments. A CMMI Level 3 company, Maricom provides clients with a full range of IT services in the system development life cycle, from project concept and requirements gathering to design, development, testing and post-implementation support. (Photo: Maria Beckett, CEO of Maricom Systems Inc.; Courtesy of Maricom Systems Inc.)
Zycron Inc. — Zycron is a customer-focused information technology services and solutions firm. Since 1991, the company has
SLR Contracting & Service Company Inc. — SLR Contracting is a full-service general construction company specializing in all facets of commercial construction, including renovation projects and new construction, as well as construction management and design build work. The company has provided its services to federal, state and local government organizations, medical facilities, churches and schools. It has regional offices in Watertown, New York and Springville, New York. (Photo: Sundra L. Ryce, President & CEO, SLR Contracting & Service Company Inc.;Â Photo by Lonnie C. Major )
World Pac Paper L.L.C. — World Pac Paper is an award-winning national distributor of high quality printing and packaging papers that serves commercial printers, catalogers, publishers, integrated and independent corrugated converters, folding carton/rigid box manufacturers, tube winders, laminators and paper converters. The company is a joint venture between The World Packaging Company, L.L.C., an innovative packaging and global solutions company, and Clifford Paper, Inc., one of the largest and fastest growing paper distributors in North America. (Photo: Edgar L. Smith Jr., Chairman & CEO of World Pac Paper L.L.C.; Courtesy of World Pac Paper L.L.C.)
The Will Group — The Will Group is the parent company of six entities:  ERM Construction, Lighting Solutions of Illinois Inc., Murray Food Services, Lyons View Supply, Rib Mountain Aggregate, and Willson Design. They specialize in engineering, design/construction and project management and have established long-term relationships with manufacturers, business partners and clients. The company has developed cost-effective ways to do business and has been successful in completing projects with sensitivity to financial budgets and timelines. (Photos: Different lighting technologies from The Will Group. Courtesy of The Will Group)
TME Enterprises I Ltd. — TME Enterprises I Ltd. owns and operates 20 Taco Bell and 5 Five Guys Burgers fast food franchises in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Headquartered in Smyrna, GA, the company is preparing to open 15 additional Five Guys Burgers locations in the near future. TME was started in 1997 and employs more than 500 people. (Photo: Michael E. Melton, President & Managing Partner of TME Enterprises I Ltd.; Courtesy of TME Enterprises I Ltd.)
DKW Communications Inc. — DKWÂ Communications was formed to provide the U.S. government with a unique small business solution that can respond to a full range of professional and technical requirements. The company offers a unique management delivery organization that is 100% dedicated to providing a total solution that ensures interoperability and standards enforcement. They pride themselves on delivering seamless design, implementation and support of Net-Centric, Information Management and Facilities and Administrative solutions and services. (Photo: Darryl Washington, President & CEO of DKW Communications Inc.; Courtesy of DKW Communications Inc.)
Pride Enterprises — Pride Enterprises is a building, construction management and consulting firm that offers extensive experience in renovation, new construction, infrastructure, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) and design projects. The company’s clients include the U.S. military, government bureaus and offices, and private clients. Their services include comprehensive estimating and pricing procedures, construction capabilities using state-of-the-art technology and equipment, critical path sequencing and scheduling, IDIQ and design-build contracting capabilities, materials procurement, project management, subcontractor prequalification, and value engineering and constructability reviews. (Photo: Craig T. Williams, President of Pride Enterprises;Â Courtesy of Pride Enterprises)
Valentine Manufacturing L.L.C. — VMFG is a New York-based manufacturer of point-of-sale merchandising and consumer product components. The company is composed of a superb team of professionals that include sales people, project managers, estimators, mechanical engineers, industrial designers, model makers and 3D renderers. And the team has a background in a wide spectrum of market segments spanning the beauty, technology, filmmaking, fashion and packaged goods industries. VMFG is certified by the National Minority Supplier Development Council as a minority business enterprise. (Photo: Tony Valentine, Owner, Valentine Manufacturing L.L.C.; Photo by Lonnie C. Major)
Neta Scientific Inc. — Established in 1999, Neta Scientific is a laboratory supply company with additional offices in North Carolina, South Carolina and California. The company supplies thousands of research and development labs in the pharmaceutical, life sciences, higher learning and chemical industries throughout the country. Neta Scientific is a minority and woman-owned business, and is SDA, SDB, NMSDC, WBEÂ and MBE certified. They provide guidance on issues concerning product applications, product specifications, manufacturer recommendations, regulatory compliance and the occupational health and safety of the workforce. (Photo: The staff at Neta Scientific Inc.;Â Courtesy of Neta Scientific Inc.)
A10 Clinical Solutions Inc. — A10 Clinical Solutions is a clinical research and clinical care company that works with pharmaceutical companies, government entities and other organizations to bring new and innovative drugs and healthcare improvements to market faster. The company helps clients conduct clinical studies to improve health outcomes for patients and the community, and it provides corporate and government clients the ability to lower employee healthcare costs by providing occupational health services in eco-friendly on-site clinics. (Photo: Leah Brown, President & CEO of A10 Clinical Solutions Inc.; Â Courtesy of A10 Clinical Solutions Inc.)
Jorgensen Ford Sales Inc. – Jorgensen Ford Sales Inc. is an auto dealership based in Detroit. It sells new and pre-owned Ford models: Taurus, Econoline, Explorer, Focus, Fusion, Escape, Expedition, F-150, Mustang, Flex, Ranger or Edge. The dealership came under black ownership in 2004 and employs more than 50 people. (Photo: Merlton L. Brandenberg, President of Jorgensen Ford Sales Inc.; Courtesy of Jorgensen Ford Sales Inc.)
Inheritance Capital Group L.L.C. – Inheritance Capital Group is a private equity commercial real estate firm with international capabilities. The fund is managed by ICG Real Estate Advisors L.L.C., the only minority-owned enterprise in the country certified by the Minority Business Development Council to buy and sell corporate sale lease backs. The company, based in Southfield, Michigan, specializes in single tenant net lease real estate nationwide. ICG was founded in 2006.
Grain Management L.L.C. – Grain Management is a private equity wireless communications firm with investments in the telecommunications industry. The company operates and leases cell phone towers. Founded just last year, the company employs 20 people and has government and private clientele. (Photo: David J. Grain, Founder & Managing Partner of Grain Management L.L.C.; Courtesy of Grain Management L.L.C.)