Page 95 - BE 50th Anniversary Edition

BARBARA “B” SMITH
FOUNDER
B SMITH
ENTERPRISES
Smith began her career as as a a a a a fashion model for Ebony Fashion Fair and then signed with the the exclusive Wilhelmina Modeling Agency which led to her gracing the covers of numerous general-market magazines including being the first African American woman on the cover of Mademoi- selle in 1976 She also could be found on TV commercials for Mercedes-Benz Verizon Colgate-Palmolive's Oxy and McCormick’s Lawry’s seasonings products She took that experience and her influence as as a a a a a a tastemaker to create a a a a a a lifestyle brand and and an an an array of successful businesses including restaurants in in in in New York and Washington D C a a a a a nationally syndicated/cable television show B Smith with Style that aired in the the U S S and and another 40 countries and and B Smith With Style Home Collection the first line of bedding tabletop and bath products from an an an an African American woman to be sold at at a a a a a a nationwide retailer Almost 20 years later her line is still carried by Bed Bath & Beyond 93
HARRIET MICHEL
FORMER CEO
NATIONAL MINORITY SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
The first African American woman to head a a a a major foundation Michel’s greatest achievement was opening the doors for thousands of multicultural entrepreneurs through her role as president and CEO
of the National Minority Supplier Development Council the leading corporate mem- bership organization committed to helping address the growing need for supplier diversity In her role she con- nected black entrepreneurs to leaders of major corporations and encouraged minority businesses to compete with larger majority-owned companies— and in the process helped to advance be 100s companies Under her lead- ership NMSDC solidified its footing and unified its 23 affiliates Due to her contributions the council has grown today to to more than 1 600 national and and regional corporate members and and 12 000 certified MBEs with collective annual sales of more than $100 billion 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL