Recognition of Henry J. Ballard, Jr. for Receiving the Chairperson's Award from the Tampa Bay Minority Business Development Week Committee

Each year the Tampa Bay Minority Business Development Week Committee Chair presents a Chairperson's Award to someone who exemplifies leadership and commitment, not only on behalf of bay area minority businesses, but all small business entities.

This year the Chairperson's Award was presented to Henry J. Ballard, Jr., Hillsborough County Public School's Supplier Diversity Officer. At the September 17 closing banquet associated with the annual week-long Tampa Bay Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week program, Mr. Ballard was recognized for the growth and impact of the District's Small Business Encouragement Program, which has been responsible for reinvesting over $126.9 million of taxpayer dollars back into bay area certified small business between 2002-2008. Lynette Darrell, Supplier Diversity Liaison with Tampa Electric and Chairperson of the MED Week Planning Committee, praised Mr. Ballard for "continuing to strategically create new ways of getting the job done."