Posted on October 2, 2002 at 9:50 a.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — George Perdue Jr., University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) assistant vice president for financial affairs and administration, has received the National Minority Advocate of the Year Award. It is the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency’s (MBDA) highest honor.

The award was announced during the 20th annual MBDA National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Conference in Washington D.C. Nominees for the award were judged on the overall business health of their companies in addition to any obstacles they had to overcome during the years they were building the programs. The judging committee also considered community involvement particularly relating to entrepreneurship, youth awareness and economic development.

As director of the UAB Minority Business Development Office, which opened in 1988, Perdue has been instrumental in developing and assisting with entrepreneurial opportunities for minorities and women. Under his leadership, UAB has grown from spending $1.5 million annually with 166 minority- and women-owned businesses into a regionally recognized program that spent $24.6 million with 915 minority- and women-owned businesses last year. The Minority Business Development Office is expected to exceed $25 million with close to 1,000 minority and women business owners this fiscal year.

MED Week is co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Established by Presidential Proclamation in 1983, it has continued to be the eminent business observance that appeals and attracts all sectors of the community, including private, public and minority business.

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Image Size: 1,192 pixels by 1,484 pixels (3.97" by 4.95") Resolution: 300 dpi Format: JPEG (RGB) File Size: 922 KB Download Now! Caption: George Perdue Jr., University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) assistant vice president for financial affairs and administration, has received the National Minority Advocate of the Year Award.