Minority Enterprise Development Week

Staff Reports

Since 1982, the president has proclaimed a National MED Week observance to recognize the outstanding achievements of minority businesses and to honor those corporations and financial institutions that support minority business development. The national MED Week conference is held in Washington, DC each year and is the largest federally sponsored conference for minority entrepreneurs.

Western North Carolina has a long history of celebrating, educating,
and supporting minority entrepreneurs through regional MED Week events.
Previous events have included awards banquets, networking events and a
variety of workshops on marketing, starting a business, financing, and
doing business with the government.

Nominees for the 2010 MED Week Awards:
•    Horace Adell, Jr – Clean Streak
•    Norberto Chaves
– Pillar Tax & Accounting
•    LaQuana Edwards
– Events Made Beautiful
•    Linda Lambert – Bellas’
•    Brenda Macauley – Aesthetic Gallery
•    Juan Martinez – Cielito Lindo
•    Patricia Oocumma
– NativeScapes Landscaping
•    Accem Scott – Green Brothers Solar
•    Angelica Zapata – Nissi Painting

About This Year’s Nominees

Brenda Macauley owner of the Aesthetic ‘Fine Art’ Gallery.

Aesthetic Gallery

Owner Brenda Macauley’s Aesthetic Gallery features an eclectic array of unique and diverse creations from around the world including oils, embroidered fiber arts, stone sculptures, wire baskets (made from colored telephone wire,) and jewelry. It represents local artists and artisan combines in Africa, Australia, and Asia, The work of all the artists is promoted in an ambience conducive to the leisurely enjoyment of the exhibits, literally “an art-lover’s paradise.”

Macauley says she learned to overcome obstacles—from gallery renovation to tackling high-tech issues—“by honing a can-do spirit and hiring professional contractors to teach me the ropes.” She also offeres consignment contracts with a variety of local artists to add to the Gallery’s diversity and help build sales, and she plans to offer internships in the near future.

Cielito Lindo. Inc.

Owner Juan Martinez has served the Brevard area with authentic Mexican food since August 28, 2000. Cielito Lindo, Incorporated has seen some challenges over the years, including expanding to two restaurants and then shutting the second one due to unforeseen circumstances. 

Martinez’s goal is to ensure that good quality food is served and everyone feels welcome, and he hopes to expand and remodel his restaurant within the next two years. Mr. Martinez hopes to provide cultural information about the Mexican nationality and bring an authentic taste of his heritage to WNC.

Horace Adell, Jr. owner of Clean Streak, Inc.

Clean Streak. Inc.,

Owner Horace Adell, Jr., inspired by Director Brenda Mills of the Minority Business Program, started Clean Streak in 2004 with a Buick and a mop, bucket, and broom. The owner learned from the program about available opportunities and legal aspects of operating a successful business.

A hands-on manager, Adell says that Clean Streak is growing, cleaning commercial buildings for the Buncombe County government, the Henderson County Foundation, and many medical and office facilities throughout Western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. It has recently become a Green certified company using the Betco Green Earth Program.

Throughout the economic crisis, Clean Streak has continued to grow, maintaining honesty, integrity, and determination along with top-quality products and services. Adell has also benefited from continuing education to add floor specialty services and carpet cleaning. “We have become the only green certified company in WNC,” he says.

Angelica Zapata, owner of Nissi Painting, Inc.

Nissi Painting, Inc.
Owner Angelica Zapata has established a family business that strives to give the best service. “We want to make customers feel like friends, and help them to enjoy their houses while employing people,” she says.

Her goal is to employ around 20 people and train them to do the best job possible.

NativeScapes Landscaping

NativeScapes is a sole proprietorship, minority-owned company founded by Patricia Oocumma. The company is TERO- and EBCI-certified, serving clients in WNC and specializing in native plants, hardscapes (native rock), softscapes, small-site preparation, irrigation, hydro-seeding and hydro-mulching, fences, rockscapes, waterscape, sod/turf placement, and pruning services. NativeScapes tries to engage in joint ventures with other Native American vendors when possible.

Owner Oocumma has overcome such obstacles as keeping growth within the limits of the business and my family, and she has utilized services such as Cherokee Business Development Center and Sequoyah Fund.

NativeScapes continues to grow as the company expands services and its market area, including through NativeEnergy, a TERO-certified business started in March 2009 and also owned by Pat Oocumma. She plans to continue growing the services performed in both landscaping and beautification through NativeScapes and through environmental work with NativeEnergy, which provides environmental remediation and other related services, aiming to obtain certifications to bid on jobs for local governments, state governments and eventually start contracting with the federal government.

Green Brothers Solar, Inc.

Green Brothers Solar, owned by Accem Scott, sells, installs, and teaches about solar thermal hot-water systems, and despite the economic downturn (as well as stiff competition) the company is being considered for city and state projects. The company hosts workshops and lectures to increase business and has recently hired a director of operations with a strong background in design.

Scott plans to increase his turn-key teaching model, which offers a fully installed system for $5,000 along with a training opportunity. The client pays $5,000, earns a 65-percent tax credit, and can have up to six people attend training for the installation at no cost.

Bellas’
Bellas’ has been in business five years, and owner Linda Lambert feels that “we are a success,” providing jobs for five people and such services as massage, yoga, hair styling and color, manicures, pedicures, and, most recently, eyelash application and waxing. They also have a retail shop offering a variety of products and tee shirts.

“We are planning on expanding our business to provide an additional nail tech and two or three more hair stylists,” says Lambert, as well as providing more retail sales and, she hopes, their own logo tee shirts.

Events Made Beautiful, LLC

LaQuana Edwards’s Events Made Beautiful is a party and event equipment rental company, offering such items as tables, chairs, wedding and concession equipment for parties and special events. Events Made Beautiful has been able to keep its doors open during the economic downturn by overhauling its overhead and business operations, including becoming the area’s first delivery-only rental service with pricing specific to each rental order. Eliminating their showroom and moving their equipment to a warehouse cut overhead by more than 50 percent.

LaQuana volunteers with Butterfly Wings Restorative Ministry, an organization that provides consultation and programs for individuals seeking restoration from various forms of brokenness. She works with ABIPA (Asheville Buncombe Institute of Parity Achievement) to provide education to the African American community about breast and prostate cancer. She is also a faithful member of Faith Tabernacle Christian Center were she is a member of the praise team and heads the CPR (Cultivate, Plant & Reap) youth ministry, an outreach ministry to youth through participation in recreation and special events.

She plans to continue to grow the business by offering quality equipment and excellent customer service, and ultimately to buy land and offer a seasonal outdoor event venue.
Pillar Tax and Accounting, LLC

Norberto and Pedro Chavez provide tax and accounting services, including payroll, as well as business consultation, business formation, financial analysis, and tax audit representation. They have a simple, challenging goal: to become a pillar in the community, both in services and in educating people via seminars and networking meetings.