Submitted by Richard L. Williams
March 28, 2023
Phone: (336) 281-3732
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. ⸻ In celebration of its 20th Anniversary, Black Business Ink magazine will host the Black Business Ink 20th Anniversary POWER 100 Awards Ceremony at 7 p.m. on June 8 at the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts, 300 N. Elm St., Greensboro.
The POWER 100 Awards Ceremony recognizes 100 of the most influential leaders from across North Carolina including educators, healthcare professionals, politicians, business leaders and judges. In addition to the stellar list of who’s who, the evening will be chockful of musical entertainment and dance routines that pay homage to African American history and African American recording artists with North Carolina roots including Nina Simone and the Rev. Shirley Caesar.
“Black Business Ink is honored to be on the precipice of this remarkable 20-year milestone,” said Richard L. Williams, founder, publisher and editor of the award-winning publication. “This awards ceremony is an opportunity to not only showcase a successful and longstanding Black-owned business and its service to the community, but also to highlight outstanding leaders who are truly making a difference.”
The POWER 100 list illustrates the significant impact African Americans are making across the Tar Heel state, as the cohort is comprised of individuals and organizations from more than 25 municipalities.
“The individuals and organizations that comprise the POWER 100 have provided outstanding service in their communities, particularly among marginalized communities,” Williams said. “We’re grateful that people took the time to send in dozens of nominations; and for the time and effort of the selection committees to parse so many outstanding candidates. It’s a privilege and an honor to recognize these North Carolina icons.”
The awards ceremony is the singular event of the annual State of Black North Carolina Conference. Founded by Williams in May 2003, the conference brings together leaders statewide to address disparities in Black and Brown communities. During the inaugural conference 20 years ago, Black Business Ink magazine was first unveiled.
Among the 90 persons being honored are former state Supreme Court chief justices Cheri Beasley and Henry Frye; current associate justices Anita Earls and Michael Morgan; Atrium Health President/CEO Gene Woods; retired corporate CEOs Willie Deese and Dmitri Stockton; community leader and former college administrator Shirley Frye; Hall of Fame football coach Bill Hayes; former NASA Astronaut Joan Higginbotham; and N.C. Secretary of Revenue Ronald Penny. Among the 10 organizations being honored are the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, Operation Xcel, and the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Honorees were notified of their selection in March and each will attend the in-person ceremony on June 8.
Previous conference attendees include former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, former president of Spelman and Bennett colleges Dr. Johnnetta Cole and BCBS North Carolina CEO Dr. Tunde Sotunde.
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster using this link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/2D005E6E962829F1. A portion of the proceeds will help support scholarships for youths entering college.
Black Business Ink Power 100
Rev. Darryl Aaron
Denise “DD” Adams
Nigel D. Alston
Melvin “Skip” Alston
Matthew Bacoate Jr.
Adrian O. Baker
Sherrod Banks
Hon. Camille Banks-Prince
Hon. Cheri Beasley
Hon. Loretta C. Biggs
R. Steven Bowden
Candice Wooten Brown
Rev. Cardes H. Brown Jr.
Natalie Brown
Sen. Daniel T. Blue Jr.
Hon. L. Todd Burke
Alan Cooper
Avery Crump
Hon. Lora Cubbage
Dr. Anthony J. Davis
Willie Deese
Michael Diamond
Dr. Karrie G. Dixon
Teonnie Dotson
Mae Douglas
Hon. Anita Earls
Frank Emory
Steve Evans
Valerie “VK” Fields
Hon. Teresa R. Freeman
Hon. Henry E. Frye
Shirley T. Frye
Kimberly B. Gatling
Dr. Franklin D. Gilliam Jr.
Kaddra Greene-Hall
Denise J. Hartsfield
Emma Hayes
William “Bill” Hayes
Joan Higginbotham
Sharon M. Hightower
Cleo Hill Jr.
Mia Hubbard
Taiwo Jaiyeoba
Brian L. James
Yvonne Johnson
Rev. Clifford A. Jones Sr.
Kristi Jones
Marcus Jones
Michelle Y. Lee
Wilson Lester
Stephan Lillie
Rev. Paul A. Lowe Jr.
Vi Alexander Lyles
Rev. Sir Walter L. Mack Sr.
Dr. Harold L. Martin Sr.
Dr. Henry C. McKoy Jr.
Dr. Alisa McLean
Dr. Christine J. McPhail
Dr. W.A. Merritt
James “Smuggie” Mitchell
James Montague
Hon. Michael R. Morgan
Deborah Holt Noel
Dr. Pamela A. Oliver, MD
Ronald Penny
Kevin J. Price
Marvin Price
Hilda Pinnix Ragland
Dr. Elwood L. Robinson
Dr. Karen Roseboro
Rev. Nathan E. Scovens
Patrick J. Sims
Debra F. Smith
Harold J. Smith
James “Smitty” Smith
Tunya M. Smith
Theressa Stephens
Dmitri Stockton
Dr. Cheryl D. Sutton
Annette R. Taylor
Sherri B. Thomas
Hon. Teresa H. Vincent
Gerald L. Walden Jr.
Napoleon Wallace
Dr. Goldie Frinks Wells
Fred Whitfield
Billy Williams
Dr. Shanté P. Williams
Eugene A. Woods
Rev. Robert J. Williams Jr.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Noon Hour Commemoration
Durham Housing Authority
Edenton Homeboys Social & Civic Club, Inc.
HOLLA!
International Civil Rights Center & Museum
Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity at Wake Forest University School of Medicine
National Harnett High School Alumni Association
New North Carolina Project
Operation Xcel
Top Ladies of Distinction Inc.