2023 Minority and Women's Business Award

About the Award

In an effort to continue the promotion of economic growth and prosperity for all, The Business Council of New York State launched the Minority and Women's Business Award in 2022. We believe the opportunity for economic growth must be given to all employers, regardless of race or creed. The Minority and Women's Business Award was designed to honor minority, women, and LGBTQ businesses by recognizing their history and success. Businesses are nominated for the award by their state legislators.

A handful of finalists are announced each September and the award is presented at The Business Council's Annual Meeting at The Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing.

Sponsored by

nat grid

 

2023 Finalists 

The Business Council announced on August 10 five finalists for the second annual Minority & Women’s Business Award. This year, a total of 50 businesses from across the state were nominated by their legislators.

Finalists Include:

Business Location Nominating Legislator
Chi Wah Organica 
Rochester
Assemblymember Jen Lunsford
Earnest Foods
Queens
Senator Leroy Comrie
Evelias Tamales
Queens
Jessica Ramos & Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas 
Friends Tavern
Queens
Assemblymember Cataline Cruz
KLE Consulting
Brookyln
Assemblymember Nily Rozic

2023 Minority and Women's Business Award Nominees

Pencol Contracting Corp. | Valley Stream
Owner: Shakeel Rahman

Nominated By: Assemblymember Michaelle Solages

Lahi | Elmhurst
Owner: Henry Matibag

Nominated By: Assemblymember Steven Raga

Architectural Sign Group  | Elmont
Owner: Rehana Jaffer

Nominated By: Assemblymember Michaelle Solages

Trusted Touch Therapeutics | Hempstead
Owner: Grace Otugh

Nominated By: Assemblymember Taylor Darling

Belimage | Elmont
Owner: Vanilo Saint-Louis

Nominated By: Assemblymember Michaelle Solages

Sage and Angie Boutique | West Hempstead
Owner: Sagine Pierre

Nominated By: Assemblymember Taylor Darling

KLE Consulting Corp  | Brooklyn
Owner: Kelly Smolar

Nominated By: Assemblymember Nily Rozic

Tori Ear Piercing | Port Washington
Owner: Valentina Hartman

Nominated By: Assemblymember Gina Sillitti

Allie B’s Cozy Kitchen | Albany
Owner: Kizzy Williams

Nominated By: Assemblymember Patricia Fahy

TheCoderSchool | Roslyn
Owner: Nisha Bhalla and Noreen Kazi 

Nominated By: Assemblymember Gina Sillitti

Europe Cakes | Watertown
Owner: Monica Atanasov

Nominated By: Assemblymember Scott Gray 

Lionheart Graphics | 
Owner: Catherine LaPointe Vollmer

Nominated By: Assemblymember Scott Gray

Teton Kitchen | Depew
Owner: Taka and Khin Win

Nominated By: Assemblymember Monica Wallace

Roethel Coach Lines Inc | Ogdensburg
Owner: Laurel Roethel

Nominated By: Assemblymember Scott Gray

Cake Crazy Bakery| Cheektowaga
Owner: Shetice Williams

Nominated By: Assemblymember Monica Wallace

Evelias Tamales | Queens
Owner: Evelia Coyotzi & Delfino Garcia

Nominated By: Senator Jessica Ramos & Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas 

Practice 2 Perfect | Albany
Owner: LaQuetta Alexander-Ellis 

Nominated By: Albany Black Chamber of Commerce

Earnest Foods | Queens
Owner: Earnest Flowers III

Nominated By: Senator Leroy Comrie

CBM Business Solutions | Albany
Owner: Shawn Moodie 

Nominated By: Albany Black Chamber of Commerce

The Nourish Spot | Jamaica
Owner: Dawn Kelly

Nominated By: Senator Leroy Comrie

8 Count Kitchen |
Owner: Jermaine Wright 

Nominated By: Albany Black Chamber of Commerce

Nettie's Restaurant and Lounge | Queens
Owner: Danny Lomas

Nominated By: Senator Leroy Comrie

Lips Café | Brooklyn
Owner: Jamane Weekes

Nominated By: Assemblymember Brian Cunningham

Maria Luisa Boutique | Nyack
Owner: Maria Luisa Whittingham

Nominated By: Assemblymember Kenneth Zebrowski

Adams Buckner Advisors | Manhattan
Owner: Amelia Adams

Nominated By: Assemblymember Brian Cunningham

Riley Ford | Chazy
Owner: Joy E VanLeuvan

Nominated By: Assemblymember Billy Jones

Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy | Brooklyn
Owner: Naima Oyo-Simon

Nominated By:  Assemblymember Brian Cunningham

Twinstate Technologies |
Owner: Devi Momot

Nominated By: Assemblymember Billy Jones

Taco Mix | Manhattan
Owner: Jorge Sanchez

Nominated By: Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs

MJ Raymond Construction, LLC  | Saranac Lake
Owners: Matt Raymond & Cindy Woods Garso

Nominated By: Assemblymember Billy Jones

Bermudez Bakery  | Manhattan 

Nominated By: Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs

Khalil Biryani House Restaurant | Bronx
Owner: Md Khalilur Rahman

Nominated By: Assemblymember Karines Reyes

NYZ Flat Fix | Jamaica

Nominated By: Senator James Sanders

Tania Beauty Salon | Bronx
Owner: Tania Sharmin

Nominated By: Assemblymember Karines Reyes

HSH Hardware Store | Jamaica

Nominated By: Senator James Sanders

Taqueria Tlaxcali | Bronx
Owner: Mauricio Gomez

Nominated By: Assemblymember Karines Reyes

Rockaway Fish House | Jamaica
Owner: James and Helen Sanders

Nominated By: Senator James Sanders

Jars of Delight | 
Owner: Dianna Rose

Nominated By: Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson

Meadow Blues Coffee | Chester
Owner: Gina Stafford

Nominated By: Senator James Skoufis

Far Rock Shop | 
Owner: Philip Groves

Nominated By: Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson

Artistic Taste in Harriman | Harriman
Owner: Andre Robinson

Nominated By: Senator James Skoufis

Royal Empress Banquet Hall | South Ozone Park
Owner: Jameel Ali

Nominated By: Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson

Clayton’s Toys | Williamsville
Owner: Kellie Klos & Tera McElligott

Nominated By: Assemblymember Karen McMahon

A&M Electrical Contractor Ltd | Riverhead
Owner: Marylin Banks-Winter

Nominated By: Assemblymember Jodi Giglio

Heart of Gem | South Richmond Hill
Owner: Gemma Singh

Nominated By: Assemblymember David Weprin

Boon Chu | Queens
Owner: 

Nominated By: Assemblymember Steven Raga

Rubina's Fashion World | Queens

Nominated By: Assemblymember David Weprin

Kababish | Jackson Heights
Owner: Tahir Kamil

Nominated By: Assemblymember Steven Raga

Chi Wah: Organica | Rochester

Owner: Chi Wah Soo

Nominated By: Assemblymember Jen Lunsford

Friends Tavern | Queens

Owner: Eddie Valentin & Casimiro Villa

Nominated By: Assemblymember Catalina Cruz