Wells Fargo, Turning Point Magazine Bestow 3rd Annual 'Living History Maker Entrepreneur Award' to Pioneering African American B
June 30 2005 - 9:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
Wells Fargo, Turning Point Magazine Bestow 3rd Annual 'Living
History Maker Entrepreneur Award' to Pioneering African American
Businesswoman Bay Area Entrepreneur Judi Henderson-Townsend
Exemplifies the Strength and Talent of African American Small
Businesses SAN FRANCISCO, June 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In
recognition of the continued success of African American small
businesses, Wells Fargo and Turning Point Magazine presented the
3rd annual "Living History Maker Entrepreneur Award" on June 24th.
The 2005 winner is Judi Henderson-Townsend, president and founder
of Mannequin Madness. Occupying a unique place in the recycling
industry, Mannequin Madness provides retailers an alternative to
throwing away unwanted mannequins by renting and reselling recycled
mannequins to customers all over the world. Judi's continual
contributions to the environment, as well her strong
entrepreneurial spirit, have earned her community recognition and
awards including the "San Francisco Emerging Entrepreneur of the
Year" and a special achievement award from the Environmental
Protection Agency. Judi received the award and a $5,000 check at a
special evening reception at the 8th Annual African American
Business Summit (2005) held at the Palm Springs, Westin Mission
Hills Resort and Spa. "It's amazing to see how far we've come since
we started this business four years ago," said Henderson-Townsend.
"In the beginning, we were only re-selling used mannequins, but in
2004, Wells Fargo contacted us with an opportunity that allowed us
to acquire additional inventory. After buying the inventory, we
were able to expand our customer base and sell both used and new
mannequins. This is a great honor, and we are touched to be
recognized for our hard work and commitment to building a
successful, environmentally-conscious business." The Wells Fargo /
Turning Point Living History Makers Entrepreneur Award showcases
and honors the extraordinary achievements of African American
business owners. The award recipient was chosen from applicants
across the country, and selected based on her company's business
innovation, success, growth, and community service. "Judi
Henderson-Townsend reflects the crucial role African American-owned
businesses play in driving the American economy, and is a great
testament to the strength and diversity of this market," said
Brenda Ross-Dulan, head of Wells Fargo's L.A. Metro regional
banking market, and national spokesperson for Wells Fargo's African
American Business Services Program. "African American business
owners are thriving, and we will continue recognizing and
celebrating their tremendous efforts." Wells Fargo launched the
African American Business Services program in 1998 to provide
outreach, education and increased access to capital among African
American business owners. The program focuses on forming community
alliances, investing in primary research, and sponsoring key events
in the diverse communities where African Americans live and work.
Measuring its progress with a public goal to lend $1 billion to
African American businesses within twelve years, Wells Fargo has
lent more than $580 million since the program's inception. "We are
honored, along with our partner Wells Fargo, to recognize Judi
Henderson-Townsend and all of the outstanding African American
business owners nationwide," said Patricia A. Means, publisher of
Turning Point Magazine and founder of the African American Business
Summit. "We are confident that the future will only bring continued
success for this fast-growing segment." Turning Point is a leading
information and resource provider for African American small
business owners nationally, and produces the annual African
American Business Summit, the largest business-to-business solution
and opportunity-based conference for African American entrepreneurs
in the Western United States. The annual summit brings together
minority business owners, procurement officers and corporate
executives and decision-makers in an environment that fosters the
exchange of information and strategies that will lead to the
expansion of black business. Wells Fargo & Company is a
diversified financial services company with $436 billion in assets,
providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer
finance to more than 23 million customers from more than 6,000
stores and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and
elsewhere internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only bank
in the United States to receive the highest possible credit rating,
"Aaa," from Moody's Investors Service. Providing financial products
and services to more than one million businesses with annual sales
up to $20 million in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, Wells
Fargo is the #1 lender to small businesses in the United States in
total dollar volume according to the most recent CRA data (2003).
The second largest national SBA lender in dollars, Wells Fargo is
an SBA Preferred Lender in 28 states, and originated 3,555 loans
for $495 million in 2004. Wells Fargo has also been ranked the
number one SBA 504 lender nationally for the last two years. Its
targeted business services programs provide outreach and education
to women, African American, Latino, and Asian business owners about
financial services. Since 1995, Wells Fargo has loaned more than
$25 billion to women and minority business owners. DATASOURCE:
Wells Fargo & Company CONTACT: Kathryn Ellis of Wells Fargo,
+1-415-222-4682, or Web site: http://www.wellsfargo.com/
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