Meet the 1999 nominees.

The B.E. Small Business Awards honor excellence in black entrepreneurship

This year, more than 1,200 African American entrepreneurs and executives are expected to attend the Fourth Annual Black Enterprise/Bank of America* Entrepreneurs Conference, which will be held May 5-9 at Disney's Contemporary Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

This year's theme, "Achieving Peak Profitability: Structuring Business Alliances to Generate Wealth," conveys the key issues that will be addressed through this year's dynamic sessions and workshops, such as business-to-business marketing, exploring global opportunities, preparing your business for the Internet, building wealth, franchising, partnering and much more. Other highlights of the conference include the Kidpreneurs Konference, The Exchange: Business-to-Business Expo and the B.E. Entrepreneurs Awards Gala, which celebrates the achievements of the nation's largest black-owned businesses (BE 100s) and outstanding African American small business entrepreneurs. The Fourth Annual BE Small Business Awards categories include: Emerging Company of the Year, Business Innovator of the Year, Rising Star and Kidpreneur awards.

Emerging Company of the Year Award

This award recognizes businesses that are poised for future growth because they've carved out a well-hidden niche for themselves and have adopted creative marketing techniques. Nominees are:

* INTERFACE TECHNOLOGIES: (See "Customizing Solutions," Enterprise, this issue) In 1998, Interface Technologies grew by 200% and is expected to double in size this year. Kevin Nason, CEO, started the $4 million firm in 1994. It provides technology solutions to businesses and specializes in managing IT/IS projects to support its customers' business goals.

* RGII TECHNOLOGIES: Established in 1990, RGII Technologies provides information technology, systems integration and engineering support services to federal, state and local governments. Kathryn B. Freeland, chairman and chief executive officer, started the $10.3 million firm in the basement of her home. RGII now employees 150.

* DUNCAN SECURITY CONSULTANTS: As a small business owner, Gregory Duncan, CEO and president of Duncan Security Consultants, says he is able to react more quickly to changes in the marketplace and respond more efficiently than a large organization could. As a result, he has been established as the "go to" company for security services for clients such as Arco Products, the Department of the Navy and the Bureau of Prisons. Founded in 1994, his firm had $2.5 million in revenues last year and employs 142. It is a full-service security, investigative and consulting firm that serves corporations and government agencies.

Business Innovator of the Year Award

This award honors companies that have successfully set trends and broken new ground in a particular industry. Nominees are:

* C&C FILMS LTD.- Since 1994, C&C Films has grown from a $96,000 to a $4.8 million production company largely due to the keen marketing skills of its founder and president, Steve Conner. The firm creates video projects and offers film and video production services, editorial services and special effects and graphic production. It is one of only a handful of black-owned companies producing national television commercials.

* PAPER-PLAS CONVERTING: As president and CEO of Paper-Plas Converting, Donald Snider has successfully found a niche as Michigan's only minority-owned tier-one paper conversion supplier to clients such as DaimlerChrysler. This past July, his $3 million firm opened a new Midwest facility that provides packaging for automotive and consumer products.

* LIBERTY SERVICE CORP.: The funeral business is a competitive one, but James A. Stinson II has found strategies to stay on top. As president and COO of Liberty Service Corp., Stinson has raised the funeral service's revenues from $2 million to $12 million (a 500% increase) over the past two years. Stinson, a third-generation funeral director, has adopted innovative strategies, including acquisitions and equity financing, to move his five-year-old firm into the next century.

Rising Star Award

This award recognizes individuals, ages 21-35, whose outstanding skills, profesionalism and perseverance have established them as future business leaders. Nominees are:

* COPY PROS: Working at photocopy shops earned him extra money to buy groceries and books during college, but Winston Ferguson Jr., 32, went into business for himself in 1994. He and partners Leighton Condell and Neftaliee Rivera established Copy Pros, a $1 million photocopy service center specializing in litigation high-speed copying, color laser copies and binding. The 24-hour operation has such powerhouse clients as the University of Georgia Board of Regents, AT&T and Arthur Andersen Consulting.

* NOELLE-ELAINE MEDIA CONSULTANTS: Renee E. Warren, 34, and Kirsten N. Poe, 34, are partners and founders of Noelle-Elaine Media Consultants, a six-year-old, $1 million public relations firm that provides event planning, publicity and video production services. The two met and became friends while working at CNBC, a financial cable television network where Warren was a senior producer and Poe was a media relations manager. By launching their firm, they set out to tap the underserved African American and minority marketplace in the media and financial communities.

* HOLT CREATIVE SOLUTIONS AND HOLT COMPUTER TRAINING &; CONSULTING SERVICES: Francine Holt, 35, is a young entrepreneur with lots of drive and energy. She is president of two firms, Holt Creative Solutions, a job placement firm, and Holt Computer Training, both started in 1991. She has tripled the revenues of Holt Creative Solutions over the past year, from $336,000 to $1.4 million.

Kidpreneur Award

This award recognizes entrepreneurs under the age of 18 who serve as role models and are committed to advancing the rich tradition of black business achievement. Nominees are:

* SISTER CLOWNS: If it's entertainment you need, Anisah S. Rasheed is the one to call. Rasheed, 13, is CEO of Sister Clowns, which provides clown entertainment for children's parties and family events. The entertainment consists of games, face painting, animal balloons, tricks and prizes. Last year's revenues for Sister Clowns were $2,050. As part of her customer service, Rasheed provides an Entertainment Client Needs Assessment Form to establish fees and other details for prospective clients, as well as an agreement statement that confirms the terms of the contract. After every event, clients receive a thank-you note with five business cards to pass on to others, which is one way Rasheed markets her business. Rasheed plans to one day franchise her operation and develop a Website.

* JEWELRY DESIGNS BY REGINA: As CEO and owner of Jewelry Designs by Regina, Regina Jackson, 17, custom designs jewelry using stone and high-quality beads. With $50 in seed capital, Jackson launched her business in 1994. Last year, she had revenues of $3,000. As a sole proprietor, Jackson oversees every aspect of her business--from production to distribution to marketing. She's also active in her community, reading to senior citizens and participating in environmental cleanup projects.

* TIFFANY BENTON'S MUSIC CONSERVATORY: In 1996, Tiffany Davida Benton, an accomplished key-boardist, organist, alto saxophonist and xylophonist, established Tiffany Benton's Music Conservatory to provide a first-class professional setting for youth and adults to study jazz, classical, gospel and contemporary music. This 17-year-old CEO, whose firm had revenues of $3,600 last year, maintains her own accounts, purchases supplies, opens and closes her facility, pays her own bills and provides evaluations of her students.

To receive more information about the 2000 B.E./Bank of America Entrepreneurs Conference or to receive a nomination form, reach our conference department at 800-543-6786 or www.blackenterprise.com.

(*) Formerly NationsBank