MEMBERS OF MINORITY BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL NAMED
Mayor selects diverse group of community, business leaders
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Nov. 1, 2007) -
Mayor Dean today announced a diverse group of community and business leaders to serve as members of his Minority Business Advisory Council.
The advisory council will work to develop further initiatives to assist the growth of small and minority-owned businesses in Nashville. Pam Martin, president of Cushion Employer Services, serves as chair.
“Each of these members comes to the table with a different background and a unique perspective,” Dean said. “I look forward to hearing their ideas and taking additional steps in the near future to make it easier for small and minority-owned businesses to do business in Nashville.”
Darek Bell, majority owner of Bell and Associates Construction Co. Inc. and vice president of Ray Bell Construction Co. Inc. Bell is a third generation contractor, having worked in every facet of the industry from laborer to field supervisor. Before moving back to Nashville after college graduation, Bell spent five years as a promotions editor for the NBC Network and later the MTV Networks. He currently sits on a number of boards including the Nashville Zoo, Land Trust for Tennessee, Middle Tennessee Corporate Volunteer Council and the Governor’s Roundtable.
Rev. Judy Cummings, executive minister of the historic Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church, where Rev. Williams F. Buchanan serves as pastor. Cummings also is a registered nurse and spent over 23 years at Saint Thomas Hospital, where she additionally served as staff chaplain in the Pastoral Care Department. Cummings serves on the Metro Planning Commission and advisory board for Bordeaux Long-Term Care. She is the director of the Nashville chapter of the National Consortium of Black Women in Ministry and a member of the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship.
Harvey Hoskins, co-founder and managing director of Hoskins & Co. CPAs. Hoskins & Co. was started in 1986 as the first full-service minority-owned accounting firm in Nashville. Prior to starting the firm, Hoskins worked for the Internal Revenue Service for more than a decade. He has been recognized by the Nashville Small Business Administration as Small Business Person of the Year in 1998 and his company has been recognized by the National Association of Black Accountants as Accounting Firm of the Year in 2000.
Charles McTorry, president and owner of Priest Point W&S Inc. Before starting Priest Point, a local retail company operating since 1989, McTorry owned and operated construction company Concordia Development Inc. He is also a veteran of the bank industry, working from 1975 to 1986 for Commerce Union Bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and Citizens Saving Bank. McTorry is a member of Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church, 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee, Tennessee State University Foundation Board and has participated in Junior Achievement.
Juli Mosley, vice president and environmental engineer for Barge Waggoner Sumner and Cannon Inc. Mosley has worked for Barge Waggoner since 1994. She is a long-time public education activist. Her community involvement also includes having served as board chairman for Nashville Electric Service, vice chairman of Davidson County Region Solid Waste Board, a member of the Metro Nashville Airport Authority board, and president of the board of the Cumberland Valley Girl Scout Council.
Patricia Paiva, owner of Aurora Bakery and Café. The Nolensville Road bakery has been in operation since 1999. Paiva, a Sri Lanka native, is active in Nashville’s immigrant community, particularly in the area of intercultural education. She works with the Refugee Resettlement Program of Catholic Charities and through her own business to help new residents assimilate. Her community involvement also includes serving on the Nashville Convention Center Commission and as chair of the Nolensville Road Community Partnership. She is an active PENCIL Partner and a 2000 graduate of Leadership Nashville.
For media inquiries contact:
Janel Lacy
(615) 862-6020
janel.lacy@nashville.gov