NaVOBA Celebrate 2023 Minority Veteran's Business Enterprise of the Year

Who is the 2023 Minority Veteran's Business Enterprise of the Year?

The 2023 Minority Veteran's Business Enterprise of the Year recipient has been announced! On October 24th NaVOBA held the event to present the award to the Minority Veteran's Business Enterprise of the Year (VBEOY) at the 2023 National Minority Supplier Development Council Convention in Baltimore, MD.  The event, sponsored by Accenture, was held on the vessel Majestic.


In partnership with Accenture, NaVOBA and company set sail on the vessel Majestic for an exclusive award ceremony & mixer, attended by corporate sponsors, diversity allies, and other veteran business owners. The team at Accenture, along with NaVOBA, set the stage to celebrate the accomplishments of several Veteran owned & operated enterprises.


Mimi Lohm, NaVOBA's Chief Development Officer, kicked off the event and set the stage for the awardees. Keynote speakers included Antoine Hinton, Director, Supplier Diversity, Dollar General Corporation, Che' McFerrin, Associate Manager, Global Supplier Inclusion & Sustainability, Accenture and Matthew Pavelek, NaVOBA's President.


Learn more about the recognized businesses and the award recipients below.

Notable Awards presented include:

- 2023 Veteran's Business Enterprise Corporate Champion - Awarded to Antoine Hinton, Director, Supplier Diversity, Dollar General Corporation

- 2023 Minority Veteran's Business Enterprise Lifetime Achievement Award - Awarded to James McDonald, Chairman Emeritus, Monaloh Basin Engineers

- 2023 Minority Veteran's Business Enterprise We Love - Awarded to Demond Crump, CEO & Founder, Jewel Sanitary Napkins

- 2023 Minority Veteran's Business Enterprise We Love - Awarded to Staci Redmon, Owner & President, Veteran Wood Creations Inc.

- 2023 Minority Veteran's Business Enterprise of the Year - Awarded to Brian Butler, President and CEO, Vistra Communications

About Brian, President & CEO of Vistra Communications, 2023 Minority Veteran's Business Enterprise® of the  Year

Photo of Brian Butler

Meet Brian Butler, President & CEO of Vistra Communications, a NaVOBA Certified SDVOSB making waves in the marketing and communications industry. Recognized as Tampa Bay Business Journal's Power100 and adorned with accolades like the NAGC Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Award, Vistra stands as the #1 PR firm in Tampa Bay. Beyond prestige, Butler's commitment to excellence and community service shines through Vistra's history of client success and humanitarian efforts.


Delve deeper into Brian Butler's inspiring story and learn more about Vistra in Vistra's VBE Spotlight


Photo with Brian
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    A Special Thanks to our Sponsors, Accenture!

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  • A Special Thanks to our Sponsors, Accenture!

    A Special Thanks to our Sponsors, Accenture!

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    A Special Thanks to our Sponsors, Accenture!

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    A Special Thanks to our Sponsors, Accenture!

    Visit Site
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    A Special Thanks to our Sponsors, Accenture!

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    A Special Thanks to our Sponsors, Accenture!

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Veteran's Business Enterprise®: Headquarters: San Antonio, TX and Seatlle, WA Year Founded: 2016 # of Employees: 10 Website : www.opensecurity.com Service Overview: Cybersecurity assessment, training and education, expertise and consulting.
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UPCOMING IVMF PROGRAMS & EVENTS Check out which IVMF programs and events are actively taking applications and registrations! Have questions about IVMF? Check out this video , or register for a free virtual consult with enrollment services on September 11th . Military Founders Lab Applications close August 17th! – Formerly the Veterans in Residence, Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship (BBiE), and Bunker Build Up (BBU) programs, these three virtual programs are now streamlined and combined into the Military Founders Lab! This ten-week workshop offers access to business tools, resources, mentorship, and a strong peer network. Applications close soon so apply today! IVMF Ambassadors Applications Open August 18th! – Become part of the 2026 IVMF Ambassador cohort! For 12 months, you’ll help veterans and military spouses in your neighborhood access the resources and networks they need to succeed. Add your name to the interest form to get notified when applications open. RSVP for Veteran EDGE 2026 – Fill out the interest form to stay informed about Veteran EDGE 2026 Conference as it happens! Veteran EDGE is a three-day event for growth-stage businesses filled with networking, keynotes, and training. Don’t miss it! EBV applications are OPEN! – Apply now for IVMF’s flagship program ! Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans combines a 30-day online business fundamentals course with a 9-day residency at one of our eight participating university campuses across the nation. RSVP to Military Entrepreneurship Forum in Williamsburg, VA on October 29 – Join us for a full day featuring insightful panels, fireside chats, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities powered by Fiserv and tailored for entrepreneurs at every stage of their business journey. Register today for this no-cost event! Register for Mission to Marketplace in San Diego on September 30th – Join us and sponsor Amazon for a day of learning and networking opportunities designed to help veteran entrepreneurs in the Philadelphia area connect and grow their businesses. RSVP today!
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