The Madison County Business League congratulates
Secretary/Treasurer and GOLD Sponsor Tina Lakey. Tina received the Supplier
Diversity Champion award at CenterPoint Energy’s annual MWBE (Minority and Women Business Enterprise)Recognition Breakfast in Houston, Texas on April 3rd, 2014.
Photo above: Tina Lakey receives the award from CenterPoint Energy CEO Scott Prochazka.
The following is from CenterPoint’s website:
Meet CenterPoint Energy’s newest Supplier Diversity Champion, Tina Lakey,
district director in Ridgeland, Miss. She received the Supplier Diversity
Champion award at the company’s annual MWBE Recognition Breakfast in
Houston, Texas on April 3rd, 2014. The Supplier Diversity Champion is relied
upon by small businesses and MWBEs to unlock doors of opportunity and
understands how to evaluate, prepare and mentor. This honor is extended only
to individuals whose efforts have reached a pinnacle of success.
“To me, supplier diversity falls in line with our values of being fair and
giving equal opportunity to all,” Lakey said. “And as we all know, when we
do this we always get the best results.” Internally and externally, the
“Champion” is recognized for his/her knowledge and contributions to MWBE
business efforts and is known for going the extra mile as an agent of
change. “She does an excellent job of hosting Supplier Diversity networking
activities on behalf of CenterPoint Energy in her service area,” said Steve
Dukes, Supplier Diversity coordinator.
Minority- and women-owned businesses are the backbone of many of the towns
and communities that CNP serves, according to Lakey. “They are competitive,
and they provide quality goods and services,” she added. Lakey serves as the
company’s representative for minority and women’s supplier development
business activities for various regional councils in Mississippi. Through
those organizations, and independently, she and her staff vigilantly seek
out capable diverse suppliers for mentoring and capacity building. “When we
work with MWBE businesses, we help them grow, and it also helps CenterPoint
have a good range of diverse, qualified suppliers from which to choose,”
said Lakey.
Lakey is past president of the Mississippi Natural Gas Association, the
first woman to serve in that post. She also serves on CNP’s MWBE Advisory
Council and is a past chair. In addition, Lakey serves on the board of
directors for United Way and chairs that organization’s newly formed Women
in Leadership Committee. The Mississippi Business Journal selected Lakey as
one of the 50 Leading Business Women in Mississippi in 2008. She also serves
on the Board of Directors for the Madison County Business League.
