Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC) Names Eric Hardy as New Chairman; Smoothly Transitions Chamber into New Era of Leadership
– Hardy is the third Chairman of MBCC since its inception in 2010, and is CEO of Southfield, Mich., Information Technology consulting firm, w3r Consulting
– Immediate past chairman, Charles Beckham, accepts title of Chairman Emeritus, joining founding Chairman Bill Brooks serving as advisors to the organization
DETROIT, Jan. 31, 2013 – The Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC) announced today that Eric Hardy is appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the organization. He succeeds outgoing Chairman Charles Beckham, who accepts the title of Chairman Emeritus, joining founding chairman Bill Brooks as senior advisors to the organization.
“The appointment and installation of Eric Hardy as the new Chairman of the MBCC demonstrates the depth and experience of African American business owners in the state of Michigan,” said Ken Harris, President and CEO of the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce. “Eric’s smooth transition into his leadership role ensures that the five pillars of success framework followed by MBCC and its member chapters are upheld and executed. The next two years under his tenure will be an exciting time for the organization.”
Hardy is the President and CEO of w3r Consulting, overseeing daily operations of the Information Technology consulting firm headquartered in Southfield, Mich. w3r delivers technology solutions to a client roster that includes several Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries. He has been a board member of MBCC since its inception in 2010.
“I am excited to accept the role of Chairman and will continue building on the foundation of growth established by our previous Chairmen, Charles Beckham and Bill Brooks,” said Chairman Hardy. “Our priorities include continued membership growth and expanded program offerings. We will also look to build relationships with younger entrepreneurs and expose them to the benefits of MBCC membership.”
About Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce
The Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC) is the governing body for all black chamber of commerce organizations within the state of Michigan. Associated with the U.S. Black Chamber, Inc., MBCC is the largest concentration of economic wealth representing black businesses with more than 3.6 billion in combined total revenue, and more than 7,500 employees.
The MBCC has six local affiliate chambers in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Southfield, Pontiac, Flint, and Detroit. Operating under the Five Pillars of Success: Advocacy, Access to Capital, Chamber Resources, Entrepreneurship and Training & Procurement, the MBCC has access to more than 79,000 black owned businesses in Michigan, and 32,000 in the City of Detroit, ranking it 4th in the country.
Collectively, the African American consumer purchases an estimated $8.9 billion in economic buying power throughout the great state of Michigan on major products, commodities, goods, and services statewide.
About w3r Consulting
Headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, 18-year old w3r consulting is a privately held Information Technology Consulting firm and a national leader in technology consulting. We seek to provide companies with flexibility by leveraging technology to deliver the most versatile, reliable and agile solutions in support of your business requirements. We value our client relationships, and those relationships serve as a true testament of our strength and longevity.
Media Contact:
Katrina Turnbow
w3r Consulting
Phone: 248-358-1002
Fax: 248-358-1005
Email: kturnbow@w3r.com
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