Minority Enterprise Development Week of WNC

History of MED Week

Since 1982, the U.S. President has proclaimed a National MED Week observance to recognize the outstanding achievements of minority businesses and to honor those corporations and financial institutions that support minority business development.  The national MED Week conference is held in Washington, DC each year and is the largest federally sponsored conference for minority entrepreneurs.

Western North Carolina has a long history of celebrating, educating and supporting minority entrepreneurs through regional MED Week events.  Previous events have included awards banquets, networking events and a variety of workshops on marketing, starting a business, financing and doing business with the government. For more information, see our Events page.

MED Week Committee of WNC            Board of Directors

Hope Huskey, Chair                                                       Cherokee  Business Development Center

Adrianne Gordon, Vice Chair                                                   Small Business & Technology Development Center

Natalie Murdock, Secretary                                                      Land-of-Sky Regional Council

Sherrene Swayney, Treasurer                                        Sequoyah Fund

Joseph Fox                                                                                       AB Tech

James Lee                                                                                   Office Economic Development, City of Asheville

Sharon Oxendine                                                                           Mountain BizWorks

Jill Sparks                                                                                         AB Tech's Center for Business & Technology Incubation

Pam Lewis                                                                                    

Economic Development Coalition of Asheville-Buncombe County

Our Mission

To provide the best leadership and direction for the promotion, establishment and development of minority businesses in Western North Carolina through education, communication and advocacy.

MED Week Board - from left to right: Sharon Oxendine, Jill Sparks, James Lee, Hope Huskey, Pam Lewis, Sherrene Swayney, Natalie Murdock, Joseph Fox, and Adrianne Gordon.