The Executive Director of Empire State Development’s (ESD) Division of Minority and Women Business Development, Michael H. Jones-Bey, received the “Public Sector Leadership Award” from the Jamaica Business Resource Center (JBRC) at their 2008 Annual Awards Dinner on Tuesday December 16. The event was attended by more than 300 business and civic leaders. Recognizing the longstanding partnership between ESD and the JBRC, Michael H. Jones-Bey was given this award for his dedication and innovative leadership.
 
The awards dinner celebrated the culmination of a year that included the announcement of a New York State Bonding Initiative that has served over 70 minority and women owned businesses in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and Downstate New York. The initiative designed to make bonding and financing more accessible to minority and women contractors in New York, includes the collaboration of The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA), the New York State Department of Insurance, JBRC and ESD.

Michael H. Jones-Bey was appointed Executive Director of ESD’s Division of Minority and Women Business Development in 2007. Prior to this appointment he worked for Governor (then Senator) David Paterson since 1993 in several capacities including Special Assistant, Director of Press Operations and most recently Chief of Staff to the Senate Democratic Conference. As Paterson’s chief of staff, he managed a 140 person operation with an annual budget of $13 million. His business related experience includes Director of a New York State sponsored Entrepreneurial Assistance Program (EAP) where he provided business consulting, and business plan preparation. He also helped to start a minority contracting company and a minority owned import-export Company. 

Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency, encompassing business and community development.  ESD also oversees the marketing of “I LOVE NY,” the State’s iconic tourism brand.  For more information, visit www.nylovesbiz.com.