Michael McMillan, License Collector for the City of St. Louis, won the 2012 St. Louis Minority Supplier Development Council’s Chairman’s Award.
McMillan received the award for his outstanding and consistent leadership in innovative ways to serve minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises through supplier development, industry briefings and by organizing annual Licensing and Business Resource Fairs.
“He is committed to total diversity in the community and absolutely supports minority business inclusion,” said James Webb, president and CEO of the St. Louis Minority Supplier Development Council.
“The recipients of the awards on the corporate side are selected by minority businesses who say these companies have really supported them.”
Minority and women vendors currently represent 82 percent of the License Collector’s Office’s procurement budget. These vendors include the TAB Company, Rapid Fill and Charles Stewart, CPA Services.
McMillan humbly emphasized that he can’t take all the credit.
“The rising tide lifts all boats, so it’s really not about us specifically in terms of what we have generated,” McMillan said. “It’s what the collective has done together and how we’ve been able to be a piece of that.”
McMillan believes wholeheartedly in community outreach and organizes annual industry briefings. During these industry briefings, different agencies gather to provide information about grants, Tax Increment Financing, micro-business loans and other resources for those in the business community.
Another initiative his office established that benefits minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises is the annual Licensing and Business Resource Fair.
“The Licensing and Business Resource Fairs give a moratorium on late tax fees and give small businesses access to financial institutions, other city agencies, community service providers and essential relevant information from various business experts,” said Charlotte Ottley, director of communications and special initiatives for the License Collector’s Office.
McMillan’s office walls at St. Louis City Hall are adorned with numerous accolades he has amassed throughout his career, including recognition from the White House. He is currently in his second term as a citywide elected official. He was first elected as License Collector in 2007 after previously serving as 19th Ward alderman. As License Collector, he is responsible for collecting almost $60 million in revenue for the City of St. Louis, the St. Louis Public School System, the Zoo-Museum District, the Community College District and other government agencies.
He understands that diversity and inclusion must begin from within.
“We have a very diverse management group, with about 50 percent female managers in our office, which is a first since I got here,” McMillan said. “We also have a diverse staff and a mentoring and internship program, where we try to bring in the next generation of professionals and give them an opportunity.”
The mentoring and internship program is organized through partnerships with Harris-Stowe State University, Ranken Technical College and St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. McMillian proudly said that over a six-year period there have been over 100 interns and “some are even managers here today.”
This year’s Minority Supplier Development Council Excellence Awards Gala was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Downtown St. Louis on November 30. Additional honors went to McDonald Douglass for Corporation of the Year and BJC HealthCare for Corporate Innovative Program. Last year’s Chairman’s Award went to Alan Kuebler, assistant vice chancellor and executive director for resource management at Washington University.
For more information about the St. Louis Minority Supplier Development Council, visit slmbc.org.
