The St. Louis American was recently named the winner of the first-ever DaimlerChrysler Services/National Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation Entrepreneurial Award.
The award was presented at the annual Newsmaker Awards on Thursday, March 17 in Washington, D.C. More than 200 publishers of the nation’s black-owned newspapers filled the Grand Ballroom at the Marriott at Metro Center Hotel to witness the annual gala, as the National Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation (NNPF) celebrated the accomplishments of U.S. Congressman John Lewis, U.S. Senator Barak Obama and actors/philanthropists Ruby Dee and the late Ossie Davis.
Janet Marzett, vice president, Human Resources and Administrative Services for DaimlerChrysler Services North America, presented the award, which celebrates the industry’s entrepreneurial and community-minded spirit, to American publisher Dr. Donald Suggs, along with a check for $10,000.
“Dr. Suggs’ entrepreneurial spirit is truly a phenomenon,” she said. “Through many years of working with and observing entrepreneurs, it is clear that he possesses a spirit that is rare, unusual and exceptional. This entrepreneurial spirit, when combined with the skills and knowledge of running a business, is the potent ingredient which turns entrepreneurial dreams into business realities.”
Marzett cited the publication’s strategic campaign to increase revenue and circulation, its ability to find creative solutions that turned a Thanksgiving “revenue loser” into a winner, and the development of three special events by the newspaper’s foundation that were a direct benefit to the community.
“Your winning strategies have certainly set a benchmark for quality for future Entrepreneurial Award competitions,” she said.
DaimlerChrysler Services has pledged $30,000 over the next three years to establish the award. As the winner, the St. Louis American received $10,000, travel and accommodations to Black Press Week in Washington, D.C. and the use of a DaimlerChrysler-brand vehicle for a week.
In addition, the publication was presented with an originally-designed sculpture commissioned by DaimlerChrysler Services especially for award competition. Multimedia artist, Cheryl Foster, created the design.
Born in Washington, D.C., Foster currently serves as a master artist-in-residence for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She also authors and presents programs for the National Gallery of Art. Foster’s sculptures grace the White House and Arlington National Cemetery.
DaimlerChrysler Services North America LLC provides brand-specific financing for automotive dealers’ inventories and their retail consumers and does business as Chrysler Financial and Mercedes-Benz Credit. As DaimlerChrysler Services Truck Finance, it also finances commercial vehicles for affiliate products such as Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star.
DaimlerChrysler Services North America serves as the headquarters for the operations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico and has over 5,500 employees who manage a portfolio of $85 billion with nearly five million contracts. DaimlerChrysler Services North America is a member of the DaimlerChrysler Services Group, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, which operates in 40 countries with an employee base exceeding 10,800 and a global portfolio of $123 billion.
