News

The latest happenings at the Chamber and the broader business community.

The Manhattan Chamber Announces Honorees for its 2016 "Best in the Business" Awards

Thursday, October 6, 2016

NEW YORK, NY – Today the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, an organization that drives economic prosperity by helping businesses succeed, announced who will be honored at its prestigious “Best in the Business” Awards Breakfast on November 3, 2016. The event brings together 300 of New York City’s most influential business and civic leaders in order to recognize companies and entrepreneurs for their “above and beyond” achievements, community contributions and milestones. New York Giants legend, Tiki Barber, will be the Master of Ceremonies this year.

 

Awardees will include:

 

·         Lifetime Achievement: Kathryn Wylde

 

Wylde is president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, an organization that represents the major employers and corporations in New York. Prior to taking that role in 2001, she was the founding CEO of both the Partnership’s housing and investment fund affiliates. She was responsible for developing and managing affordable housing and economic development programs that contributed to the renaissance of blighted urban neighborhoods across the five boroughs. With the investment fund, she developed a network of business leaders and investors that nurtured the growth of the city’s “innovation economy,” creating thousands of jobs and promoting entrepreneurial business initiatives throughout the city.

 

·         Outstanding Corporate Citizen: Hank Williams (posthumously)

 

Williams was an African American tech entrepreneur who campaigned for greater diversity in the industry. He founded Internet music company Clickradio in 1998 and cloud storage and data management platform Kloudco in 2008. In 2012, he founded Platform, a nonprofit group aimed at increasing the interest and participation of blacks, Latinos and women in the tech industry. Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly in November 2015. He was 50.

 

·         Most Innovative: Uber

 

Uber launched its ride-hailing mobile app in 2009. In fewer than eight years, the company has completely changed the way consumers get around in cities throughout the globe. This aggressive “disruption” drew the ire of some New York City elected officials in 2015, who moved to halt Uber’s rapid growth here. The company’s successful campaign to beat back the measure, which flooded the airwaves with ads and incited users to take action, was heralded by the tech community as a win for innovative disruptors.

 

·         Company to Watch: Infor

 

Infor is the third largest provider of enterprise applications and services in the world, but most people have never heard of them. That will soon change because of the company’s increasing momentum. In the past year Infor has earned the business of more than 2,000 new customers, with double-digit sales growth over the last three quarters. The company is hiring at such a fast pace that it is outgrowing its large New York City headquarters.

 

·         Friend of Business: Maisha Walker

 

Walker is the founder and president of Message Medium, a New York firm that works exclusively with entrepreneurs and small businesses to maximize their digital footprint and drive revenue and sales through Internet marketing. Her regular column in Inc. Magazine offers tips and guidance to help businesses succeed in making the digital transformation. She recently took the helm of New York's chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, a nonprofit membership organization that supports women entrepreneurs.

 

“We are delighted to honor such passionate New Yorkers and visionary companies,” said Jessica Walker, president of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. “They truly are the best in the business and deserve this recognition for efforts to enhance our city and its economy.”

 

 

 

RELATED DOCUMENTS

MCC Best In The Business Press Release