ACC Named Minority Construction Firm of the Year
August 31, 2007

On the evening of August 31, 2007, the Department of Commerce named ACC Minority Construction Firm of the Year. The award was presented in downtown San Francisco at a banquet held in The Westin St. Francis Hotel.

Welcoming remarks were made by the master of ceremonies, Jay Stone Shih, host and producer of the television show Dialogue 360. After an elegant dinner, Ronald N. Langston, National Director of the DOC's Minority Business Development Agency was introduced. On behalf of the United States President, Langston commended the minority firms being honored that night. "We support an intelligent relationship between the public sector and the private sector," Langston informed the group, adding meaningfully, "Even though our competition overseas has increased, here in the U.S., we have the right stuff. The fastest growing populations, the fastest growing businesses are all minorities."


A video presentation accompanied the award ceremony, showing clips of each honoree proudly describing the fiscal and employee growth of their business since its inception. ACC was the first of seven industry leaders recognized that night, their areas of business ranging from manufacturing to retail to technology. In his broadcasted interview, Agbayani described ACC's humble beginnings, recalling the end of its first year with only two employees and $26,000 in revenue. Agbayani closed his interview with a testament to ACC's success since then, "2006, we have over 300 employees nationwide and we're a $28 Million dollar firm." Amid roaring applause, Agbayani accepted the award from Langston, hoisting the trophy up into the air and exclaiming proudly in the direction of his seated employees, "This is for you."


The award will be added to the list of many which ACC has received over the years, complimenting in particular the U.S. Small Business Administration's National Minority Business Award given in 2000. ACC received this award after being named top minority firm in the Western U.S. by SBA the previous year and competing with the regional winners for the national title in 2000. The DOC will engage in a similar process in the coming year, judging ACC among the other regional winners before naming a National Minority Firm in 2008. Should ACC receive this award, it will become the only minority firm in history to have claimed the National Titles from both the SBA and the DOC. This time next year will tell whether this historical landmark will be met.


Regardless of whether or not ACC makes history next year, the firm has secured an important ally in gaining the current attention of the DOC. As a government agency, one of the department's key functions is supporting smaller firms in the non-governmental sector. To achieve this, the DOC recommends favorable small businesses to larger corporations, such as Oracle, HP, and Standard Oil. In receiving this award, ACC has cultivated a positive reputation for itself with the DOC, which is already showing signs of profitability in the future. Since the DOC's recognition, ACC has already been invited to partake in the building of the world's largest casino in Las Vegas. Hopefully, this is only the first of many invitations ACC will earn through its commendation from the DOC.

Nicole Agbayani