Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
See who won the 2025 Minority Business Awards in Birmingham
Reading time: 3 minutes
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Birmingham’s boldest minority business leaders took the spotlight on May 8 during the annual Minority Business Awards presented by SummitMedia at The Club. You got to nominate and vote for your favorite in April, and now it’s time for the big reveal. Read on to see who won!
Birmingham’s Minority Business Awards celebrate 19 years of impact
Each year, the Minority Business Awards (MBA) recognize the achievements and contributions of minority business leaders in Birmingham.
This year marks the 19th anniversary of the initiative, during which it has honored over 550 minority business leaders and presented more than 167 awards.
Honorees are chosen in two ways:
- LAUNCH, a panel-led pitch competition
- Public nominations + voting
Charlotte Shaw + Buck Wilde headline Birmingham Minority Business Awards ceremony
During the event, guests were treated to a lively award ceremony hosted by Buck Wilde, 95.7 Jamz Nationally Syndicated Afternoon Radio Personality.
Keynote speaker Charlotte Shaw also took the stage. Shaw is a two-time Minority Business Awards Executive of the Year winner and CEO of Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority.
Fun fact: This year’s event sold out!
2025 Minority Business Award nominees
(Top L) Bob Dickerson & T. Marie King, Icon of the Year; (Top R) Commissioner Sheila Tyson & Mara Allen, Entrepreneur of the Year
(Bottom L) Tony Russell, Small Business Owner of the Year; (Bottom R) Khalil Tamper, Young Professional of the Year (SummitMedia)
Who were the 2025 nominees? That’s the best part of this awards program: The public got to decide.
You nominated your top picks across a range of categories, from Entrepreneur of the Year to Diversity and Inclusion Leader of the Year.
Here’s who won:
- Small Business Owner of the Year: Tony Russell, CA Russell Ford
- Medical Leader of the Year: Dr. Santiago Borasino, UAB and Children’s of Alabama
- Executive Leader of the Year: Rosilyn Houston, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
- Young Professional of the Year: Khalil Tamper, Enchanted Edges
- Diversity & Inclusion Leader of the Year: Myeisha Hutchinson, MDH Strategies
- Entrepreneur of the Year: Mara Allen, Bistro on 19th
- Academic Leader of the Year: Dr. Carolyn Russell-Walker, Ramsay High School
- Non-Profit Leader of the Year: Devon Frazier, I See Me
- Icon of the Year: T. Marie King, Jones Valley Teaching Farm
- LAUNCH ($5k winner): Emmett Nuckles
“Last night was nothing short of jaw-dropping. Never in a million years did I imagine being honored for something that feels so deeply ingrained in my daily walk. I don’t do this work for recognition, but clearly, the voters saw something meaningful, and for that, I am beyond grateful.”
Dr. Carolyn Russell-Walker, Academic Winner, Minority Business Awards
Congrats to all of the winners of the 2025 Minority Business Awards! To learn more about this annual event, visit MBA’s website, Facebook + Instagram.
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