Sonja Alexander/Adam Mahone
Headquarters, Washington, DC                   June 14, 2001
(Phone: 202/358-1600)

MEDIA ADVISORY: m01-004

NASA HONORED FOR INCREASED SUPPORT OF 
SMALL AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES

     NASA's continued support of minority owned businesses 
earned the agency's Associate Administrator for Small and 
Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Ralph C. Thomas, the 
honor as one of "Fifty Influential Minorities in Business."

The award was presented June 6 by the Minority Business & 
Professionals Network at its third annual awards luncheon in 
Washington, DC. 

In accepting the honor, Thomas said, "This is actually 
another national recognition of NASA as an agency. I'm 
flattered to be the person out front, but our success with 
small minority and women owned business has been a team 
effort." 

Through Thomas' outstanding leadership he has propelled the 
agency to the highest monetary figures awarded to small and 
disadvantaged businesses in NASA's history. The total dollars 
awarded to small businesses increased from $1.5 billion in 
fiscal year 1992 to $3.5 billion in fiscal year 2000. The 
total dollars allotted to small disadvantaged businesses more 
than doubled to $865 million to $2 billion in the same years. 
Meanwhile, total contracting dollars to women owned 
businesses more than doubled from $219 million to $543 
million. 

"It is very important that minority men and women who have 
demonstrated high levels of success in their different 
business and professional careers be honored in view of the 
obstacles and hardships that they have overcome," said Debra 
Williams, Executive Director of the Minority Business & 
Professionals Network.

Thomas and the other honorees were selected by a special 
panel of judges from a national poll of nominees prominent in 
business for their excellence in their field and their 
undaunted efforts in advancing small and disadvantaged 
businesses.


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