| |
DETROIT
- The
following
statement
can be
attributed
to
Piston
Group
attorney
Cinnamon
Plonka
following
a ruling
by Wayne
County
Circuit
Court
Judge
David
Groner
that
restores
the auto
supplier’s
minority-business
enterprise
(MBE)
status
pending
the
outcome
of
ongoing
litigation.
The
court’s
decision
temporarily
halts a
move
earlier
this
year by
the
Michigan
Minority
Supplier
Development
Council
(MMSDC)
and its
president,
Michelle
Robinson,
not to
recertify
the
Piston
Group’s
MBE
status.
“We are
delighted
by the
court’s
decision
in favor
of Mr.
Johnson,
which
restores
for the
time
being
the
Piston
Group’s
rightful
designation
as a
certified
minority
business
enterprise.
We will
continue
efforts
to
vindicate
Mr.
Johnson
and
establish
to the
court
that
Vinnie
Johnson
owns,
controls,
and
manages
Piston
Group
satisfying
the
necessary
criteria
to be
certified
as an
MBE. The
Piston
Group is
a
minority-controlled
business
under
every
applicable
standard.
The
Piston
Group’s
board of
directors
is 75%
minority.
Furthermore,
he has
employed
many
minorities
in the
highest
executive
positions
at his
companies
over the
years.
These
have
included
African
American,
Asian
American,
and
Indian
American
men and
women.
Regardless
of the
racial
makeup
of his
executive
team,
his
companies
have
never
been
decertified
until
the
MMSDC’s
incorrect
use of
arbitrary
and
erroneous
standards
to judge
the
Piston
Companies.
“The
court
ruling
will
allow
Mr.
Johnson
to
continue
to
devote
his
energies
to
managing
the
day-to-day
operations
of all
the
Piston
Companies
as a
certified
MBE and
supporting
our
valued
customers
with
outstanding
quality,
delivery,
and
service.
In
addition,
we look
forward
to
continuing
our
history
of
successful
investments
totaling
more
than
$100
million
annually
in
diversity
spend
with our
minority-business
enterprise
partners
as well
as
building
on the
Piston
Group’s
philanthropic
activities
that
support
numerous
educational
and
cultural
opportunities
for
children
in
Detroit
and
other
urban
areas
across
the
state,
including
Rainbow
Push
Automotive
Project,
Ford
African
American
Network,
Fiat
Chrysler
African
American
Network,
Autism
Alliance
of
Michigan,
Big
Brothers
Big
Sisters,
Math
Corps,
NAACP
and
Special
Olympics,
on top
of a
five
year, $1
million
commitment
to the
Pope
Francis
Center
that
serves
the
homeless
in
Detroit.”
Advertise With Us:
Certified Minority Business Enterprise
|
I
HI TECH NEWS
I
SPORTS
I
