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2017 Abe Venable Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement

The Abe Venable Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement celebrates high standards of excellence, dedication, and accomplishment over a sustained period of time. The award is granted to an individual who has played an integral role in the creative, technical or professional progress of minority business development over the course of his/her life.

The Abe Venable Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement is presented to Carmen Castillo, President and CEO of SDI International Corporation. Founded in Florida 25 year ago, SDI provides clients with fully scalable global indirect procurement solutions. SDI takes supplier diversity and inclusion programs to the next level, transforming corporate supply chains into sustainable value chains. Earlier this year, in partnership with leading diversity associations and councils, SDI launched the Inclusive Procurement Platform to recruit diverse suppliers for client purchasing events with increased inclusion spending. SDI has placed 1,800 employees in Centers of Excellence in Argentina, Belgium Canada, China, India, Mexico, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, the UK, and the U.S. SDI works collaboratively with local, regional, and global non-governmental and trade organizations like the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, the International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge, the International Trade Center, and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to facilitate the growth and development of the minority supplier base. Ms. Castillo serves on the Board of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and chairs their Audit and International Committees. She is also Vice Chair of the International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge, and collaborates with the boards of many other minority- and woman-owned business organizations.

Carmen Castillo, President and CEO
Fort Lauderdale, Florida