Alliance of Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship Matters

Member Companies by Industry

ABLE enjoys a membership with a long prospective new member list. It is thought to be the only African American business organization of its kind in the country and in 2004, elected its first woman president. The organization meets regularly with CEOs of leading corporations, non-profits and governmental entities to establish and develop strategic relationships. ABLE is dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship as a pathway to building wealth and economic independence in the community.

ADVERTISING/COMMUNICATION


CENTRAL CITY PRODUCTIONS
Central City Productions, Inc. has more than 30 years of successful and innovative television production and marketing experience. It is a full service television production company that produces, syndicates and manages advertising sales for all of its programs. The company is also responsible for national airport sales with Clear Channel Airports and CNN Airport News.


E. MORRIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
E. Morris Communications, Inc. (EMC) is a full-service advertising agency specializing in developing integrated marketing programs targeting the African American consumer. Founded in 1987, EMC has successfully utilized its "Total Marketing Concept" approach to customize programs to specifically address each client's needs and to implement comprehensive marketing strategies that generate sales while respecting the culture and sensitivities of the African American consumer.


FLOWERS COMMUNICATIONS GROUP
Flowers Communications Group (FCG) was founded in Chicago by D. Michelle Flowers Welch in 1991. Over the years, the marketing firm has rapidly emerged to become one of the most sought-after players in the field, owing to its penchant for creating innovative, award-winning public relations campaigns and signature programs that “reach and respect” the African American consumer in the top 20 urban markets and nationwide.


R.J. DALE ADVERTISING & PUBLIC RELATIONS
Established in 1979, RJDale Advertising & Public Relations is one of the nation’s most highly regarded minority-owned advertising and public relations firms. It is the only African-American-owned integrated marketing agency whose practice is focused on general market communications, as well as having demonstrated expertise in segment-specific programs.

 

ARCHITECTURE/CONSTRUCTION

BONAPARTE CORPORATION
Founded in 1991, Bonaparte Corporation is an electrical contracting firm, specializing in power and wiring; voice and data cabling systems; enterprise networking and project management. Bonaparte Corporation's employee base includes field technicians, administrative staff and industry specialists.


JOHNSON & LEE, LTD.
Johnson & Lee Architects is a design-oriented architectural and planning firm which provides a wide range of services on the design and construction of office, commercial, residential, institutional and interior projects. Whose experiences and commitment to excellence have allowed them to gain considerable expertise in solving a variety of architectural/planning problems. This enables them to approach work with freshness and experienced accomplishment


POWERS & SONS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.
Powers & Sons Construction Company, Inc. is a General Contractor and Construction Manager performing construction projects in Northwest, Indiana, Chicago and Suburbs and Indianapolis.


THE ARCHITECTS ENTERPRISE, LTD.
Currently in its third decade, The Architects Enterprise, Ltd. (TAEL) is a professional firm engaged in providing architecture, planning, interiors and construction-related services to businesses and organizations throughout the United States. With offices in Chicago, Detroit and Philadelphia, we deliver solutions wherever the problem at hand can benefit from the uniqueness of our experience and expertise.


THE WILL GROUP
Parent Company of six companies in the construction and construction related industries – Electrical Resource Management, Lighting Solutions, Mavis Construction, Willson Design, Rib Mountain Aggregate and Murray Food Services.

 

FINANCIAL SERVICES

ARIEL INVESTMENTS, LLC
Ariel Investments is a Chicago-based money management firm and mutual fund company that serves individual investors through its no-load mutual funds and manages separate accounts for institutional clients. Since its inception in 1983, Ariel has grown from 2 to 72 employees with $4.6 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2010.


ATTUCKS ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
Started as Columbia Capital in 1996, the firm branched out to become the investment manager for more than $1 billion of public funds. To build on this success, Bond started Attucks Asset Management, LLC. Headquartered in Chicago, Attucks is an investment management firm that specializes in offering manager-of-managers programs to pension funds that focus on developing minority and woman-owned asset managers.


HOLLAND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
Holland specializes in asset and portfolio management for corporations, endowments, foundations, public funds, Taft/Hartley, and high net worth individuals. Ms. Walker, who manages a team of research analysts, is responsible for the firm’s portfolio strategy and execution. She has 27 years of financial services experience, including 20 years of investment management experience.


LOOP CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
Loop Capital Markets serves clients in public and corporate finance, taxable, tax-exempt and equity securities sales and trading. Loop Capital Markets is a firm comprised of experienced investment professionals who are accomplished alumni of some of the world's premier investment banks. Loop Capital Markets provides both equity and fixed income brokerage services exclusively to institutional investors. We trade equity, taxable and tax-exempt debt extensively with over 450 institutions including mutual funds, asset managers, insurance companies, corporations and governmental entities.


MITCHELL & TITUS, LLP
The firm provides a wide range of services in the areas of auditing, taxes, general accounting and management consulting. Licensed to practice in Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, Missouri, and Wisconsin, the firm provides services to employee benefit plans for Fortune 500 corporations, commercial companies, governmental agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and school districts. In February of 2009, Hill Taylor, LLC combined its practice with Mitchell & Titus LLP, the largest minority-controlled accounting firm in the United States.


SEAWAY BANK and TRUST COMPANY
Established in 1965, Seaway Bank and Trust Company is recognized as one of the nation’s largest Black-owned banks, with more than $360,000,000 in assets and over 250 employees (75% community residents). Our mission remains to help minority professionals and entrepreneurs obtain the financial assistance they need to be responsive to the credit needs of our community. Seaway Bank and Trust Company is also a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) under the U.S. Department of the Treasury.


 

FOOD/MANUFACTURING

BALDWIN RICHARDSON FOODS COMPANY
Baldwin Richardson Foods Company is a production and manufacturing company of top quality, premium brands with annual sales of over $69.9 million. Baldwin Richardson Foods Co. produces and manufactures three historic brands: Baldwin Ice Cream, Mrs. Richardson's Dessert Toppings, and Nance's Mustards and Condiments.


LUSTER PRODUCTS, INC.
Luster Products, Inc. is a multi-million dollar international company that manufactures a full range of hair care products for African-American consumers. The company employs over 400 employees and has operations in the United States, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean.

 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

AWAKENED ALTERNATIVES, INC. (HOME HEALTH & DISEASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS)
Founded in 1992 by Genevieve D. Thomas, Awakened Alternatives, Inc. (AAI) provides comprehensive healthcare cost management services across public and private delivery systems. Since its inception, AAI has grown from a small home based business to a multimillion dollar organization employing licensed professionals and paraprofessionals to serve the company's individual clients and contracts with government and private industry.


COCHRAN, CHERRY, GIVENS, SMITH & MONTGOMERY, L.L.C (LEGAL SERVICES)
The Law Firm of Cochran, Cherry, Givens, Smith & Montgomery, P.C., located in Chicago, Illinois, is the product of a merger between James D. Montgomery & Associates and the Cochran Law Firm. The result is the nation's largest plaintiffs' personal injury law firm. The firm focuses on civil litigation and remains dedicated to representing the victims of catastrophic accidents, medical malpractice, fraud, discrimination and other areas of personal damages.


ENDOW, INCORPORATED (FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTING, INSURANCE)
Endow, Inc., is a multi-lines insurance services company founded in 1978. The firm specializes in insurance planning and benefit management. The principals of Endow, Incorporated are leaders in the insurance industry with over 30 years experience. The firm has developed customized strategies and plans for large businesses, government agencies, not-for-profit organizations and small embryonic businesses.


GAREDA DIVERSIFIED BUSINESS SERVICES, INC. (HEALTHCARE SERVICES, NURSE STAFFING)
In 1974, Gwen founded Duncan Nurses Registry, Inc., which quickly grew to be the largest African American Nurses Registry in the Chicago area. In 1980, Gwen reorganized her company and formed Gareda Diversified Business Services, Inc. Through the years, Gareda has provided services ranging from cable TV installation to hospital staffing. Today, Gareda proudly reigns as a premier health care agency boasting an employee base of over 1,100 professional nurses, therapists, homemakers, and respite care workers.


GREENE AND LETTS (LEGAL SERVICES)
The law firm of Greene and Letts was founded in January of 1990, by Martin P. Greene and Eileen M. Letts. The Firm's practice is ideally situated to provide optimal services to any client. It has proven to be large enough to accommodate highly complex matters, but its attorneys remain accessible to clients. The Firm offers its clients the most qualified attorneys who display the conviction to supply bold opinions and solid counsel, while never losing sight of the client's best interests and ultimate authority.


HAYWOOD AND FLEMING ASSOCIATES (HFA) (RISK MANAGEMENT AND INSURANCE CONSULTING)
Haywood and Fleming Associates (HFA), established in 1984 is a leading innovative commercial insurance and risk management firm. HFA has developed considerable expertise and experience in servicing the needs of large and complex entities in the private and public sector. HFA also serves small businesses and high net worth individuals. The firm represents a number of prominent insurance carriers in caring for the needs of its clients whether it is in insurance procurement or risk management services.


NEAL & LEROY, LLC (LEGAL SERVICES)
Neal & Leroy, LLC is a minority-owned law firm located in the heart of the Chicago Loop. Our attorneys are experienced in practice areas including eminent domain/condemnation, labor & employment, litigation, public finance and project finance, real estate and real estate finance, zoning, development and land use, business reorganization and bankruptcy and construction law. Neal & Leroy, LLC is committed to delivering superior quality, cost effective legal services.


PUGH, JONES, JOHNSON & QUANDT, P.C. (LEGAL SERVICES)
Pugh, Jones, Johnson & Quandt, P.C. was founded in 1991 to provide commercial and corporate litigation, public finance, and corporate legal services to clients who value timely solutions delivered efficiently and cost-effectively. As a minority-owned and managed law firm of more than 20 attorneys, Pugh, Jones, Johnson & Quandt provides its clients with proven professional excellence as well as the added benefit of the firm’s interpersonal diversity.


RGMA
Founded in 1979, RGMA is one of the nation’s premier change management firms specializing in integrating supplier diversity into corporate strategy and the formation of diverse strategic alliances. The firm offers training, benchmarking, strategic planning and supplier sourcing and development. In addition the firm provides executive search services for supplier diversity professionals.


THE HOLLINS GROUP, INC.
Since 1988, The Hollins Group Inc., one of the nation’s largest and oldest African American-owned retained executive search firms, has been providing select clients with a range of human capital solutions, including senior-level executive search, board director appointments and strategic leadership services. The Hollins Group has offices in Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Atlanta, GA; Westport, CT; and international affiliates in 21 cities across Europe and the Far East.

 

REAL ESTATE

CAPRI CAPITAL
Quintin Primo co-founded Capri Capital in 1992, formerly known as Carter Primo Chesterton, LP. Capri Capital is a commercial real estate investment firm that acts on behalf of pension funds and other institutional investors. The firm currently manages over $6 billion in institutional assets.

 

TECHNOLOGY

COMPUTER RESOURCE SOLUTIONS

Computer Resource Solutions provides Information Technology Consulting and Professional Staffing services to Fortune 500+ companies in a wide variety of industries. Computer Resource Solutions’ ability to deliver tangible benefits to our clients requires the delivery of the right solution through highly skilled consultants with cross-functional experience. Computer Resource Solutions has several certifications.


ELECTRONIC KNOWLEDGE INTERCHANGE
Electronic Knowledge Interchange is an e-Solutions application, development, and implementation company specializing in Intranet, Extranet, Workflow and Web-based supply chain management and other e-commerce solutions. EKI designs, develops, implements and manages electronic business system applications and application and email infrastructures for large and medium sized organizations in many different industries. EKI solution areas include E-commerce, Supply Chain Management, Web to ERP Integration and Enterprise Portal Management.


KBS
Founded in 1992, KBS provides and implements technology-based solutions to our customers’ business needs. We provide desktop and desk-side support and managed IT services such as on-site service desk support. KBS supports customers that have as many as 85,000 desktop computers. We provide a multitude of additional services, including client-server administration, installation and support.


SYNCH-SOLUTIONS
Synch-Solutions is an established, national management consulting and technology services firm focused on urban growth and efficiency. They partner with clients - educational institutions, government agencies and utilities - to help them improve business process efficiency and effectiveness across the enterprise. They provide technical consulting, enterprise resource planning, business relationship management and business process management services.

 

TRANSPORTATION/LOGISTICS