Black Enterprise: Working for the B.E. 100s: the B.E. Industrial/Service 100 employs more than 60,00

For years the editors of this magazine have written about the CEOs and executives of black-owned companies. But for our 30th anniversary of the B.E. 100s, we introduce you to the workers--the rank and file--who are truly responsible for the success of these BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE 100 companies. On the following pages, meet the people who demonstrate the intellect, ingenuity, and vitality that can be found in black business. These are the employees of the B.E. 100s.

A.L. EASTMOND & SONS

1973 2002

Lennox B. Williams has been working for A.L. Eastmond & Sons Inc. in the Bronx, New York, for 22 years. He Started out as a welder and eventually rose through the ranks to become shop foreman supervising welders and hiring new employees. Seen here, Williams is overseeing the assembly of parts for an industrial boiler the company is making for the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. It will take him and his team eight to nine days to complete the preparation process, and he enjoys every minute of it.

"There's an advantage for me working for a BE 100s company because most of the employees are Hispanic and black, so I have good communications with them," he says. "There is a lot of camaraderie between us, which makes the job easier for me."

BALDWIN RICHARDSON FOODS

1973 2002

Cami Payne is a senior food technologist who works in the research and development division at Baldwin Richardson Foods, a manufacturer of condiments, syrups, dessert toppings, and ice cream. If you're wondering why a particular product tastes fabulous, it's because it's her job to make it fabulous. Stationed in the company's New York laboratories, Payne uses a variety of sources, everything from a company database to out-of-print cookbooks, to create new products and prototypes. She might even use your grandmother's secret recipe. It's her job to see those prototypes developed into products that the company will sell to your local grocery store.

It's pretty noisy were she works. A crew is on the assembly line packaging products in one area. A crew of support staff is at another area helping with ingredients. Anywhere from 50 or so people are handling products at various stages of development. Payne thrives in this environment and enjoys the challenges it brings.

But it's not all hard work and challenges. The treat is that Payne, a self-described diligent and extremely creative individual, gets to eat her creations.

BARDEN COMPANIES

1973 2002

Blackjack anyone? On any given night, you might find Talenceia Davis operating any number of casino tables: Roulette, Craps, and, of course, Blackjack. And she makes the transition effortlessly and without hesitation. For four years, she's worked at the Barden Co's Majestic Star Casino, located in Gary Indiana, as a table games dealer and it's a job she enjoys very much. She's an extremely upbeat person, always social always cheerful, always in a good mood. Considering that she provides a service, she says it's her people skills that help make the Majestic a great place to visit.

Davis got involved in the casino business after reading a newspaper ad offering a free dealer's class. The Barden Co. hired her immediately. The company, headquartered in Detroit, specializes in casino gaming real estate development, and international trade. The atmosphere is beautiful. The clientele is nice. And the work schedule is relatively smooth. She says it takes a very positive outlook, a lot of patience and a good attitude to do what she does. And with a smile like hers perhaps she can change your luck.

BRIDGEWATER INTERIORS

1973 2002

Robert Sewall was one of the first people to sign up to work at the Bridgewater Interiors plant in Detroit three years ago, and he's been helping the state-of-the-art factory manufacturer car seats for General Motors ever since. He's a dedicated and well-respected employee who enjoys the family environment that his co-workers offer.

Sewall started out as a production worker on the assembly line. But he has quickly become a team leader, overseeing the company's new production line, which assembles overhead systems for the Cadillac Seville. In fact, according to his supervisor, Sewall's hard work and dedication led to his promotion last year.

HAWKINS FOOD GROUP

1973 2002

For four years, Chamara Knott has been working for Hawkins Food Group, franchise owner of the Pizza Hut in her Detroit neighborhood. Today is a particularly slow day, but she knows that on Wednesdays her work picks up. She enjoys being a waitress. Knott was once a manager but elected to return to being a waitress because she can make more money to support her 3-year-old son. "One day I might take my shirt back and become a manager again, but I'm in no hurry," she says. "Being a manager is a lot of responsibility, a lot of paperwork, and dealing with a lot of issues. I like being a waitress because I don't have to deal with people's attitudes."

Besides, she's a crew leader at Pizza Hut, which means, in a way, that she has the authority of a manager, and that's as high as she wants to go--for now. In 2000, she received the "Best Waitress" award from the Detroit News, which came as a complete surprise to her. But she says she has an idea of why she was chosen. "I always keep my head up and have a positive attitude."

H.J. RUSSELL & CO

1973 2002

Keith Riviears is a strong individual who finds a great deal of personal satisfaction working for H.J. Russell & Co., the property management, general contracting, real estate development, and construction company in Atlanta. For him, his work is in line with the overall mission of Russell, who wants to give back to the community by revitalizing abandoned buildings into homes for Atlanta's professional community who were born in the neighborhood, moved away, but would like to return.

"I take special pride working for Mr. Russell on projects like [this]." Riviears says.

Working for the company has definitely added to his personal and professional growth. "I get to meet people from all walks of life and personalities, and that helps me as a person. I've had to build a greater threshold of patience, widening my scope."

As project superintendent, Riviears is responsible for setting the schedule and coordinating the activities of various contractors and subcontractors in an effort to make sure everyone is on the same page so that construction is completed on time and on budget.

PACIFIC NETWORK SUPPLY

1973 2002

Jesse Hayes stays busy working for Pacific Network Supply, a San Jose, California, company that deals in telecommunications, product distribution, assembly, installation, and network development. He's been with the company for three years and says he enjoys working for one of the BE 100s companies because of the tremendous amount of opportunity to advance, learn, and grow.

"I came to this company as an inventory control specialist and now I'm a manager of production and operations," he says. "This is the first company that actually recognized my contributions and my leadership skills. In other companies, the upper management was always untouchable, but at this company, the owner will actually stop me in the hallway and have a conversation with me."

There are few challenges that he's had to face, but his biggest challenge is learning more about the company and his role in it. "The doors are open. All I have to do is step forward and apply myself, and that comes easy for me."

TERRY MANUFACTURING

1973 2002

Deborah Watson, a self-described strong and dedicated supervisor, manages the embroidery department at Terry Manufacturing Co., an apparel manufacturing and distribution company in Roanoke, Alabama. For 10 years, she's enjoyed the family atmosphere that surrounds her day. And although her job is busy, she welcomes the challenges that come with a phone call from customers requesting same-day service--from stitching a company logo onto hundreds of handbags or T-shirts to just making sure her department of 25 operates efficiently. Around Watson, co-workers operate computerized sewing machines that are made with 15 to 20 heads on them, allowing each operator to stitch just as many items at a time. She's grown accustomed to the white noise each machine makes.

"Working for the company has given me an opportunity to grow, and that is something I am grateful for," she says. "Working for Terry Manufacturing has given me the flexibility to be diverse in a lot of the things I do within the company."