Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte have recognized seven local businesses as winners of the 2025 Crowns of Enterprise Awards. These awards acknowledge small businesses that exhibit leadership, sound business strategies, economic contributions, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The Crowns of Enterprise Awards are in their 14th year and are jointly presented by the Mecklenburg County Office of Economic Development’s Business Diversity and Inclusion division and the City of Charlotte’s Charlotte Business INClusion program.
The Certified Minority Business Enterprise of the Year was awarded to Velez Strategies. This bilingual consulting firm aids small businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies in achieving sustainable growth. Lissette Velez founded the firm in 2022, leveraging over 13 years of experience to support more than 5,000 businesses.
Lane Architecture received the Certified Woman Business Enterprise of the Year award. Founded by Barbara Lane in 2013, this architectural firm focuses on public sector projects. Lane is noted for her dedication to design excellence and meeting client objectives.
Carolina Transportation Engineers & Associates (Carolina TEA) was named Certified Small Business Enterprise of the Year. This engineering firm provides services for bridge, roadway, and rail projects. Established in August 2016 in Charlotte, Carolina TEA employs 22 staff members across five offices.
Genesis Construction earned Prime Contractor of the Year honors for its leadership in diversity initiatives within its workforce and supply chain. Owner Jefferson Ovalle is recognized for promoting inclusivity within his team.
The Media Personality/Media Outlet of the Year award went to The Charlotte Ledger. This locally owned news organization connects with its audience through newsletters, a website, and a podcast under the guidance of founder Tony Mecia and managing editor Christina Bolling.
Prospera North Carolina was acknowledged as Diversity Advocate of the Year for its efforts supporting Hispanic entrepreneurs with bilingual business development services since expanding from Florida to Charlotte in 2017.
Savvi Consulting was named Rising Star for its focus on human-centered change management services aimed at enhancing organizational performance. LaShana M. Wiggs founded Savvi Consulting in 2022 after two decades working with Fortune 100 companies.
