Kaye Gantt Receives NAMC’s Harriet Tubman Excellence in Leadership Award
Kaye Gantt, chief operating officer for the Institute, a Durham-N.C,-based economic development organization devoted to construction business diversity, is the 2017 recipient of the 3rd Annual “Harriet Tubman Excellence in Leadership Award” presented by the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC).
In keeping with NAMC’s strong foundational history, the Harriet Tubman Excellence in Leadership Award is designed to honor influential women in the construction industry, including those who support and advocate on behalf of minority contractors and support the NAMC mission. Nominations from across the country were evaluated based on professional accomplishments, community leadership, awards and milestones, and commitment to the programs of NAMC National and/or its chapters.
Gantt received the award this summer at the well-attended Women in Construction Luncheon during NAMC’s 48th National Conference in Columbia, S.C. The luncheon’s keynote speaker was South Carolina-based Schylver V. Foster (Sky), corporate communications and community relations manager for BMW Manufacturing, Co.
Gantt told GroundBreak Carolinas, “I was surprised and humbled when I learned that I was going to be honored with this award. It has extra special meaning to me for several reasons. First, not everyone knows that Harriet Tubman had a small construction firm and was passionate about her profession. And, it just so happens that for the past 20 years I have had a picture above my living room mantle of Harriet Tubman leading slaves to their freedom and independence. What a role model! I tell myself that if she could do that, then I can to lead small minority businesses to their economic freedom.”
More about Kaye Gantt
As a member of the Institute’s Executive Management Team, Gantt oversees the organization’s ongoing operations at multiple locations within and beyond the state of North Carolina. In this role, she is responsible for implementing business strategies, plans and procedures; establishing policies that promote the organization’s culture and vision; managing relationships with partners and vendors; and working with programs to manage and achieve program goals and objectives. Gantt provides the leadership, management and vision necessary to ensure the organization’s operational controls and administrative systems are working efficiently and effectively, promoting the financial strength and growth of the organization. She has an extensive background in banking operations and finance including commercial and retail lending, and holds numerous credentials including Project Management Professional (PMP) from North State University, and Certified Compliance Administrator from Morgan State University. Gantt is a member of the board of directors for the United Minority Contractors of North Carolina (UMCNC), the state chapter of the NAMC.
About The Institute
The Institute was founded in 1986 as the North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development with a grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and N.C. Association of Minority Businesses to diversify North Carolina’s business base as a strategy for expanding economic opportunity. Today, nearly 30 years later, the Institute remains the only organization of its kind in the country focused on business and economic growth through effective business diversity. North Carolina’s model of collaboration and its exceptional ecosystem are recognized as a model by other states and regions. To learn more, visit https://www.theinstitutenc.org/ or write to info@TheInstituteNC.org.
