The MATLET Group was named Supplier of the Year – category 4, at the 2011 GNEMSDC Annual Awards Gala, held April 28 at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, Connecticut.  The black tie event presented by the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council took place with more than 1,000 business leaders in attendance.

This is the third consecutive year The MATLET Group was recognized by GNEMSDC, and the second time in three years it has won the Supplier of the Year award.  In 2010 President and CEO Gary Stiffler, received the MBE to MBE Empowerment award.  It is given to the Minority Business Enterprise that best demonstrates great service to other minority-owned businesses, in addition to making it a business priority to purchase goods and services from Minority Business Enterprises.  

The MATLET Group's Supplier of the Year victory came in a category for businesses with annual sales in excess of $50 million.  Qualifications for the award are based on a company's business performance, growth, the amount spent with other minority businesses, the ability to overcome obstacles and the amount of service it performs to the community it operates in.  The MATLET Group spends approximately $2.7 million annually with diverse businesses, using its active participation in multiple NMSDC affiliated councils throughout the U.S. to learn about various diverse companies it can do business with.

The GNEMSDC awards are presented to outstanding corporate members and Minority Business Enterprises from around the region.  This year's event theme was "Growth through Opportunity".  Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., the Founder and President of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, was featured as the keynote speaker and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut) was honored with the President's Award.