Here's Who Won The Women’s Business Enterprise Of The Year Award

DEARBORN, MI — An outstanding woman has been recognized in the community.

Mary Shaya, co-founder and president of J & B Medical Supply, was honored at the sixth annual Diversity Honors Awards Luncheon with the Michigan Women’s Business Enterprise of the Year award.

“I am thrilled to be recognized by the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council and Midwest business owner peers. The opportunities for women have never been greater,” said Mary Shaya. “J & B Medical is proud to be one of the largest women owned and Chaldean enterprises in the United States.”

The Great Lakes Women’s Business Council (WBC), founded in 1984, is based in Livonia, Michigan, and is an organization comprised of leaders throughout Michigan and Indiana that provides access to capital and corporate procurement opportunities.

The Diversity Honors event highlights corporations, government and corporate representatives, and women business owners that support and promote doing business with women and other diverse suppliers. Great Lakes WBC represents more than 1,000 WBENC-certified women’s business enterprises.

“I’m so proud of my mother, who was born in Iraq, immigrated, and helped successfully grow our company into what it is today,” said Stephen Shaya, M.D., chief medical officer of J & B. “Our family-owned business strives to provide quality and affordable healthcare products and services to Michiganders and people across the globe, so that everyone - regardless of gender or background - can worry less about their health and have more time to enjoy life or develop the business they dream of building.”

Shaya quoted Margaret Mead on his mother’s exemplary leadership: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”

J & B Medical programs have received numerous recognitions, including the 2017 High Value Provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. They have been recognized for global humanitarian efforts at the United Nations and most recently by the Chaldean American Ladies of Charity with the Timeless Hope Award.

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