Ernesta Procope To Enter Hall Of Fame

By Mark E. Ruquet

NU Online News Service, June 17, 2:45 p.m. EDT? Ernesta G. Procope, president and chief executive officer of theinsurance brokerage firm E.G. Bowman Co., Inc., based in New YorkCity, will be one of 10 inductees to the African American BusinessHall of Fame & Museum this year.

The award honors entrepreneurs for their pioneering leadership.Ms. Procope is one of only two women among this year'sinductees.

Ms. Procope said, in an e-mail statement, that she was veryhonored to receive the recognition, but added that the award alsorecognizes the accomplishments of the firm's employees.

"Overcoming many barriers, we have successfully entered themainstream of the American economy to build a strong, vibrantcompany," she said.

Ms. Procope founded E.G. Bowman 50 years ago, in 1953, as astorefront insurance agency in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section ofBrooklyn, N.Y. The firm moved to its current location on WallStreet in 1979.

The firm has been recognized over the years as the nation'slargest minority-owned and woman-owned insurance brokerage firm. Itserves the insurance and risk management needs of many of America'slargest corporations including PepsiCo, Philip Morris, Tiffany, AOLTime Warner and Pfizer from its Wall Street office.

Ms. Procope's past honors include, Turner Broadcasting System's"2002 Trumpet Award," Ernst & Young's "Entrepreneur of theYear," The U.S. Small Business Administration's "Small BusinessPerson of the Year," and the Institute for Community Development's"Community Leadership Award." In 1972 she was named "Woman of theYear" by first lady Patricia Nixon.

The induction ceremony will take place June 21, at theRenaissance Hotel in Cleveland.

The event, sponsored by Race for Success, Inc., raises funds fora permanent museum preserving the rich history of African Americanbusiness achievement.

Race for Success is a non-profit organization responsible fordeveloping the African American Business Hall of Fame and Museum.The group was founded by business people concerned with promotingAfrican American entrepreneurial excellence.