Meet the Winners:
4th Annual Morial Award Winners
Earlier this summer, The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority and the Urban League of Louisiana hosted the fourth annual Morial Awards at the Convention Center’s Great Hall. The Morial Awards recognize a small business and a corporation that have demonstrated innovative growth and economic impact, as well as exceptional contributions to increasing diversity and creating equal opportunities for local communities and small businesses across the state of Louisiana.
Corporation of the Year
Verius Property Group (VPG)
From its headquarters in Harvey, Louisiana, VPG provides real estate and project management services along with residential and commercial construction services. Founded in 2010, VPG has leveraged its industry expertise and partnerships to build, rebuild, renovate, and enhance communities and partnerships not just here in Louisiana, but in Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida and Alabama as well. At the heart of VPG are its core values encapsulated in the acronym P.R.I.D.E: Passion, Resourcefulness, Integrity, Dependability, and Excellence.
Small Business of the Year
Obatala Sciences
This woman-owned, minority-owned biotechnology firm is changing the status quo of traditional drug development. Founded in New Orleans in 2017, Obatala focuses on increasing diversity in clinical research and expediting the development of therapies for diseases like obesity, diabetes and cancer while advancing tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This small but important business envisions a world where enriched preclinical insights create future therapies that are accessible, equitable, and effective for patients worldwide regardless of demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds.