Introducing the OT 10

On June 25, 2005, OT Magazine will celebrate the best of Our best at the OT 10 Awards in Atlanta. Purchase your tickets today.

Meet the OT 10·

Lifelong Service Award: Muhammad Ali
Itās no easy task to explain why OT is presenting Muhammad Ali with the Lifelong Service Award÷or in how many ways he deserves it. Ali has tirelessly worked for more than four decades promoting the ideals of respect, hope, and understanding, and inspiring adults and children of all races and nationalities. Today, he still makes time to visit countless numbers of soup kitchens and hospitals in America, and helps such organizations as the Chicago-based adoption agency The Cradle; the Make-A-Wish Foundation; the Special Olympicsā organization Best Buddies; and Fight Night, which generates funds for his Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. More than 40 years after he burst upon the scene as a gold-medal winner at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Ali is still making noise.

OT MVP: Don Coleman
Back in 1988 when Don Coleman set out to start his own advertising agency, he had dreams of making an impact on the industry-on a global level. He had no idea that his vision, which started out as a one-man show venture as Don Coleman & Associates would blossom into an industry leader with five offices, $400 million in annual billing and more than 180 employees. Today, GlobalHue is the first and largest minority-owned full-service marketing communications agency dedicated to cultural and multicultural consumer audiences. Itās Colemanās commitment to community and immense business acumen that make him the OT MVP for 2005.

Best New Company: Jennifer Azzi
A world-class athlete and 1996 Olympic gold medalist, Azzi was regarded as one of the best-conditioned athletes around; she even conducted training camps during the WNBA off-seasons to stay conditioned. And while she has since retired from competitive play, Azzi turned her off-season training regimen into a unique business concept: Azzi Training, based in Salt Lake City, which conducts adult fitness camps designed to foster total health and wellness. Azzi Training is being honored with OTās Best New Company award.

Outstanding Foundation: Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King has long been a champion for social change and equality. King created new inroads for women in and out of sports during her legendary career and she continues to make her mark today. One of the most illustrious and celebrated tennis players in history, King has raised or personally given millions of dollars to many different charities supporting tennis, sports, health, education, minorities, gay and lesbian groups, children, families and women. She has a special place in her heart for the Womenās Sports Foundation, which she founded in 1995 and is being honored as the OT 10 Outstanding Foundation. The foundation invests in 1,400 girl-serving organizations annually.

Best New Product or Service: George Foreman
Since he came out of retirement to box again in the early 90s, George Foreman has found himself transformed into a media darling÷Americaās favorite pitchman--endorsing everything from mufflers to clothes to, most notably, grills. OT recognizes Foreman with the Best New Product or Service Award for his Knock-Out Household Cleaning System product line launched early this year. Due to a successful pre-launch campaign, the Knock-Out products debuted in more than more than 7,000 stores.

Community Impact: Franco Harris
Franco Harrisā size, speed and great hands made him one of the NFLās greatest running backs. Now, 20 years after his retirement from football, the Hall of Famer has made a name for himself as a respected businessman who continually gives back to his community, earning him OTās Community Impact award. Harris--as founder, owner and CEO÷today runs Super Bakery, Inc., a maker of high-quality pastries distributed nationwide thatās based in the town where he became a household name: Pittsburgh. Yet even though heās a successful entrepreneur, the former Steeler believes he is, and for that matter prefers to be, better known for his charitable endeavors.

Outstanding Volunteer: Robert Porcher
Robert Porcher, a tireless fundraiser for cancer research who started his own foundation, the Robert Porcher & Friends Invitational Charities, is committed to his community activities both in metro Detroit and in his home state of South Carolina. From donating 500 turnkeys around thanksgiving each year to those in need, to working with the Palmetto Touchdown Club in Charleston to award scholarships to football players who do not receive athletic scholarships, to giving of himself to several boards and fundraising initiatives, Porcher, OTās Outstanding Volunteer, is committed to helping others and encourages his peers to do the same.

Best Overall Company: Gale Sayers
Gale Sayers÷who in 1977 became pro footballās youngest Hall of Fame inductee--is the chairman and CEO of Chicago-based Sayers 40 Inc. (formerly Sayers Group LLC), a 23-year-old company that sells computer hardware and software, and offers services ranging from computer installation to network migration and design. In its infancy, Sayers 40 Inc. sold computer-related supplies such as printer cartridges and fax machines. During the technology-sector bust of the early 2000s, the company acquired devalued computer and Internet-related companies. And two years ago, Sayers 40 Inc.--the winner of OTās Best Company of the Year award--diversified into Internet consultancy and asset management, with offices in several states and annual revenues of $300 million.

Outstanding Philanthropist: Chris Evert
Chris Evert retired from Professional Tennis in September 1989. One month later, along with her husband, she was back on the tennis court hosting the first Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic in Boca Raton, Florida. The 1989 event raised more than $350,000 before a sold-out crowd and a national television audience. The 2004 15th Anniversary of the Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic raised a record-breaking $1.2 million dollars. Over $13 million dollars of donated funds has been distributed to worthwhile programs all over Florida, earning her the OT Outstanding Philanthropist award.

Best Entrepreneur: Junior Bridgman
Former NBA player Junior Bridgeman of the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers, Junior Bridgeman, is the owner and President of Bridgeman Foods, Inc. Bridgeman oversees the administration and operation of 153 Wendyās Old Fashioned Hamburger Restaurants in four states that employ 5,320 employees. With plans to open 35 to 45 new units over the next five years, Bridgeman is being recognized as OTās Best Entrepreneur.

Interested in learning more about the OT 10? The OT 10 will be profiled in the Anniversary issue of OT Magazine. If you donāt receive OT Magazine but would like to, contact OT today..