Ronald N. Langston, the national director of the Minority Business       
Development Agency, hosted the meeting at the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce. The meeting is part of a national tour where Langston listens to the concerns of the nation's minority-owned businesses an agency spokeswoman said.
                                                                       
Langston also presented the MBDA Vision of Excellence Award to Building & Earth Sciences Inc. The award recognizes the minority-owned geotechnical and materials engineering firm for significant growth and accomplishments in Alabama's minority business community.                                 
                                                                         
"It was an honor to get (the award)," said Deepa Bhate, 39, co-founder and majority owner of the Birmingham company. "We just completed our fifth year full of pitfalls and challenges."                             
                                                                         
                                                                         
The company was founded Dec. 29, 1998, by Bhate, Ava Wise, Jeff Cowen and Robert Adams. It employs more than 100 people, Bhate said.           
                                                      
"It is important to get outside Washington, D.C., and listen to business  leaders and elected officials so that we can effectively develop new  incentives and programs at MBDA that will encourage minority business leaders to expand their businesses, grow the economy and create jobs," Langston said in a statement.  
                                                     
The tour will continue through the year, said Areaka McFadden, a spokeswoman for the agency. Langston and his staff will then implement the suggestions gathered from across the nation.                                                              
                                                                         
"It's been very enlightening for Mr. Langston and the whole agency," she said.