MIAMI, FL — The Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council (FSMSDC) today announced that President and CEO Beatrice Louissaint will step down from her role effective December 12, 2025, after more than 25 years of transformational leadership and service.

“It has been an extraordinary privilege to guide FSMSDC through decades of meaningful growth and impact,” said Louissaint. “While the moment has come to welcome new leadership and fresh perspectives, I’m confident that the strong foundation we’ve built together ensures the organization’s continued success and stability. Our mission will—and must—continue.”

Under her leadership, more than 75 FSMSDC-certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) now generate over $50 million in annual revenue, 10 exceed $500 million, and one has gone public. Together, these companies support more than 80,000 jobs, helping drive intergenerational wealth creation in communities across Florida and beyond.

FSMSDC’s Board of Directors has launched a national search for Louissaint’s successor. The Board has retained Charity Search Group, recently named to Hunt Scanlon Media’s 2025 Select Guide to America’s Top 250 Executive Search Firms, to lead the search process. A Board-appointed Selection Committee has been established, and a transition plan is in place to ensure continuity, including overlap with Louissaint to support a seamless onboarding of the new CEO.

The Board has also initiated a strategic pivot and long-term sustainability planning effort to chart the organization’s course for the future. These efforts reinforce FSMSDC’s commitment to innovation, equity, and scalable impact.

“Leadership transitions are a natural part of an organization’s evolution,” said Louissaint. “I am incredibly proud of all we have accomplished together and confident FSMSDC is poised for even greater impact in the years ahead.”

For more information about the CEO search or FSMSDC’s future direction, please visit www.fsmsdc.org.

To honor Beatrice’s legacy and ensure the continued advancement of FSMSDC’s mission, we invite you to support the 50th Anniversary Legacy Campaign. Your contribution will help build wealth in communities of color and sustain the impactful work of the Council. To donate, please click here.

About FSMSDC

The Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council (FSMSDC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing access and growth for minority businesses in Florida. The organization’s

goal is to increase purchasing from minority businesses by government entities and corporations while increasing the operating capacity of small and minority businesses through hands-on business assistance, training, and access to technology and capital resources. Founded in 1975, the FSMSDC is one of 23 regional councils affiliated with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). The FSMSDC acts as a liaison between corporate America and diverse and small businesses in the state of Florida.