Sonja Ebron, CEO of blackEnergy, was honored with the 2007 “Non-Traditional Business Enterprise” award by the Atlanta Business League at its 23rd Annual Super Tuesday Conference on September 25, 2007. The Super Tuesday Conference is the ABL’s signature event, designed to recognize and celebrate African American business women. This year’s sponsors included AirTran Airways, the Coca-Cola Company, UPS, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The non-traditional business award was presented to Ebron, a PhD electrical engineer, for her pioneering efforts to make deregulated energy work for households and other small consumers. Through a program of GasKey, a certificated natural gas marketer, blackEnergy helps consumers support black communities using their utility bills while lowering their natural gas rates through cooperative buying. The company also distributes energy conservation products nationally through its ecommerce storefront at www.blackenergy.com.

“We appreciate Sonja for showing us all how to do well by doing good,” said Leona Barr-Davenport, president of the Atlanta Business League.

For over 70 years, the Atlanta Business League, an affiliate of the National Business League, has served as a business developer and advocate for minority-owned businesses. Dr. Booker T. Washington founded the National Business League on principles of self-help and self-sufficiency with a commitment to reinvesting community money within the community.

“This recognition from the Atlanta Business League is very special because we have the same essential mission — to demonstrate the power of self-help in Black communities,” said Ebron.