SLS 23RS-2742 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 185
BY SENATOR BARROW
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Calvin Mills Jr. on his myriad accomplishments as a
proliferant serial tech entrepreneur.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend Calvin Mills Jr. on his myriad accomplishments as a proliferant serial tech
3 entrepreneur.
4 WHEREAS, Calvin Mills Jr., a native New Orleanian, growing up in the Third Ward,
5 is the son of a widowed school teacher who made huge sacrifices, but was steadfast to ensure
6 her son would not be affected by the limitations of a destitute neighborhood; and
7 WHEREAS, Mr. Mills, perpetually bolstered by unwavering support from his mother
8 and dedicated mentors, fostered an unwavering resolve, developed skills in soccer, golf,
9 football, the saxophone, and became a member of the esteemed Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,
10 Inc.; and
11 WHEREAS, as a full-back for the esteemed Southern University Jaguars, he
12 achieved an unparalleled record of twenty-five victories and zero defeats, winning two
13 National Black College Football Championships, and three consecutive titles in the Southern
14 Athletic Conference, solidifying his status as a five-time champion; and
15 WHEREAS, while Mr. Mills showcased his skills as an All-Star college full-back,
16 he completed his undergraduate education, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Computer
17 Science and Business from Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana;
18 and
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SLS 23RS-2742 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, at the helm of CMC Technology Solutions (CMC), founded in 2001 as
2 an IT consulting firm based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Mr. Mills serves as the visionary
3 Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer, spearheading a fully-certified and rapidly
4 growing enterprise that provides dependable and comprehensive next-generation technology
5 solutions with precision; and
6 WHEREAS, since its establishment in 2001, CMC has experienced significant
7 growth after successfully fulfilling a contract request from the Louisiana Legislative Black
8 Caucus to develop call center software to track Hurricane Katrina evacuees, subsequently
9 followed by a federal contract worth over three hundred thousand dollars to deliver computer
10 equipment and services to the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
11 WHEREAS, the exceptional service provided by the CMC team in delivering
12 hurricane relief services after Katrina and Rita led to state and national recognition,
13 distinctions, awards, and subsequent contracts with the United States Department of
14 Homeland Security, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Louisiana Economic
15 Development (LED), Louisiana Small Business Development Center, and Southern
16 University A&M College, firmly establishing CMC as a preeminent IT consulting company;
17 and
18 WHEREAS, CMC has earned numerous prestigious awards, including the U.S.
19 Department of Homeland Security Small Business Achievement Award for Outstanding
20 Performance in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Louisiana Governor's Official
21 Statement of Recognition, the SBA and LED Champion of the Year for entrepreneurial
22 excellence, SBA's Client of the Year as the Top-Ranking National Small Business Incubator,
23 the National Small Business Association Lewis A. Shattuck Small Business Advocate of the
24 Year for going above and beyond in advocating for the small business community,
25 Outstanding Alumnus by the State Board of Supervisors of the Southern University A&M
26 College System, and being listed consecutively for three years in the Madison Who's Who
27 of Top Executives; and
28 WHEREAS, Mr. Mills is recognized for his pioneering approach in the field of
29 information technology, continues to astound the industry by achieving remarkable
30 milestones, including the prestigious U.S. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from
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1 the Honorable United States President Joe Biden, honored as the Louisiana Honoree for
2 Exemplary Work by the Urban League of Louisiana, gained recognition as Louisiana's
3 Business and Technology Center Client of the Year, named a New Orleans Top Tech 30
4 Honoree, and certifications as both a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and a Minority
5 Business Enterprise; and
6 WHEREAS, in addition to being named as the Capitol Region's 100 Most Influential
7 Black Men by the Black Chamber of Commerce, and having served for eight years as the
8 mayor's designee for the City of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and as board chairman for three
9 years on the Nexus Louisiana Board of Directors (NexusLA), Mr. Mills voluntarily
10 relinquished his position, only to step into the role of interim President and CEO within the
11 organization; and
12 WHEREAS, upon achieving the distinction as the youngest recipient of the
13 Presidential Volunteer Service Achievement Award in Louisiana, Mr. Mills maximized this
14 honor to propel the NexusLA community into a prominent business incubator, dedicated to
15 accelerating the growth of technology-based companies, by providing crucial resources
16 including coaching, capital, and valuable networking opportunities, while fostering an
17 environment of innovation and collaboration; and
18 WHEREAS, under the agile, adaptive, and pioneering leadership of Mr. Mills, SLT
19 Technology, Inc. was established with a collaborative and highly-skilled tech team which
20 includes Chief Executive Officer, Michael Spotsville, an expert in information management
21 and IT workforce development; Chief Financial Officer, Garland Tillman, a skilled property
22 manager and coding professional; and Chief Operations Officer and Vice President of
23 Research and Strategy, D. Johann Hebert, a mechanical engineer, U.S. diplomat expert in
24 counter-measures and network compliance elite; and
25 WHEREAS, driven by his fervent resolve to empower the upcoming generation of
26 entrepreneurs, Mr. Mills established "CLIMB" (Changing Lives Is My Business), a nonprofit
27 organization dedicated to providing impecunious families with technology resources through
28 the construction of desktop computers, thereby establishing the groundwork for Calvin Cares
29 Weekend, an annual tradition which brings over fifteen hundred disadvantaged children to
30 an unforgettable experience by attending the Bayou Classic, encompassing fun, football, and
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1 being a supportive fan to the Southern University Jaguars and Grambling State University
2 Tigers; and
3 WHEREAS, drawing on his accomplishments as a renowned speaker and recipient
4 of numerous leadership awards, Mr. Mills channeled his eloquence into authoring inspiring
5 books, including No Secrets to Elevation: The Great Idea Journal, a practical resource that
6 offers valuable tips for striving entrepreneurs to maintain focus and motivation, and No
7 Secrets to Elevation: An Entrepreneur's Story of Persistence, a captivating chronicle of his
8 remarkable journey from a challenging upbringing in a disadvantaged, crime-ridden
9 neighborhood to becoming a fearless and determined individual driven by the pursuit of
10 success and service; and
11 WHEREAS, Calvin Mills Jr., an award-winning speaker, published author, among
12 the top fifty business leaders invited to the White House Business Summit, and recognized
13 as one of Black Enterprise Magazine's 100 Modern Men, embodies a give-back and
14 grow-the-community philosophy, encouraging the indigent to embrace challenges as
15 motivation to remain determined and steadfast, and always striving for greater success in
16 both the public and private sectors, all of which propelled him to become a renowned serial
17 tech entrepreneur.
18 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
19 does hereby commend Calvin Mills Jr. for his numerous achievements as a prolific serial
20 tech entrepreneur and highly influential figure in the realm of high-tech innovations, owning
21 the sole company supported by the globally recognized Oracle Corporation, while effectively
22 merging his dedication to community development with people-centered approaches, all
23 driven by his unwavering focus on faith.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
25 Mr. Calvin Mills Jr.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michelle B. Johnson.
DIGEST
SR 185 Original 2023 Regular Session Barrow
Commends Calvin Mills Jr. on his myriad accomplishments as a proliferant serial tech
entrepreneur.
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