The CEO Conversations series at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus will feature on Nov. 16 Alexander “Nick” Nichols, the recently retired chief operating officer of the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council (EMSDC). EMSDC’s mission is to develop business opportunities for minority-owned businesses by certifying and linking them to corporations and public agencies.
Nichols, who took the COO position in 2014, previously served as the president and CEO of the Western PA Minority Supplier Development Council.
Nichols is a recipient of the following awards and honors: Omega Psi Phi Outstanding Award in the Area of Business, 2015 EMSDC President’s Award, New Pittsburgh Courier Men of Excellence Award, KDKA Lift-Up Award, 2011 Omega Psi Phi Service Award, Pittsburgh Pirates African-American Heritage Day Award, Black Trailblazer Award, and SBA Small Business Person of the Year. He is also a 2011 Hall of Fame inductee to the MWBE Governmental Committee.
During his career, Nichols also worked for General Electric, Rockwell International, and ALCOA, and he started his own IT firm, Computer Friend, located in Pittsburgh.
Nichols holds a B.S. degree in Mathematics from SC State University and a master of arts degree from Webster University. He attended the University of Louisville, the Carnegie Mellon Entrepreneurial Program, and the Tuck School of Business, and is a graduate of General Electric’s Manufacturing Management Program.
A native of Spartanburg, SC, Nichols and his wife of 45 years live in Allison Park, PA. They have two children and three grandchildren.
Nichols enjoys playing golf, playing the trombone, and listening to music. He will be speaking at 12:15 p.m. in the Student Center, located on the ground floor of the Williams Building. The event is open to the public and free of charge.
The CEO Conversations series is designed to give audiences an opportunity to hear from and talk with key individuals in the local, regional, and national business communities about business, entrepreneurship, and leadership. These talks, which are sponsored by Ford Business Machines, are free of charge and open to the public.