Entrepreneurship is at the heart of American commercial life. National Entrepreneurship Month offers an opportunity to celebrate the ingenuity and innovation that makes America great. This celebration of American entrepreneurship comes on the heels of the 2015 National Minority Enterprise Development Week celebration in San Diego, California, where MBDA honored minority business owners who have distinguished themselves among their peers. 

This year’s Minority Exporter of the Year, Shine Electronics, is an outstanding example of American innovation and drive. Founded in 1980 by CEO Elliot Park, the company has grown through its ability to quickly adapt its services to meet customer demands in the rapidly changing mobile device market. When the life cycle of mobile phones shortened and customers began trading-in working phones for newer models, Park saw a golden opportunity for the abundance of fairly new, reasonably priced mobile devices. Parks began purchasing handsets from carriers and retailers and refurbishing them for resale.

In 2014, revenue soared when he began exporting to even larger markets. Today, Shine Electronics purchases over 50,000 phones a month and is a leader in the global marketplace for refurbished cell phones at affordable prices. He now generates $30 million per year in export sales.

Shine Electronics continues to distinguish itself as its President & CEO, Elliot Park is part of the delegation of MBEs travelling to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Small and Medium Enterprises Summit in Manila, Philippines. The delegation, co-lead by MBDA National Director Alejandra Y. Castillo, will explore opportunities to expand U.S. exports and build partnerships across the Asia-Pacific region.