Leon Richardson

President and CEO, The Chemico Group, LLC

Leon C. Richardson is the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Chemico Group, the largest minority-owned, veteran-owned chemical management and distribution company in the United States. The company celebrated an impressive 33 years in business in 2022. Richardson has guided what was originally Chemico Systems, Inc., from a single employee start-up to an internationally recognized player in the chemical and environmental services space. Today, Chemico Group employs nearly 450 people across 30 states and four countries and amasses more than $175 million in sales annually. Black Enterprise has named Chemico to its list of the top 100 Black Businesses nine times.

Chemico Group is a highly regarded Tier 1 supplier to automotive original equipment manufacturers, having received the General Motors (GM) 2022 Overdrive Award and Supplier of the Year award eight times (2009 – 2015 and 2020), Toyota’s Outstanding Business Partner Award and Excellent Performance Award consecutively from 2019 - 2021. Chemico has also made a name for itself in the aerospace, biopharmaceuticals, electronics and government sectors.

The Chemico Group is comprised of two distinct business entities -- Chemico LLC (chemical management) and Chemico Systems (chemical products and distribution). Chemico LLC’s chemical management services streamline the many, often complex aspects of the entire chemical lifecycle -- from procurement to on-site inventory management to environmentally conscious disposal. Chemico Systems’ distribution services afford customers access to an expansive network of chemical suppliers, enabling them a robust chemical supply chain solution. Chemico has entered a strategic partnership with DuBois Chemicals whose product breadth, local technical expertise and facility footprint, coupled with Chemico’s industry-leading chemical management service capabilities, creates a comprehensive portfolio of products, services and technical support that delivers unparalleled value to customers.

Diversity and inclusion are cornerstones of Chemico’s operations. Since 2016, Chemico Group has maintained an average of 75 percent minority employees. 60 percent of the Group’s leadership team are women and multicultural. The company has spent $40 million with MBEs since 2014 (an average minority spend of 5 percent annually). The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) recognized Chemico with its MBE of the Year Award in 2018. Chemico has received the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) Supplier of the Year and named Regional Supplier of the year in its respective classes four times.

Richardson is a passionate champion for Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) development. He serves as a NMSDC Board member and has served on the MMSDC Board for more than 15 years – half of his business career. For six years, Richardson chaired MMSDC’s Minority Business Input Committee overseeing growth and expansion initiatives for approximately 1,200 minority-owned businesses in the state. Richardson also co-chaired the GM Minority Supplier Council. In recognition of his efforts, Richardson has received the GM African Ancestry Network’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2022), named Automotive News Notable Champion of Diversity (2021), the MMSDC MBE Luminary of the Year (2020), MMSDC’s President Award (2016) and MMSDC’s Diamond Award four times. He also received the Congressional Black Caucus Distinguished Corporate Citizens Award (2015), the NAACP Volunteer Award (2014) and the Rainbow PUSH Living Legend Award (2014).

Richardson is a devoted mentor working formally and informally with up to 10 students and/or young professionals at any given time. Annually, Chemico offers internships to a handful of undergraduate students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. A recipient of the 2016 Results Mentoring Industry Award, Richardson was recognized for reaching students using love, training and support. Richardson is also strong advocate for investment in community. He has served as board member for the Supplier Partnerships for the Environment, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and the National Association for Black Suppliers. Since the company’s inception, Chemico has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to multicultural organizations.

Richardson is a United States Marine Corps veteran who served his country for eight years as a non-commissioned officer. He attended the Detroit College of Business in pursuit of a Business Management degree. Richardson completed executive management programs at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and the Ross School of Business at The University of Michigan.

Richardson and his wife Cheryl are the proud parents of four daughters and one son.

Awards:

·       General Motors Overdrive Award: 2022; GM African Ancestry Network’s Lifetime Achievement Award: 2022; Supplier of the Year Award: 2020, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009; General Motors Environmental Excellence Award: 2007

·       Toyota Motor North America Outstanding Business Partner Award: 2022; Excellent Performance Award: 2021, 2020, 2019; Superior Award for Distributors: 2017; Kaizen Supplier Excellence Award: 2013

·       Automotive News Notable Champion of Diversity: 2021

·       NMSDC MBE of the Year: 2018; Regional Supplier of the Year Class IV (2021, 2017), Class III (2013) and Class II (2004)

·       MMSDC Supplier of the Year Award Class IV (2021, 2017), Class III (2013) and Class II (2004)

·       MMSDC MBE Luminary of the Year: 2020; Presidents Award: 2016; Diamond Award: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2001; Board of Directors Award 2008-2013

·       Corp! Diversity and Multiculturalism Award: 2022, 2016, 2015

·       Black Enterprise B.E. 100s: 2019 and 2018 (#29), 2017 (#30), 2016 (#35), 2015 (#45), 2014 (#53), 2013 (#56), 2012 (#77), 2011 (#88), 2010 (#100); Black Enterprise Industrial/Service Company of the Year: 2014

·       Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) Real McCoy Award: 2017

·       Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce Sankofa Award: 2016

·       Results Mentoring Industry Award: 2016

·       Chrysler Supplier Diversity Award: 2015

·       Congressional Black Caucus Distinguished Corporate Citizen Award: 2015

·       Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist: 2015

·       Chrysler Capital Equipment Supplier of the Year: 2014

·       NAACP Volunteer Award: 2014

·       Rainbow PUSH Living Legend: 2014

·       Urban Wheels Pioneer of the Year: 2014, 2004

·       Michigan Chronicle Legacy in Motion Awards: 2014

·       “1 of 50 Companies to Watch in Michigan” Award: 2006