Melvin Mel Petty

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT MELVIN MEL PETTY

Mentor, Philanthropist, JMU Alumnus, and Business owner Melvin Petty Co-founded ERP International in 2006 with his wife, Sandra. Melvin’s stewardship as CEO has helped their Laurel, MD government consulting firm grow to employ over 700 staff members nationwide. The Petty’s are among a select group of black business owners in the USA to surpass $100 million in total revenue in 2020. Melvin has more than 30 years of executive-level technical, operational, and financial management experience. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from James Madison University, and later, his CPA certification. Moving up corporate ladders, Melvin was a key senior manager in Primark’s remarkable M&A period, growing from $30-$720 million. Later he was a Senior Manager, CFO, and President of a small government consulting firm before Co-founding his own business.Petty’s achievements include: Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 Mid-Atlantic Award winner and the recipient of the US Small Business Administration’s Minority Small Business Person of the Year in 2012. He has worked throughout his life to provide access to opportunities and combat inequities for students of color, and has served as a leader for business and philanthropic organizations. Melvin has served on many boards, including the James Madison University School of Computer Information Systems, the Accelerating Innovations Foundation, and Quality Technologies, Inc. He’s also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants. He is an alumnus of the Young Presidents Organization and the Stanford executive leadership program.Melvin’s mentorship has produced over six self-made minority millionaires. He believes one of the solutions to closing the wealth gap in the U.S. is by cultivating and supporting more African American and minority entrepreneurs through transformational leadership. Melvin has given back within his own industry and to aspiring students and minority entrepreneurs by spearheading opportunities and programs to share success tips and best business practices. ERP’s mentoring program has a revolving portfolio of 15+ aspiring entrepreneurs, which has produced wealth-generating opportunities for individuals that look like him. Through the direct support of ERP, minority government consulting firms have secured more than $100+ million in government contracts.