Out of more than 50 applicants nationwide, Founder and Chief Strategist of Crystal Clear Consulting Group Crystal McLean earned her place as one of only five finalists to pitch live at the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Annual Conference in Miami.

This year's NMSDC Conference, themed "Navigating New Economies," convened corporate leaders, economic developers and suppliers to reimagine the future of diversity, innovation and inclusion. McLean's pitch was entitled “The Economic Elevation BlueprintTM: Building Small and Rural Prosperity.”

Her message was focused on the potential of small towns across America. These towns are home to businesses capable of delivering, communities hungry for opportunity and local leaders desperate for a bridge to corporate budgets.

"Standing on that stage was bigger than me," said Crystal McLean in a press release. "It was about every small town that's been overlooked, every business owner who's been told they're too small to matter and every rural community that still believes in its potential. This experience reminded me that scalability starts with vision, and North Carolina has vision."

McLean's firm, Crystal Clear Consulting Group, is working with municipalities, corporations and entrepreneurial ecosystems. She designs systems that support small businesses by preparing them to win and retain corporate contracts. 

"I was surrounded by phenomenal entrepreneurs, some who have pitched on Shark Tank," McLean continued in the release . "It inspired me to keep refining, keep building and to make sure this Blueprint not only represents North Carolina but becomes a national model for rural prosperity."