Mr. Joseph B. Anderson, Jr. born in Topeka, Kansas, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1965, with a bachelor of science degree in math and engineering.

During his military career, Mr. Anderson commanded troops as an infantry officer in the 82nd Airborne Division and served two tours of duty with the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam. In addition to troop command, Mr. Anderson served as aide-de-camp to two general officers, and he also was an assistant professor in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point. Mr. Anderson and the infantry platoon he commanded in Vietnam were subjects of the highly acclaimed documentary film “The Anderson Platoon.” Mr. Anderson’s military awards include two silver stars, five bronze stars, three Army Commendation Medals, and eleven Air Medals. Mr. Anderson resigned his commission in 1978, after 13 years of service and early selection for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.

Mr. Anderson began his business career with General Motors in 1979 at Pontiac Motor Division. In 1981, after several manufacturing assignments, Mr. Anderson was named plant manager of the Pressed Metal and Plating Operations, Pontiac Motor Division. By 1990, he was appointed as a general director of a business unit with 7,000 employees and revenue of $1 billion. In late 1992, after 13 years of service, Mr. Anderson resigned from General Motors to become president and CEO of a privately held company, Composite Energy Management Systems, Incorporated (CEMSI). In October 1994, Mr. Anderson acquired a controlling interest in another privately owned entity, Chivas Products Limited. In 1997, the company restructured as Chivas Industries, LLC where Mr. Anderson maintained controlling ownership and held the position of chairman of the board and CEO before divesting his interest in 2002. He is currently the majority owner, chairman, and CEO of TAG Holdings, LLC which owns several manufacturing, service and technology-based entities based in North America.

In May 2016, Mr. Anderson received the Distinguished Graduate Award from the United States Military Academy at West Point, honoring him for his lifetime of achievement.

For his remarkable career and particularly his remarkable, lifelong, entrepreneurial successes, the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council is proud to induct Joe Anderson into the Michigan Minority Business Hall of Fame.