Suffolk Construction Co. CEO John Fish chaired the 2008 10th Anniversary Inner City 100 event, which included the ranking of the fastest-growing businesses in the nation's inner cities. Over 1,000 business, government and community leaders joined together to recognize and celebrate the most successful inner city companies.

Under Fish's leadership, the Inner City 100 fund raising committee raised over $1.75 million for the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), breaking all previous fund raising totals for this event.

The ICIC is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1994 by Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter. ICIC's mission is to promote economic prosperity in America's inner cities through private sector engagement that leads to jobs, income and wealth creation for local residents.
The Inner City 100 list was established by ICIC and Inc. Magazine in 1999 to showcase the robust but often unrecognized economic activity of inner cities.
The Inner City 100 list has generated innovative programs and economic opportunities in urban areas, and served as a self-perpetuating growth engine that generates jobs, income and wealth creation for inner city residents.
"As founder and CEO of a successful business located in the heart of an inner city neighborhood, I have a genuine appreciation for professor Michael Porter's commitment to inner cities and his focus on spreading hope through economic development," said Fish. "I am extremely excited to be chairing this year's 10th Anniversary Inner City 100 Summit to recognize some of the most successful and inspiring inner city companies in the country, while paying special tribute to professor Porter and his outstanding work."