FYI
Back to Basics ~ Certifications
To celebrate this New Year of 2012, we thought it appropriate to talk about diversity certification again … how it came about and the value of being certified as a business that is minority, women, veteran, disabled, service-disabled or LGBT owned and operated.
Read MoreMea Culpa ~ Merry Holidays & Glad Tidings!
While the MWBE community often decries the lack of opporunities, it is important to note that progress is being made in many areas and take advantage of these programs in 2012.
Read MoreChanging Goals and Laws
Tracking actual use of small, minority, veteran, women-owned and disadvantaged firms is now required for federal contracting. Prime vendors listing diversity participants in bidding will be monitored for actual performance.
Read MoreWonder If It Will Ever Change?
As an MWBE supplier, persistence, patience and optimism are key tools when navigating the subcontracting roller coaster ride.
Read MoreIntroducing the Small Biz Open Mic Forum
The U.S. House Small Business Committee has launched a new online forum — Small Biz Open Mic — to “give small business owners from all across America the ability to communicate directly with the House Small Business Committee” Rep. Sam Graves (Chairman of the Small Business Committee) stated in letter to small business owners.
Read MoreNarratives: What’s Disadvantaged 2?
Writing a narrative about your disadvantaged status? A simple definition of disadvantaged for certification purposes is “a systematic or systemic barrier to opportunity”. Your first step is a generic statement. “I perceive I have experienced professional rejection for reasons of “… ethnic origin, disability, residence, gender, race, education, or “Other, describe”. Then, you will need to write about specific instances of bias against you and how this bias has had a negative impact on your ability to enter into or advance in business
Read MoreNarratives – What’s Disadvantaged?
Writing a narrative about your disadvantaged status? A simple definition of disadvantaged for certification purposes is “a systematic or systemic barrier to opportunity”. Your first step is a generic statement. “I perceive I have experienced professional rejection for reasons of “… ethnic origin, disability, residence, gender, race, education, or “Other, describe”. Then, you will need to write about specific instances of bias against you and how this bias has had a negative impact on your ability to enter into or advance in business.
Read MoreSmall Business and the Federal Government
Because federal agencies and their primes are mandated to meet these goals – to spend 23% of their contract dollars with small business, including 5% with SDBEs and WSBEs and 3% with SDVSBEs and HUBZone businesses – there is incentive for them to work with small certified business.
Read MoreOvercoming Stereotypes
Overcoming the new MWBE stereotypes in the business community is hard work. Practice transparent diversity yourself – in your work force and supplier base and publicize your commitment to diversity.
Read MoreMaking Supplier Diversity Work
While the number of small and diverse business enterprises is growing dramatically, companies are consolidating their supply chains as they seek to reduce cost and increase revenue. Healthy economies require strong small and MWBE businesses to create jobs, products or deliver services, so it is necessary to encourage the use of these small and MWBE to build reliable, viable supplier relationships .
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