Tuesday February 08, 2022 | Edition 48
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, February 8 & 15, 2022
at 12:00 PM
Business Tools to Prepare for 2022 Webinar Series - Sponsored by MassMutual

Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 11:30 AM
Lunch & Learn featuring Gabrielle Christman
Topic: Shifting your Sales Presentation

Thursday, February 10 - Saturday, February 12, 2022
Level Up Live Webinar with Special Guest Magic Johnson
Learn how to develop a solid plan that will help you level up your business and increase revenue year to year.

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 1:00 PM
KYPTAC Social Hour - How to Write a Great Capability Statement

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 11:30 AM
WoC Workshop: A Conversation with Dr. April Day
Resource Opportunities
Hamilton County SBDC is here to support you with Comprehensive business management and education services.
The Ohio University Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) is a sub-center of the State of Ohio Procurement Technical Assistance Program. The State PTAC program is a cooperative effort among the Ohio Department of Development, the U.S. Department of Defense, and various local host organizations. This PTAC is hosted and supported by Ohio University. The mission is to provide technical assistance to small businesses desiring to enter local, state, and federal government markets to support economic development and foster the retention and creation of small business jobs. 
The Greater Cleveland Partnership has launched the Business Growth Compass to guide Northeast Ohio small businesses with the resources, solutions, and support they need. Start your journey!
The Business Development & Entrepreneurship Division at the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio and Verizon have collaborated to bring a special program to all small business owners. Verizon Small Business Digital Ready is a free resource for learning basic business skills, the latest digital technology and more. Sign up today.
You can learn more information on the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program by watching the video above.
Greetings!

Happy Black History Month! We hope that your year is off to a great start and that you are taking time this month to become more educated on the trailblazing black women in American History. Because of them, we can.

WBEC ORV has been very busy so far and we have a lot planned for you all this month. Make sure to register to our upcoming events and be on the lookout for more to come.

-The WBECORV Team

WBEC ORV is here to support our network with opportunities and resources. Visit our website for more information.

We've gone monthly! the MCC Newsletter will now be released on a monthly basis and we want you in it. Don't miss the chance to be featured, please share your ideas, events, awards, and accolades. Contact Events & Outreach Manager, Kathryn Macon at kmacon@wbec-orv.org for more information.

Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter here!
Certification Corner
Don't forget:
  • Monitor your spam inbox after submission of your application for emails from WBENCLink and WBEC ORV.
  • When you receive the WBENCLink notification the application is received and deemed complete. This is when the 90 days begins for processing.
  • If the staff has additional questions, it will come through WBENCLink as a Q&A. You must respond in WBENCLink to close the reminder and move your application forward.
  • Periodically, staff may reach out to you for events and opportunities. We are working to grow your business with our corporate members and other potential business partners.

Application Process Update
  • Please check WBENCLink 48 hours after you submit your application.
  • If documents are missing, the application will boomer-rang back to you to upload the documents requested.
  • There will be a list of missing items from WBENCLink.
  • Once the missing documents are uploaded you will resubmit your application.
  • Once the application is marked complete you will receive an email from WBENCLink stating the application is deemed complete and will move to the next phase.

The 90 days for processing begins when an application is marked complete.

Please refer to the website https://www.wbenc.org/certification/documentation-required/ if you have questions, you may reach out to the certification team at WBEC-ORV.

NOTE- loans listed on the balance sheet require documentation be submitted for review.
Basic Web Design & Development Strategies Series
February 22nd & 24th from 9:00 - 11:30 AM

The Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio's Economic Empowerment Center is hosting the upcoming web design and development strategies series to help you learn how to design your own website.

The series features web design company Cultural Impact and is designed to teach you how to build an affordable website using easy drag-and-drop builders on the WordPress platform.

What you will learn:
  • How to design your site’s layout
  • How to add text onto pages
  • How to upload images into categories for e-commerce sites

You’ll learn the skills necessary for establishing your own business’ online presence in 2-days. You will also learn the basic construction rules and modern SEO practices for driving traffic to your site. The seminar will cover what newbies need most help understanding when they start out.
WBE SUCCESS STORIES
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The year has just begun and our WBEs are already making achievements and setting the bar high for a successful 2022. Congratulations ladies, keep up the amazing work!
Barb Smith, Co-founder and President of Journey Steel Inc., was honored by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber as a Black Leader making a difference in Cincinnati as part of their We are Making Black History Campaign. The goal of the campaign is to shine a light on black leaders in the community whose names may not be widely publicized but whose work is largely impactful. Read more about the campaign and check out the complete list here
Kelly Kolar, President and Founder of Kolar Design, Inc., was named by Venue Magazine as one of the 2022 Influential Women of Greater Cincinnati. The list honors women that are using their talents to uplift the region. Read more about this honor and take a look at the full list here.
WBEC ORV Team Updates
Ashton L. Wilson, Director of Corporate Relations strives to "Make It 100"
2022 brings new goals and initiatives and for Wilson, he is on a mission to reach 100 corporate members by the end of the year. He's working hard to make this happen and has recently unveiled the "Make It 100" campaign to increase awareness and ultimately convert more corporates into supporters of the WBEC ORV organization.

As part of this goal, he is meeting with both current and prospective members to gain and retain membership. He is also hoping to broaden the industries that are represented by our corporate members.

While Wilson is on the frontlines, making connections and closing deals, you can support the "Make It 100" campaign by spreading the word to your network.

Your support in helping us reach this goal will only propel us further as we all aim to be the number one RPO in the country. If you have any questions about corporate relations, contact Wilson at awilson@wbec-orv.org.
Louisville Water Company Small Business Opportunities
Louisville Water wants to give small businesses a greater opportunity to work with them. As they deliver water to their customers every day, they create jobs for hundreds of large and small businesses. They are looking for suppliers and contractors who can deliver great quality work. If you are a small business, they want to work with you.
 
They encourage small businesses to apply to be a qualified Louisville Water Small Business Equity (SBE) program member. Only Louisville Water SBE program members can bid on certain Louisville Water projects, and Louisville Water will determine what those projects are. Their SBE program generally includes bidding on construction, construction sub-contracting, professional services, or general services contracts for more than $30,000 but less than $250,000. They are offering workshops on the requirements and the application process. Please sign up for a workshop by clicking here.

Visit LouisvilleWater.com/procurement-sbe for benefits of the program, how to apply, FAQs, and information on training sessions.
Save the Date: 2022 Catch the Wave Conference
Griffin Gate Marriot Golf Resort & Spa Lexington, KY
August 29 - 31 2022
Mark your calendars for the 13th annual Women's Business Enterprise Council Ohio River Valley (WBEC ORV) Catch the Wave Conference, where we will be back together in person!

You will leave this conference with inspiration and new tools that will make a difference in your personal and business growth. We look forward to seeing you for an exciting 2022 Catch the Wave Conference!

The Catch the Wave Regional Conference brings female entrepreneurs together to network, learn, and gain inspiration from each other. The conference provides networking, training, and access to both women business owners and corporate members from across our region of Ohio, Kentucky & West Virginia.
Opportunities to Sponsor

If you are a Certified WBE interested in supporting the conference, please take a look at our Sponsorship Package and contact Kathryn Macon at kmacon@wbec-orv.org with any questions you might have.

If you are a Corporate Member interested in supporting the conference, please take a look at our Sponsorship Package and contact Ashton Wilson at awilson@wbec-orv.org with any questions you might have.
Bid Opportunities
Active Solicitations
Please visit this website to check all available solicitations and preview the bid without logging in. Remember, you must register to download the bid documents. Registration is free: click this link to register.


If you have difficulty registering, please send your email to procurement@cintimha.com  with your username, email address, first name, last name, organization, and phone number. A confirmation of your registration will be sent to you confirming receipt of your registration.

All responses must be received on or before the date and time indicated on the bid opportunity and sent by email to procurement@cintimha.com.
CVG's invitations to Bid (ITB) may be downloaded from the website under Current Opportunities.
  • CARGO DOLLIES (#22-06). Due by February 10, 2022 by 2:00 PM
  • ROLLBACK BED TRUCK (22-07). Due by February 17, 2022 by 2:00 PM
  • WEB-BASED AVIATION DATA ANALYTICS SERVICE (#22-08). Due by February 24, 2022 by 2:00 PM

Invitation to Bid and Request for Proposal opportunities are currently available with the KCTCS.

  • KCT - 1326 Protective Hoods (PCT). Due by February 15, 2022 by 4:00 PM.
  • KCT - 1325 Snack Vending (Price Contract). Due by February 22, 2022 by 4:00 PM.
  • 
In order to be considered in the Procurement to Payment Department, please submit a sealed bid or proposal by the due date supplied. Please submit via the link below:
KCTCS also has two open positions that they are looking to fill. Please feel free to share the opportunities with your network.

  • Procure to Pay Manager Job #10021. Accepting applications until February 18, 2022.
  • Procure to Pay Analyst. Accepting applications until position is filled.
The University of Kentucky has released the following Requests for Proposal:

  • UK-2224-22 Healthcare Shipping & Freight Service for Kentucky Health Collaborative, LLC. Due by February 9, 2022 by 3:00 PM
  • K-0945-22 2022 Agricultural Seed, Fertilizer and Chemicals. Due by February 17, 2022 by 3:00 PM
  • UK-2215-22 E-Waste Recycling. Due by February 18, 2022 by 3:00 PM
  • UK-2230-22 Training Development Support with Executive Coaching. Due by February 23, 2022 by 3:00 PM
  • UK-2221-22 Pharmacogenomic for Know Your Rx. Due by February 23, 2022 by 3:00 PM
  • UK-2234-22 Data Analysis/Fault Detection & Diagnostics Software. Due by March 2, 2022 by 3:00 PM

The advertisements for all bids, RFPs, and more can be found here.
RFPs from Fayette County Public Schools are available and can be downloaded by registering here www.fcps.net/bids.  

  • Bid 06-22 Brakes. Due by 2:00 p.m. Feb. 10
  • Bid 04-22 Fleet parts discount. Due by 1 p.m. Feb. 11
  • RFP 10-22 Comprehensive evaluation of effectiveness of technology and data systems. Due by 2 p.m. Feb. 11
  • Bid 11-22 Fire extinguisher and hood suppression system services. Due by 2 p.m. Feb. 25. The pre-bid meeting is at 2 p.m. Feb. 14.
  • RFP 09-22 Medical services. Due by 2 p.m. March 1
  • RFP 13-22 General liability. Due by 2 p.m. March 10
  • RFP 12-22 Property insurance. Due by 2 p.m. March 10
Invitation to Bid and Request for Proposal opportunities are currently available with Louisville MSD:
The City of Columbus invites you to explore their vendor services opportunities. All open bids can be found on their website under open requests for quotations.
Meet & Confer
The City of Cincinnati invites you to their upcoming Meet & Confer which will be hosted by Community Matters on Thursday, Feb 10th, 2022, at 1:00 PM, VIRTUALLY, through Microsoft Teams. All who are interested in learning more about the bidding opportunity may attend. This is an opportunity to meet with the developer’s representatives and ask questions about the project. Attendance is not required in order to bid the project.

Meeting Login Information: Join on your computer or mobile app
Or call in (audio only)
+1 513-666-2177,,944990988# United States, Cincinnati
Phone Conference ID: 944 990 988#


Corporate Member Spotlight
This month, we are shining light on our Corporate Member, CenterPoint Energy Inc. CenterPoint Energy Inc. is a leader in electric and natural gas utilities services. They recognize and understand the economic importance of diverse suppliers such as minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and all categories of small business concerns to the community. They work hard to ensure that they are developing strong relationships with diverse suppliers and maintain innovative approaches to improve their business. CenterPoint Energy Inc., has been a WBEC ORV Corporate Member since 2018 and we appreciate their support over the years and look forward to continuing this relationship in 2022. Vic Cleveland, Manager of Supplier Diversity shares their 2021 successes as well as their goals for 2022.
Vic Cleveland, Manager of Supplier Diversity at CenterPoint Energy Inc.
"We are proud to support WBEC ORV and have gained a tremendous amount of benefits from being corporate members. Most notably, the immeasurable value of hub for information exchange, the exchange of ideas, best practices and intentional networking of leaders, entrepreneurs and supplier diversity practitioners is a great support system to be a part of.

2021 allowed us to sustain our inclusion of WBEs, and in some cases, increase our spend with WBEs, despite the pandemic’s impact on our economy and we retooled & relaunched our Tier 2 program to expand opportunities for small, diverse businesses.

This year, we look forward to working collaboratively with WBEC-ORV to advance opportunities for WBEs, in particular we aim to do even more to championing of Women of Color."
Corporate Engagement Committee Spotlight
Marilyn Clark, Supplier Diversity Manager, University of Kentucky | Co-Chair, Corporate Engagement Committee
"The corporate engagement committee has a lot in the works for 2022. Continuing our momentum from last year, we've added new members to our team and have a new co-chair in Gabrielle Christman, President & CEO, Hunter International Recruiting. We're excited to have Gabrielle in this position as she uses her expertise to help us achieve our goals. We've also launched the "Make It 100" campaign, to increase our corporate members to 100 by the end of this year. It's a lofty goal, but we have the right team members in place to make this happen! Lastly, we are introducing corporate engagement best practices events so be on the lookout for more information on how to participate. We are working hard and I can't wait to see where the year takes us. I'm both focused and energized to take on these responsibilities and am excited to help be a driving force in pushing WBEC ORV forward."
Corporate Engagement Committee Members
Jill Frey, Cummins Facility Services; Kirby Watson, GE Appliances; Lynnise Smith, OhioHealth; Adrian Taylor, Premier Health; Chris Boles, Rockwell Automation; Jilson Daniels, The Port; Karen Wing, Walker Transfer Powell
We are currently seeking to add new members to the team, if you are interested in joining the corporate engagement committee please contact Marilyn Clark at marilyn.clark@uky.edu for more information.
WBENC Forum's Corner
Welcome to the WBENC Forum's corner! This serves an opportunity for you to get to meet our forum representatives and hear more about their story. This month, we will hear from representative Patti Massey.
Hi Everyone! My name is Patti Massey and I'm the owner and CEO of MYCA: Material Handling Solutions and MYCA: Learning. I'm both passionate about my businesses and helping to uplift other women business owners, because it is not easy!

Both of my businesses are technology based and aimed at improving efficiency and providing employee e-learning programs. I want to take a moment to shed light on all that MYCA: Learning has to offer and how it's being used by businesses across the country.

MYCA: Learning is focused on creating and delivering engaging & interactive learning experiences for all employees. With a commitment to creating inclusive and affirmative working environments, many of MYCA’s eLearning courses prepare and protect employees. From harassment prevention and diversity & inclusion to active shooter preparedness and mitigating cybersecurity threats, MYCA’s robust catalog of courses can be accessed easily by businesses large and small.

With a robust custom development process, MYCA creates eLearning courses for some of the largest organizations in the country, including the cities of New York and Los Angeles.

Certified since 2009, I've been an active WBENC leader for many years starting as Vice Chair of the WBENC national marketing team in 2011. I currently serve as the Chair of the national WBENC Forum and previously spent 8 years on ORV’s Steering Committee. I'm also an appointed WBENC board member serving a term through the end of 2024.

With a passion for helping WBEs succeed, I believe that I am a great resource for navigating the WBENC network and connecting WBE owners within the community.

I’ve personally benefited so much from my time spent within the WBENC community, and I want others to have the same experience. I’m happy to chat with anyone about how to leverage your certification and most importantly, access all of the great resources available to certified WBEs.

I think that in order to truly benefit from your involvement in WBENC, it’s important to show up. Whether that means enrolling in WEThrive, attending a virtual event, or just reaching out to other WBEs to share experiences and wisdom, that’s when the true value occurs. We all want corporate contracts, but there is so much more to being active in the WBE community.

My personal theme for 2022 is ‘collaborate + innovate to accelerate.’ When we work together, creativity will abound leading to innovations that accelerate the growth for all. Our solutions are needed, and we’ve got this… the sisterhood is powerful and poised for great success in 2022.

As MYCA’s gift to WBEs, reach out to Kelly Kramer at kkramer@mycagroup.com to enroll in any of our dynamic eLearning courses. Topics include: harassment prevention, unconscious bias, workplace violence prevention, active shooter preparedness, cybersecurity, gender inclusivity, knowledge transfer, drug free workplace, and more. MYCA is on a mission to create a safe and inclusive workplace for all, while preparing and protecting each client we serve.
WBENC Forum Representatives
The Women's Enterprise Forum (The Forum) serves in an advisory capacity to the WBENC Board of Directors. The Forum gives input and feedback on WBENC programs and other matters at the direction of the Board. Participation in The Forum offers opportunities for WBENC-certified WBEs to represent all women's business enterprises' voices and engage in networking and development activities with other WBEs, member corporations, and government entities.

WBEC ORV Forum Reps are here to represent you! Feel free to contact them for input, suggestions, and feedback regarding WBENC, WBEC ORV, and other matters relevant to the WBE community.
All WBEC ORV Forum Representatives are listed below: 
COVID 19 - Resources Corner
Our RPO has multiple WBEs that provide COVID-19 related supplies and services. We encourage you to support and share opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
 
Please check out the COVID-19 Resource page on our website to access a list of companies providing COVID-19 suppliers. in this arena. We encourage you to review the list, and if applicable, send your business name and contact information so we can update your information.
 
The WBEC ORV Team is working to identify various support platforms such as webinars and partner resources that can assist you during this difficult time.
About WBEC ORV
The Women's Business Enterprise Council Ohio River Valley (WBEC ORV) mission is leading through an innovative, collaborative, and engaged group of Corporates, Government, WBEs, and Advocates. We are a catalyst for growth and sustainability by adding more Corporate Partners & WBEs in the Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia region.

WBEC ORV is a regional partner organization of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and provides certification to women-owned businesses in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. WBEC ORV operates under the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati's Business Development and Entrepreneurship through a collaborative effort with WBENC. Click the link below for more information.
Sponsored by
Stay connect with us on social media by following the links above or scanning the QR code!
Women's Business Enterprise Council Ohio River Valley
WBEC ORV is operated by the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio Business Development and Entrepreneurship Department under the authority of WBENC. The Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Cincinnati, Ohio.