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A Message from the GWBC® President & CEO:
Roz Lewis
America, despite the latest headlines, is still a melting pot and the place where people of diverse cultures want to come and pursue their dreams, including being successful entrepreneurs! This month, we celebrate both Asian American and Pacific Islander Month and Jewish American Heritage Month. The contributions by people – and specifically women – from these groups are immeasurable. From Boston Mayor Michelle Wu to novelists Amy Tan and Celeste Ng to former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg – this is the month to reflect on the contributions of women from all diverse cultures.
May is also a critical month focused on mental health. In speaking with our certified GWBC members, I have first-hand knowledge that owning and running a business, and ensuring employee mental health issues are addressed – can be stressful. While our focus is to provide our entrepreneurs with tools to accelerate their business growth, if your head is not in the game, it can take a toll. According to Entrepreneur.com, here are some tips to protect your mental health as an entrepreneur:
1. Make time for yourself
2. Seek professional help (it’s a strength, not a weakness)
3. Join a support group
4. Take breaks
5. Fuel your body and mind
In addition, here are some tips on fostering a mentally healthy workplace:
- Create a dialogue around mental health
- Tackle the stigma surrounding the topic
- Ensure access to comprehensive mental health care
Our TOP Corporations Awards were a smashing success. If you missed the winners, see our gallery and recap below. Based on nominations by certified WBEs, these businesses successfully used their certifications and business acumen to team with our corporates for business. It’s what we are all about.
Don’t miss our May and June programs and opportunities. Are you our next Pitch Competition winner? Register now to be the next semi-finalist in the WBENC National Pitch Competition.
Always in your service,
Roz Lewis
President and CEO
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions by contacting us at [email protected].
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May Celebrates Diverse Cultures | Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month | |
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month began in 1977, when Representative Frank Horton of New York introduced House Joint Resolution 540 to create Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Week. May was chosen because America welcomed the first Japanese immigrants in May 1843. George W. Bush signed a bill to extend the celebration to a month. This annual celebration recognizes the cultural and historical contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, which have included advancements in science, literature, activism, medicine and law.
Want to celebrate in our region? You can attend Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrations here:
Find more Georgia events and North Carolina events celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!
| Mental Health Awareness Month |  | |
Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed since 1949 when it was started by the Mental Health America organization (then known as the National Committee for Mental Hygiene). This month focuses on raising awareness for mental health and destigmatizing mental health issues. One in five adults experiences a mental illness, yet there is still a stigma about reaching out and receiving help for treatment. Mental Health Awareness Month hopes to normalize asking for help and dealing with mental illness.
The 2022 Health of Women and Children Report verified that women’s mental health issues have increased substantially since the pandemic started in 2020. Dr. Ravi Johar with United HealthCare stated, “Georgia has gone up almost five times the national average in severe mental distress of women of reproductive age. We are talking about women who have more than 15 days a month where they feel like they are severely mentally distressed.” The National Alliance for Mental Illness in Georgia is an organization working to improve the lives of people living with mental health issues. They offer training for teachers and group facilitators and free resources for everyone including support groups, classes, and presentations.
NAMI North Carolina is an organization of families, friends and individuals whose lives have been affected by mental illness. Check for planned events in May, including workshops, support groups, education groups, and more.
NAMI South Carolina will be celebrating the third year of Go Lime Green: Mental Health Matters, by hosting mental health awareness nights at middle and high school athletic events across the state, in partnership with the Hayden Hurst Foundation (a former University of South Carolina Gamecock and current Cincinnati Bengal), #SameHere Global and Hilinski’s Hope Foundation.
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Thank you to everyone who turned out for our 2023 TOP Corporations Awards! We were delighted to honor all the winners whose hard work and dedication were recognized.
The 2023 TOP Corporations of the Year Awards celebration was Thursday, April 27, at Hotel Colee Atlanta Buckhead. The annual celebration honors prominent corporations with an undeniable foundation for encouraging and empowering women business enterprises (WBE). Each corporate nominee was chosen by a panel of WBEs using a set of criteria that includes having a successful and dedicated supplier diversity and procurement program within their organization.
The leading businesses honored as “best in class innovators” at the 2023 TOP Corporations Awards were:
- Accenture
- Ally Financial
- AT&T
- Bank of America
- Georgia Power
- Grady Health System
- Randstad
- Truist Financial Corporation
- UPS
- Walmart
Congratulations to the honorees!
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UPS Holds Workshop for Women-Owned Businesses | |
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The 2023 Elevation Program, presented by the UPS Women’s Leadership Development (WLD) Business Connections Committee in partnership with the Greater Women’s Business Council, is providing empowering business insights that will broaden perspectives and provide exposure to strong, strategic and practice fundamentals.
UPS leaders are volunteering their time to provide the participating business owners with valuable, practical skills on six relevant business topics between April and September. GWBC and UPS kicked off the Level 2 mentoring program on April 19 with a program focused on ESG (environmental, social and governance).
If you're interested in participating in the second module, applications are open through Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
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Strut Your Stuff on the LACE Awards Stage
Nominations Now Open
Each year, GWBC recognizes and celebrates women business enterprises (WBEs) and corporate representatives that live our mission every day at the LACE Awards Gala.
Get a jump start on nominating WBEs and Corporate partners for Ladies Achieving Continuous Excellence – our annual LACE Awards! The LACE Awards are taking place at the Georgia Aquarium on Friday, November 3.
Consider nominating yourself for well-deserved recognition! Nominations close July 31, 2023, at 5 p.m. Click here to fill out a nomination!
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This month, we want to thank our corporate sponsor NCR! NCR is the world’s enterprise technology leader for restaurants, retailers and banks to streamline transactions. For more than 138 years, NCR has been the #1 global point of sale (POS) software provider for retail and hospitality, as well as the #1 provider of multi-vendor ATM-system. Housed in Atlanta, Georgia, NCR does business in 141 countries.
Learn more about NCR here.
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Board Members' Spotlight - Kanchana Raman and Patrick Dierberger | | |
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Kanchana Raman has been a serial entrepreneur and investor in the ICT industry, starting her first company Avion in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia. Avion has several brands and offices globally and successfully deployed 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G networks in 18 countries. Kanchana and her companies are recipients of several service excellence awards globally. | | |
She holds multiple board positions at TIA, Manpower, WBENC, and TiE. Kanchana earned an MBA from Goizueta Business School, Emory University. She also completed Executive Management programs from Dartmouth and Kellogg business school. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband Mani, daughter Kamini, and son Ananth. | |
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Patrick Dierberger is an assistant vice president in the Financial Management and Planning (FM&P) Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, responsible for financial management, accounting, and duties associated with the Bank’s financial reporting. Working at the Atlanta Fed for 20 years, he previously held positions in the Payor Bank Services, Treasury Check Processing, Check Administration, and Unisys Information Security. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and has completed executive development programs with Harvard University and The Wharton School.
Welcome aboard Kanchana and thank you for your continued service, Patrick!
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This year’s Tables of 8 is sponsored by GWBC corporate partner Ally Financial. Join us for an interactive luncheon at Ally’s brand-new facilities in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. Tables of 8 offers WBEs a chance to network and connect with corporate members and fellow WBEs in a more intimate setting. We’ll be discussing ESG, what you should be thinking about as a supplier and how the trend will affect responses to upcoming requests for qualifications and proposals. | |
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Milliken Momentum Supplier Diversity Matchmaking Event
Special Guest: South Carolina Lt. Governor
Pamela Evette
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Expand your business portfolio by attending the Milliken Momentum Supplier Diversity Matchmaking Event. Fifty Tier I suppliers and local diverse companies will have an opportunity to meet and discuss possible new business. There will be a discussion on the importance of Tier II commitment as well as keynotes from:
- Ricaye Harris, Milliken VP of HR, Talent Acquisition and DEI
- David Heichemer, Milliken VP Corporate Logistics and Sourcing
- Michael Brown, Milliken EVP of Operations
- Pamela Evette, SC Lieutenant Governor
Register Today!
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Upcoming Programs and Events | |
Growing your business is about knowledge, skills and connections. Check out these upcoming events to help take your business to the next level! | |
LACE Awards Dinner & Dance – 6 - 10:30 p.m. - November 3, Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, GA | |
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Wells Fargo is accepting scholarship applications for the Growing an Established Diverse Business program! The Wells Fargo Scholarship Fund program has created scholarships for Tuck Diversity Business Programs for certified minority, women, veteran, LGBTQIA and disabled entrepreneurs who can attend one of Tuck’s programs.
This one-week, in-person program from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth is designed for emerging entrepreneurs who are looking to build a strong foundation of business knowledge and learn how to be a better supplier to corporations.
During this program, participants will work closely with Tuck’s accomplished faculty on key areas that entrepreneurs need to master for success, including strategy, marketing, financial analysis, operations, management and leadership. Participants learn to market to the right customers and showcase their value; assess financial statements to manage cash flow and increase profits; and hone their approach to leadership so they can recruit, motivate and retain their most talented employees.
The program welcomes MBEs, WBEs, DoBEs, and other underrepresented entrepreneurs who have at least five years of ownership experience and annual revenue of $500,000 or more, and who have already attended Building a Successful Diverse Business Program.
Details:
June 25-30, 2023
Please enter “Wells Fargo Applicant” under “Sponsor Company”
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