Women owned businesses are the future of small business.

If you're a woman and a business owner, you already know that you face a unique set of challenges. According to research done by the National Women's Council, women-owned businesses:


In spite of these challenges, census data shows that women (particularly women of color) are opening businesses at record rates, starting and running social entrepreneurship enterprises, and employing a large portion of the workforce.

This Small Business Week, we at WBEC-East are focused on bolstering the powerful momentum built by women and women-owned businesses. Read on for procurement opportunities, cyber security tips that can help you stand out when competing for contracts with larger organizations, and networking opportunities that can help you build the connections you need to grow your business alongside women entrepreneurs.
STEM industries are growing. How can you leverage your WBENC certification to help your business grow with them? 

On June 13th, come listen to procurement leaders from STEM industries describe the trends and implications that affect supplier diversity and small diverse businesses. This event provides attendees with the opportunity to connect with WBEC corporate and government council members, participate in roundtable discussions and learn best practices in leveraging WBENC certification and accessing corporate and government markets. 
 
STEM Industry Day
Thursday, June 13, 2019, 11:00 am-3:00 pm
HOTEL DU PONT | 42 West 11th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
$45 for WBEs and Council Members / $55 for all other attendees
SAVE THE DATE 

WBEC-East Annual Awards Celebration
Thursday, September 26, 4:30 pm-8:00 pm
Cescaphe Ballroom, 923 2nd Street, Philadelphia PA

Do you want to recognize Council Members and Women's Business Enterprises that are making a difference? Nominate them for an award! The WBEC-East Annual Awards Celebration recognizes businesses, Council members, and business women who are making a difference for women owned businesses in the region. Stay tuned for more information regarding the nomination process within the next few weeks.
Upcoming Events
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Digital Marketing for Business Owners Tuesday, May 14, 6 – 8 PM 
WBEC-East Training Center, Philadelphia 
A strong online presence is essential to ensure clients and customers find you. This workshop will review best practices for branding, search engine optimization, and social media to up your online marketing game.
Food for Thought Networking Breakfast
Thursday, May 16, 9:00 – 10:30 AM
WBEC-East Western Office, Pittsburgh
Our new informal networking opportunity for corporate professionals, certified WBEs and WBEs in process! Come enjoy a light breakfast and meet new contacts around western PA.
Online Ed2Go Courses
6-Week Long Programs
Sessions Begin May 15
We get it. Being a business owner can make it hard to make in-person workshops. Check out our convenient online courses, from the comfort of your own home or office!

Topics Include:
Accounting Fundamentals
A to Z Grant Writing
Using Social Media in Business
Introduction to Microsoft Excel
Start Your Own Online Business
Business Finance for Non-Finance Personnel Fundamentals of Supervision & Management
Keys to Effective Communication
Getting Ready for Conference
June 5th and June 6th

This interactive workshop will help you better network and create business contacts, no matter the event you have in the future!
Cyber Security: Protecting Your Networks While Networking
Panelists Reshma Moorthy, Rebecca Rakoski and Matthew Tinney.
Last month, WBEC-East and cybersecurity experts  Reshma Moorthy, Rebecca Rakoski and Matthew Tinney put on an interactive panel presentation to address the cyber security concerns that keep small business owners up at night. Couldn't make it? Here are a few key takeaways:

  • Cyber security can't be an afterthought for small businesses anymore: 60% of small businesses who experience a hack close within the same year
  • Small businesses looking to do business with larger organizations can use excellent cyber security practices as a way to access new opportunities: most large corporations and governments have minimum cyber security standards for their vendors and partners. Although it can be challenging for small businesses to meet those requirements, it can be a real advantage when looking for new business.
  • User agreements from 2010 simply won't cut it: cyber security practices change rapidly, so it's important to implement a regular schedule for reviewing your policies and practices.
  • Standalone cyber security insurance is one of the best ways that small businesses can protect themselves from the impact of a hack.
  • The federal government offers free cyber security assessments and scans that are available to small businesses. Interested? You can find out more here.
Welcome Newly Certified WBEs!
April 2019
Battlefield Enterprises LLC
BBLM ARCHITECTS
Bear Supply, LLC
Believe to Fruition Bakery Ltd. Brandywine Stormwater, LLC
C&J Catering
Callowhill Capital Advisors LLC
Cara Tec, LLC
Castle & Associates, LLC
Cheshire Law Group
Choice Careers LLC
Cofield Abstracting, LLC
CoTech Solutions Inc
Cox Building Services
Crossroad Constuction LLC
CRS Contracting LLC
Dale Carnegie
Digitalect LLC
DiGregorio Contractors Inc
Diverse Supply Solutions, LLC
Downes Designs, LLC
Downfall Demolition LLC
ECM
Emergency Response Protocol
Ethnologica
GeoTrek Environmental and Surveying, LLC
Halperin Butera
HiReli LLC
HQ Resources
Hungry Dogs Run Faster
INTEGRATED ENERGY & MICROGRID SOLUTIONS LLC
J & I Services LLC
J.B.C. Associates, Inc.  
Kaufman Workers' Compensation Law LLC
Keystone State Testing, LLC
Kimberly Sellers Solutions, LLC
KJ Consulting & Environmental Services, LLC
L.J. Milo Enterprises, Inc.
Losego Automotive Sales & Services
LSI Specialties Inc
M&S ZEN ASSOCIATES LLC
MaGrann Construction
McGinley Consulting Group, Inc. McGuire Electrical Contracting Inc. Mechanical Operations Company, Inc. MENSCO, INC.
Metris Arts Consulting
MIKE KOBITHEN ROOFING & INSULATION INC
MOONSTONE ENVIRONMENTAL LLC Morais Law
MOSSI CONSTRUCTION INC
MSA
MXC Design LLC
My Mother's Delicacies
National Lighting Maintenance Supply Corporation
Natural Care LLC
Preferred Case Management Services Profero Group
Quantum Phoenix, LLC
Raindrop to River Consulting
Renavatio Healthcare Communications, LLC
Ross Contracting LLC
Sentinel Construction, LLC
SOUTH JERSEY SEDAN AND LIMOUSINE SERVICE LLC
SteelFusion Clinical Toxicology Laboratory, LLC
Studio CCLA, LLC
Studio x and Smoochie Paper
TCG Design
Technovvo
TRI VET CONTRACTING COMPANY INC True North Advisors
Willow Accounting & Consulting, Inc Zeyon, Inc.
Women Who Own It: Know Your Worth
"Don’t negotiate with yourself. Know your value and what your services are worth – and don’t be afraid to stick to it. Customers will usually try to negotiate costs lower (it’s their job!), but never undervalue yourself. I see many young entrepreneurs – especially women – cave when they could have held firmly. You’ve spent a career building your expertise, and that expertise has true value."
- Paola Versano, President and CEO, BenFab Architectural Metalwork
New Procurement Opportunities
Supplier diversity procurement opportunities can help you take your businesses to the next level. Want to be the first to know about new opportunities? Follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook, or check out our Opportunities page.

Please submit any new procurement opportunities to WBEC-East's Certification Team
National Events and Opportunities
2019 National Conference & Business Fair 
June 27 – 27, 2019 
Baltimore, MD 

We are so excited! For the first time in 5 years, the National Conference is coming to the mid-Atlantic. Register now so WBEC-East can show up and represent! Stay tuned for an invitation to a special gathering for the WBEC-East crowd during the conference.

This is truly THE event of the year for women business owners. Join thousands of WBEs for festive receptions, innovative learning workshops, and game-changing opportunities to pitch to supplier professionals from some of America's most prestigious brands. 
Applications open through May 20 
Two options:
Nashville, TN: July 15 – 19, 2019
San Francisco/Bay Area, CA: November 4 – 8, 2019

The Accelerated Leadership Development program is a cohort-style leadership program designed to examine three key leadership areas: Leading with Character, Collaborative Leadership, and Making a Strategic Contribution.  
From Our Partners
May 15, 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Center City Philadelphia 
 
These clinics are an opportunity for small business owners to meet one-on-one with an attorney for no cost, to ask about contracts, employees, leases and property, and other legal issues. After the clinic, eligible entrepreneurs may be matched with volunteer attorneys for counseling. 
May 16, 2:00-5:00PM
Harrisburg, PA

The Business Resource Summit connects small businesses to certifying agencies and resource groups that service Central PA. Join us to learn about the different types of certifying agencies and the benefits of certification, as well as how to leverage certification for the growth and development of your business. Attendees will also be able to meet one-on-one with representatives from local small business resource organizations to learn about their programs and services and how to get engaged.