Great Lakes WBC founder a pioneer in providing
loans and resources to underserved entrepreneurs
LIVONIA,
Mich., Sept. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- What do
these metro Detroit entrepreneurs
have in common? They were each assisted by the groundbreaking Great
Lakes Women's Business Council in making their dreams come
true:
Detroit Voltage CEO Deana
Neely was mentored and received leadership training to
run her certified Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) electrical
contracting firm which offers both residential and commercial
services. https://detroitvoltage.com/
Musashi Weeder garden tool distributor Kimberly Craig was selected in the national
"Making It … With Lowe's" product-pitching competition for shelf
space in their stores and on the website. That meant finding
funding to stock shelves with inventory, so Craig reached out to
CEED Lending, a division of Great Lakes WBC when the Lowe's
purchase order didn't open doors to a needed bank loan.
https://www.daytodaynecessities.com/
Boxx Boys Moving CEO Dondre
Geter qualified for funding because Great Lakes WBC
focused less on traditional success markers, which erect barriers
to qualifying for business capital. Instead, the CEED
Lending program focused on the performance factors that he
could demonstrate, including his near decade of operating a
successful business – and he received the loan he needed to expand.
https://boxxboysmoving /
Great Lakes WBC wins national awards, and celebrates 40 years
developing underserved businesses:
This successful support is why The Great Lakes Women's Business
Council counts down to its 40th anniversary by being acknowledged
with three prestigious awards from the U.S. Small Business
Administration. In a clean sweep, the Great Lakes WBC has been
named the Michigan Women's Business Center of Excellence, the
Regional Women's Business Center of Excellence, and at a ceremony
held in Washington D.C., they were
named the National Women's Business Center of the Year.
Great Lakes WBC founder and Executive Director Michelle Richards says the awards they have
received are encouraging, as the Council celebrates 40 years in
business development. The agency's success is measured by the
success of the entrepreneurs they mentor, including Michigan's Small Business Person of the Year,
Tiffany Klingensmith. Her company,
Unconventional Solutions, repairs composites and applies protective
coatings to safeguard industrial machinery.
40th Anniversary Conference: From Monday, Sept. 23 to Wednesday, Sept. 25, the organization will hold
the 24th annual Great Lakes WBC Conference, with
networking, business development resources, and a major Supplier
Diversity & Awards luncheon, at the Suburban Collection
Showcase in Novi, Michigan.
Conference attendees will learn from these industry experts,
hear firsthand from leading women business owners, and network with
executives from major corporate members of Great Lakes WBC. In
addition to speakers, networking and coaching labs, programming
includes educational presentations and technical skills-building
workshops.
40th Anniversary Dinner: The three SBA awards,
lauding the agency's excellent service to entrepreneurs who seek
their assistance, will be highlighted at the 40th
Anniversary Celebration Dinner to be held Monday, Sept.
23, from 5-8 p.m., at the
Suburban Collection Showcase in Novi,
Michigan.
Specific development programs include: LaunchU which
helps aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their visions into reality, an
initiative of the Council's Women's Business Center. CEED Lending
makes microloans available. MentorWe which pairs certified women
business owners in an industry/sector-specific cohort with an
established woman business owner in the same field.
Other programs offered at the Conference include WEMatch for
select qualified and certified women-owned suppliers to meet
one-on-one with corporate member partners to discuss business
opportunities; and the WEPitch competition where winners will be
coached as they move forward to the national competition.
Stellar Leadership: Great Lakes Women's Business Council
is led by a stellar board of directors that consists of:
Executive Director - Michelle
Richards, Great Lakes Women's Business Council
President - Lisa Hardin,
Salesforce
Vice President - Roshunda Price,
Cummins–Meritor
Treasurer - Anne Aristeo Martinelli,
Aristeo Construction
Secretary - Courtney Steward, DTE
Energy
Denise Booms-Pepin,
CBI Telecommunications
|
Bre Mills, JPMorgan
Chase
|
Sherry Diccion,
Adient
|
Denice Olson,
Strategic Staffing Solutions
|
April Diez, The Diez
Group
|
Stephanie Osterland,
Habitat for Humanity Detroit
|
Tamara Hicks, General
Motors
|
Alfred Patrick,
OLHSA, Community Action Agency
|
Marcia Hunter,
Stellantis
|
Lynn Perenic, Argent
Tape and Label & Argent Intl.
|
Anand Kumar, AAA The
Auto Club Group
|
Board of Directors -
Great Lakes WBC
|
About the Great Lakes Women's Business Council -
www.greatlakeswbc.org
The Great Lakes Women's Business Council is a nonprofit
organization representing more than 1,400 Women's Business
Enterprise National Council (WBENC) certified women's business
enterprises, generating approximately $8.6
billion in annual revenue and employing 48,000 U.S. workers,
as well as 90+ corporate partners in a diverse range of industry
sectors. Great Lakes WBC provided $8
million in loans to small business owners who have created
some 1,800 jobs. Through the Michigan Women's Marketplace and
in-person sessions, the organization has trained more than 15,000
business owners and entrepreneurs.
Media Contact: Delora Hall
Tyler
248.354.8705
delorahtyler@firstmediagroup.net
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SOURCE Great Lakes Women’s Business Council