Women mean business

Tom Kindred with Alice E. Lee, president/general manager of WFLM 104.5.

Tom Kindred with Alice E. Lee, president/general manager of WFLM 104.5. She is the first black owner of a regional radio station. IRSC

BY TOM KINDRED

In the world of small business, October holds special meaning because it is National Women’s Small Business Month. It is in October when the business community celebrates and recognizes the 12.3 million [and growing] women-owned businesses.

There is good reason to highlight and celebrate these businesses because they generate $1.9 trillion in revenue and employ nearly 9 million people. Like all small business operations, women-owned small businesses support local nonprofits, schools and governments through their tax dollars. Women-owned businesses appear in all marketplace segments including: service providers, STEM fields, technology, manufacturing, education, professional services and retail.

The Treasure Coast is home to many women-owned small businesses. These talented and creative business women possess incredible business acumen, which they leverage to enhance and increase the value of the Treasure Coast marketplace. Just a few examples of these Treasure Coast women-owned businesses include:

• Kimberly Amsalem – Graphic Designs International
• Yolanda Solorzano – Los Cocos Mexican Restaurant
• Darla Rose – Bella Rose Day Spa
• Amy Stapleton – Chatables
• Vanessa Freeman – Hart’s Mobility
• Alice E. Lee – Midway Broadcasting Co. – WFLM 104.5
• Julissa Mercado and Ashley Jameson – The Skin Spot
• Linda Schlitt-Gonzalez – Coldwell Banker Paradise - Ed Schlitt Realtors

These savvy businesswomen also understand the potential power and opportunity of government contracting and becoming a certified women-owned business. In 2020, women-owned small businesses were awarded $27.1 billion in prime contracts and $14.3 billion in subcontracting contracts. That is more than $41 billion in revenue for women-owned small businesses. And yes, that is billion with a B.

Scotty Wilson, the Procurement and Technical Assistance Center specialist with the Florida SBDC at Indian River State College will assist and guide a small business owner in navigating all the steps required to achieve woman-, minority-, veteran- and disabled veteran-owned status and certification. Once the small business owner has successfully obtained certification, the center will then assist the small business owner in pursuing and connecting to government contracting.

In the past three years, Wilson’s leadership, along with the assistance of the Florida SBDC at IRSC, has helped regional small businesses connect to more than $185 million in government contracts. That is real revenue generated by real Treasure Coast small business owners that brings real value to the business, the owner and the marketplace.

So, congratulations to all the Treasure Coast women-owned small businesses. October is the month to celebrate your entrepreneurial spirit, dedication, success and commitment to your business. Thank you for all you do for your families, your organization’s team and the region’s small business marketplace.

See the original article in the print publication

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email staff@tcbusiness.com