Community Business Workshop: Certifying your Business (MBE, WBE, and more)

About the Workshop

Are you wondering what those small business certifications like Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), 8a, Disadvantedged Business Enterprise (DBE) are all about? Do you know which one is best for your business? Expert panelists will demystify the certification process and share tips in determining which type of certification is best for your industry. You will also learn which certifications are accepted at corporations, government organizations and institutions of higher learning.

About the Speakers

Freida Curry performs dual roles at the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) as Managing Director for Established Business Services and Director of the Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). As Managing Director, Ms. Curry is responsible for the management and oversight of all programmatic duties directly related to the Established Business Services Program, Certification Services, WBDC Minnesota, and WBDC Aurora. As PTAC Director, Ms. Curry assists business owners with the process of finding, bidding for, and winning contracts with local, state and/or federal government agencies.
Read more on Freida here.

Julia Guan is the Certification Manager of the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council (ChicagoMSDC). In this capacity, she oversees the entire Certification Department, which is the core competency of the organization, whose main mission is to increase value added opportunities between major buying corporations and minorityowned businesses.
Read more on Julia here.

About the Series

The Community Business Workshop Series is a joint collaboration of Chicago Innovation Exchange, the Office of Business Diversity, the IJ Clinic on Entrepreneurship, the South East Chicago Commission, the Office of Civic Engagmenet, and Facilities Services. The goal of the series is to provide South Side businesses and entrepreneurs with substantive and actionable programming to grow and sustain their businesses.