Summary of Conference Proceedings
POWER BUSINESS FORUM In celebration of Women’s History Month
“Wake Up Call: Our Voices, Business & Future.”
The Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project, Inc. (WEOP) is a non-profit organization with a mission to empower women. To celebrate Women’s History Month, WEOP hosted a Power Business Forum.
The event was held on Thursday March 22, 2018, from 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., at the headquarters of Georgia Power Corporation. The theme for this year’s forum was “Wake Up Call: Our Voices, Business & Future.” In keeping with the theme, discussion topics covered business, contracts and capital, worker-owned cooperatives, diversity and inclusion, and political awareness. Speakers included leading female entrepreneurs, corporate executives, as well as a gubernatorial candidate.
A special thank you to our Sponsors
A special thank you to our event Host, Glenda Stinson, Georgia Power and the entire diversity team, for providing support for WEOP’s annual Women’s History Month event and ongoing roundtables. Support from corporations is a critical component that provides organizations with resources to continuing programming for women owned businesses. Also, a special thank you to the following sponsors:
UGA SBDC at Georgia State University
ABOUT WEOP The Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project Inc. (WEOP), is a 501(c)(3) agency founded in 1999 with the mission of developing and providing programs and services that promote the economic sustainability of women. Our Mission is to promote the economic advancement of women utilizing technology based solutions, educational resources, training and entrepreneurship opportunities. The organization has successfully served thousands of women annually since its inception, while also increasing its reach to women globally through online activities. Our successful expansion is due to spearheading innovative initiatives that leverage the use of technology. We publish “From A Woman’s Perspective,” an annual magazine featuring educational articles and launched women2contact.com, an educational online portal that features information related to contracting in the public and private sectors. We continue to WEOP’s annual March event utilize the World Wide Web to reach women globally and leverage our websites as an information destination. WEOP has established strategic partnerships with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Fulton County, Economic Development Division, U.S. Department of Labor/Women’s Bureau, Atlanta Technical College, Georgia Power and Invest Atlanta. Additionally, the agency has received financial support from The Atlanta Women’s Foundation, Miscrosoft Foundation, Hewlett Packard Foundation, Georgia Power, Grady Hospital, Turner Broadcasting System (TBS), Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), Fifth Third Bank, JE Dunn Construction, First Non Profit Foundation, Prudential, Wells Fargo, PNC Bank and the Georgia Department of Economic Development. WEOP has been recognized by the Atlanta Business League (ABL), awarded Proclamations from the City of East Point and Fulton County Board of Commissioners, received statewide recognition as a Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) Pathfinder, awarded the Audrey Nelson Community Achievement Award from the National Community Development Association (NCDA) recognized by Essence Magazine and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. WEOP was also received the “2015 Small Business Champion” award from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and received the 2017 Women’s Program of the Year Award from the Georgia Microenterprise Network (GMEN).
PROMOTING EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Segment #1: Panel Discussion
DEBUNKING MYTHS INTRODUCTION In her introductory remarks, Dr. Danette O’Neal (Professor of Public Policy and Administration) noted that the event was an opportunity to make connections, since there were certain things that only fellow female entrepreneurs could share.
Dr. Danette O’Neal
As of January 2017:
Dr. O’Neal set the stage for the discussion to follow by inviting the audience to share successes as well as inhibitions, and to leave with many takeaways. She provided the following statistical facts, courtesy of American Express:
There were an estimated 11.6 million women-owned businesses in the US, employing 9 million people; and generating revenues of $1.7 trillion per year. Dr. O’Neal introduced Charmaine Ward-Millner, Director, Corporate Relations, Georgia Power, who served as moderator for the thought-provoking panel discussion that followed. Ms. Ward-Miller introduced the following members of the panel: • Tonya Hicks, CEO, Power Solutions • Rosemarie Drake, Deputy District Director, Small Business Administration • Cherelle Cortez, Senior Diversity Manager, JE Dunn Construction. Charmaine Ward-Millner
Ms. Ward-Millner observed that, as a small business owner herself, she understood the plight of entrepreneurs. She felt that there were many myths associated with entrepreneurship that needed to be debunked, including the following five myths:
1
2
3
4
5
They start from nothing Reality: Success is the result of many years of hard work and financial sacrifice
They know exactly what they want Reality: Many start down one path and they pivot
She is her own boss Reality: Everyone is accountable to someone (e.g. customers, vendors, family)
There is a lot of money for entrepreneurs Reality: While there is some, it’s specifically targeted
Entrepreneurship is fun! Reality: It’s hard work, but you can enjoy it if you’re passionate about what you do
Debunking Myths (continued)
Ms. Hicks observed that being an entrepreneur was like being on a roller coaster all day, juggling the demands of family and business. She felt that being a woman enabled her to multitask successfully. As a woman in a male-dominated industry – construction - Ms. Hicks advised that it was necessary to be comfortable navigating what was essentially a “boys-club.” Ms. Hicks stressed the importance of having a network of fellow entrepreneurs for what she termed the 3 C’s: to cry, ‘cuss’, and complain.
Tonya Hicks
In response to the moderator’s question about some of the Small Business Administration (SBA) programs that benefitted women, Ms. Drake emphasized that the lending program was just one of the many products and services offered by the SBA. While the SBA is not a direct lender, together with its business partners, in fiscal year 2017 it provided over $1 billion in loans to start-ups and other small businesses in Georgia.
Being certified was not enough to win contracts. Rosmarie Drake
Also in 2017, SBA awarded approximately $8 million in government contracts; about 10% of which went to womenowned businesses. Ms. Drake stressed the importance of SBA’s 3 C’s for entrepreneurs: credit, contracting, and counseling.
Entrepreneurs also should ensure that: 1) their product or service offering was what the government wanted 2) they were able to compete with large and established companies. Ms. Drake noted that the SBA set minimum credit criteria for prospective borrowers, such as the company must be for-profit (as opposed to a non-profit organization).
Debunking Myths (continued)
In addition, a business that relied on “passive” income, such as the owner of an apartment complex, was not eligible for an SBA loan. Finally, the small business must demonstrate its ability to repay the lenders. For startups and existing businesses, this meant that projections must be realistic and reasonable. Ms. Cortez spoke about JE Dunn’s Minority Contractor Development Program (MCDP), an initiative aimed at advancing the growth of women- and minority-owned businesses in the construction industry. The MCDP has been revamped to help small businesses become more competitive, partly by encouraging collaboration with other small businesses. The program now includes classroom training facilitated by some of JE Dunn’s practitioners, and the company’s focus is to work with 75% of the program participants. The moderator asked Ms. Cortez to discuss the benefits of being a second-tier (or sub) contractor versus a first-tier (prime) contractor. Ms. Cortez responded that a prime contractor had financial and insurance obligations (e.g. bonding) that were not required of a sub-contractor. Ms. Cortez felt that it was beneficial for smaller companies to take a subordinate position as a sub-contractor, as this would enable them to work for a larger client like JE Dunn. Ms. Hicks concurred, noting that it took her 17 years to become a first-tier contractor, partly as a result of the insurance bonding requirement. Ms. Drake also
SUMMARY Charmaine Ward-Millner thanked the panelists for their enlightening and inspiring contributions. She closed the session with a summary of her key “take-aways” from the morning’s discussion:
Ms. Drake counseled entrepreneurs to develop a relationship with their banks to help them weather the inevitable rough times. Ms. WardMillner thanked Ms. Drake for clarifying that SBA provided services for new (start-up) as well as ongoing businesses.
noted the difficulty associated with securing a performance bond, and added that SBA’s Surety Bond Program was in place to assist eligible small businesses in this regard. In response to Ms. Ward-Millner’s request for one tip that would assist women to secure a corporate contract, Ms. Cortez emphasized the importance of knowing the customer. Ms. Drake replied that it was important to visit the resource partners (e.g. banks) and to take advantage of the wealth of information and statistics that were available online.
1) Know all your numbers: financial and health. 2) Have a network: a formal board of directors, but also an informal board with whom you can vent your frustrations. 3) It’s all about partnerships: entrepreneurs can achieve much more together than alone. Joint ventures work! 4) Playing the long game vs. the short game: entrepreneurship can be amazing and fulfilling but you have to work at it.
Segment #2: Presentations
WEOP TALKS OVERVIEW This special segment featured four women providing their unique perspectives on a range of topics that are extremely important for women. The speakers were carefully selected by WEOP to discuss topics that would be thought provoking and encourage women to think “outside the box”.
The featured speakers for this segment: • • • • •
Stacey Young Rivers, Turner Charmaine Davis, Department of Labor Jennifer Riis-Poulsen, PowerHouse Niki Okuk, RCO Tires Mia Martin, Modern Creatif
INTRODUCTION
Stacey Rivers
Stacey Young Rivers, Director of Technology Skills Analysis & Development for Turner’s Global Technology & Operations Division served as the moderator for the following four presentations. Ms. Rivers introduced each speaker in turn: Charmaine Davis, Regional Director, US Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau, Jennifer Riis-Poulsen, Founder & CEO of Powerhouse Personal Safety & Empowerment Program, Mia Martin, Founder and Digital Strategy Consultant of Modern Creatif, and Niki Okuk, Founder & CEO of Rco2.
“APPRENTICESHIPS: WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES AND WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES” CHARMAINE DAVIS Ms. Davis stressed the need for participants to position themselves to be thought leaders, i.e. informed opinion leaders who could influence public policy and set standards for their industries. Dr. Martin Luther King and Mark Zuckerberg were two examples of thought leaders who helped shape public opinion and policy in their respective areas. Ms. Davis highlighted some benefits associated with being considered a thought leader: • Public recognition as an industry expert; you become the “go-to” person for your industry. • The ability to set industry standards. • An enhanced ability to attract customers. • Free marketing and publicity via invitations to panel discussions, television and other media appearances.
WEOP Talks (continued)
However, she cautioned that becoming a thought leader required an investment of time. Ms. Davis used her own journey towards becoming a thought leader for race and gender issues to highlight its difference from traditional marketing and to illustrate the potential personal and commercial benefits. Ms. Davis encouraged participants to become a registered apprenticeship program
with the US Department of Labor. Benefits associated with program affiliation included increased employee retention, reduced worker compensation costs, tax credits and grants. One such grant was the WANTO (Women in Entrepreneurial and Non-Traditional Occupations) Grant.
COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS: WORKER OWNERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT NIKI OKUK Observing the challenges to find financing to invest in the growth of a non-traditional business, Ms. Okuk noted that RCO Tires had just posted its first modest profit in 5 years of operation. While there were good reasons for RCO Tires to exist – benefits to the environment, surrounding community and workers’ families among others – she recognized that her vision was diametrically at odds with the short-term profit motivations of a private equity firm. Ms. Okuk remarked that the difference in investment outlook partly explained why most entrepreneurs had to leverage friends, family, and “fools” to obtain the initial round of funding required to launch a business. She took the opportunity to dispel the myth of the “bootstrap”, that an entrepreneur can simply build a business out of air by bootstrapping herself up. Ms. Okuk used the example of Mondragon Spain to illustrate how profoundly collective ownership (“cooperative economics”) can transform a community. Mondragon moved
from being an incredibly impoverished municipality after the Spanish Civil War to Europe’s largest industrial manufacturer, generating approximately Euro 12 million in annual revenues and employing 80,000 people. According to Ms. Okuk, there is no separation between work and ownership in the Mondragon model, as all businesses are workerowned and community-owned. The collective ownership model enabled Mondragon to weather the last global recession by making strategically closing segments of its businesses, training and redeploying its human resources to better performing segments. Ms. Okuk stated that her desire to build a Mondragon in South Central LA was the inspiration behind Rco2.
WEOP Talks (continued)
OUR VOICES: RISE UP, SPEAK UP, & POWER UP JENNIFER RIIS-POULSEN Ms. Riis-Poulsen began by having the audience repeat an empowering mantra that captured the spirit of her topic: Rise Up, Speak Up, and Power Up. Referencing Mazlow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Ms. Riis-Poulsen advised that her presentation would focus on fulfilling one of the basic needs – safety.
She used “The Powerhouse Way”, as follows: 1. Prediction based on observation 2. Observation. Practice the 10-second scan rule to provide you with additional time to notice more details. It is an empowering strategy when done effectively
3. Walk tall (i.e. with confidence) 4, Engage with your environment at all times 5. Recognize red flags 6. Properly trained legs and hands can protect 7. Orient yourself; always be prepared 8. Use your voice effectively to stop / prevent a bad situation
9. Shock value. Rise up / speak up / power up can cause shock and surprise
10. Empowerment
Ms. Riis-Poulsen affirmed that personal safety and empowerment education is designed to strengthen an individual emotionally, psychologically, and physically. She noted that the result was the confidence to live life to its full potential.
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES MIA MARTIN Ms. Martin covered three important skills for entrepreneurs: 1.) The ability to solve a problem and understand one’s resources 2.) Owning your brand 3.) Really taking advantage of available resources
Ms. Martin hailed the WEOP as a fantastic knowledge resource for a variety of areas important to entrepreneurs, such as government contracting. In this regard, Ms. Martin felt that sole owners could utilize WEOP’s resources to identify strategies for obtaining government contracts. Noting that the WEOP was in reality a one-stop shop for men and women, she encouraged participants to join the organization if they had not already done so.
WEOP Talks (continued)
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES Ms. Martin emphasized the importance of networking, which could provide business opportunities in the long-term, even if not readily apparent in the short-term. She underscored the value of leveraging networks by pointing out that she had received more business from connecting people who had nothing to do with the services she offered. Ms. Martin encouraged participants to take
advantage of company funded training if available, as this was an extremely valuable resource that would help them to perfect their skill sets. The Small Business Development Company (SBDC) was another excellent resource for entrepreneurs as it offered a host of skill-building programs. In particular, the SBDC “GrowSmart� series provided training around strategy and structure.
SUMMARY This was a great segment for the audience and all four speakers provided excellent insights on different topics. Charmaine Davis started the discussion and encouraged the audience to really think about how they can be thought leaders. She provided some wonderful examples of trail blazing thought leaders. The next speaker, Niki Okuk, challenged the audience on alternative strategies of how we think about doing business. She is passionate about having a business model that provides the opportunity for employees to
own a piece of the business. Jennifer Riis-Poulsen helped us to focus on personal empowerment. She emphasized that confidence and personal empowerment are significant contributing factors to our success. Last but not least, Mia Martin, Social Entrepreneur, discussed social media, which helps us maximize our efficiency, and to be competitive and do business on a global level. The speakers were all amazing and the segment provided the opportunity for our audience to hear different perspectives from some amazing women!
Segment #3
CALL TO ACTION OVERVIEW Women in politics are powerful role models and serve as an inspiration. Accordingly, by placing the focus on women in leadership positions, this segment underscores the importance of female participation in politics and leadership to ensure broad representation.
There’s a difference between making public mistakes and corruption. - Stacey Abrams Moderator Yolanda White, Assistant Vice-President and Global Group Director of the Yolanda White Coca-Cola Company, invited the audience to ask questions of the panel: gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and Marci Collier Overstreet, Atlanta City Council, District 11 Representative. In response to a question about revamping Atlanta’s image as a city plagued by political scandal, Councilwoman Overstreet felt that it was important to be transparent, honest and to take responsibility for past mistakes while moving forward. Candidate Abrams remarked that there was a difference between making public mistakes and corruption. She also noted
that countering the national narrative required changing the persons in authority. She concluded by stating that she was not running against anyone but rather for the Georgia that she envisioned. Another question revolved around finding the balance between working in an entrepreneurial business and finding the time to network and engage in ‘self-care’. Candidate Abrams referenced her book “Minority Leader” which included a chapter on work-life “jenga” since she believed that work-life “balance” was an option only to those whose financial status afforded them the luxury of a nanny, driver and chef. She therefore encouraged participants to prioritize, rather than attempting to find balance, noting that it was important to give yourself permission for self-care. Councilwoman Overstreet agreed, remarking that it was necessary to make yourself a priority in order to be revitalized.
An audience member asked what could subcontractors do to compel the prime contractor to honor its obligations in cases where the primary did not fulfill its originally agreed goals on a contract. Councilwoman Overstreet emphasized the extreme importance of accountability, noting that the sub-contractor should engage in research to understand the variables in any given contract situation. She also advised entrepreneurs to become a vendor of the city, as it was a valuable opportunity that was freely available to them. Candidate Abrams recognized that a major challenge was that the sub-contractual parts of a contract were entirely at the discretion of the primary contractor. She noted that part of a subcontractor’s responsibility was to alert their elected officials regarding any discrepancies in the performance of the contract. In response to a question about the best way to prepare for a large contract, Candidate Abrams said that NOWAccount, a joint program with CocaCola, would advance 97% of the face value of the contract upfront. The increased cash flow (at a much earlier time in the process) helped small businesses to double or even quadruple their abilities to undertake contracts, by providing the wherewithal to become bonded and/or purchase required equipment. Candidate Abrams noted that only business-to-business transactions were eligible for the program.
A county commissioner asked the panel members to elaborate on the importance of elected officials “being at the table” so that implemented policies served the best interests of the community. Councilwoman Overstreet underlined the importance of becoming involved in the community in order to secure what was best for the community. Candidate Abrams found that having small businesses in a community was critical since the closure of a large company usually led to the failure of ancillary businesses. She also highlighted the need to expand the scope beyond the few types of business that were traditionally considered, and suggested that young people should be trained more broadly to discern what they were capable of. Candidate Abrams also noted that government had an important part to play by ensuring that capital was available. The final question was what could the audience members do to serve, support and fight for the success of the two panel members. Candidate Abrams identified three tasks: i.) share what they had learned that day and encourage people to remain engaged with their elected officials and candidates; ii.) take time to volunteer since politics comes into a community by virtue of people; and iii.) invest both financially and in each other. Councilwoman Overstreet concurred, noting that every time we can share vision and insight with other women, it made the world a better place.
SUMMARY The participation of women is politics is essential for building strong communities and ensuring that our interests are represented in the policy decisions. WEOP was honored to have two amazing women featured during the “Call to Action” luncheon segment. Ms. Overstreet is no stranger to WEOP, as she was instrumental in hosting a workshop for entrepreneurs in partnership with WEOP. It was also an honor to highlight Stacey Abrams, Candidate for Governor. In line with WEOP’s mission, the purpose of this segment was to expose women to leaders who are making an impact in Georgia. These are the women that serve as role models and they are in a unique position to serve as the voice of women. As demonstrated from the conversation, they discuss the challenges that are faced by women from worklife balance to other issues.
SPEAKER PROFILES Stacey Abrams, is an American politician, lawyer, author and businesswoman who is a candidate in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election. Previously she was the House Minority Leader for the Georgia General Assembly and State Representative for the 89th House District. Ms. Abrams currently serves on many boards including the Atlanta Metropolitan State College Foundation, Gateway Center for the Homeless and the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. She also serves on the Board of Visitors for Agnes Scott College and the University of Georgia. Ms. Abrams holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (Political Science, Economics and Sociology) from Spelman College, and a J.D. from Yale Law School. Antionette Ball is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project, Inc. (WEOP), a non-profit agency with decades of experience training, educating and empowering women in the community. She is the visionary for the “Power Business Forums” presented by WEOP. She has been instrumental in creating and launching entrepreneurial programs and special projects that provide women with opportunities for economic advancement. Cherelle Cortez is the Senior Diversity Manager at JE Dunn Construction, where she is responsible for collaborating with regional leaders to ensure diversity outcomes consistent with company values. Ms. Cortez strives to find meaningful ways to utilize diverse services and vendors.
Charmaine Davis is the Southeast Regional Director, US Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau. Her priority is to encourage women to pursue careers in non-traditional fields. Ms. Davis began her career in 2006 as a political organizer for a national organization, Project Vote, where she was named Organizer of the Year in 2008. As State Director for the National Association of Working Women, Ms. Davis developed the Ban the Box campaign. Ms. Davis holds a B.A. in Political Science and African-American Studies from Ohio University. Rosemarie Drake is the Deputy District Director at Small Business Administration (SBA). Ms. Drake has been involved in economic and small business development for the past 17 years within the public and private sectors and as a volunteer. Her volunteer work includes membership of the Board of Directors of Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE), and the Georgia Lending Quality Circle (GLQC). Ms. Drake holds a Bachelors degree from Temple University. Tonya Hicks, is the owner and CEO of Power Solutions, Inc., which has been in operation for over 17 years and specializes in robotics, high-voltage installation and repair. She has received an award for her accomplishments and service from the Atlanta Metro Chamber of Georgia Black Construction Association, and the Women in Business Excellence Award from Fulton County Board of Commissioners. In the fall of 2015 Ms. Hicks launched her 4th brand, The Handy Wife, which is a residential home repair service and maintenance company. Ms. Hicks is a journeyman electrician in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, becoming the first woman to attain the status of journeyman in Local 917 in her hometown of Meridian, Mississippi.
Mia Martin, is the Founder and Digital Strategy Consultant of Modern Creatif, specializing in small business and solopreneur strategies. With over 15 years of experience in the field, Ms. Martin also provides digital marketing training for corporate supplier mentoring programs and entrepreneurial training programs. She is a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, Digital Marketing Consultant & Professional Speaker for the Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project, and Regional Officer of Communications for the Network of Executive Women-Atlanta. Ms. Martin holds an MBA in Global Business from the University of Phoenix and a B.S. in Merchandising Management from Michigan State University. Charmaine Ward-Millner is Corporate Relations Director for Georgia Power, with responsibility for building and maintaining key state and national relationships with diverse organizations and opinion leaders. She has over 25 years of corporate experience where she has held senior level positions with Fortune 500 companies. Ms. Ward-Millner is also Co-Founder and Executive Coach for Coaching Catalyst. Ms. Ward-Millner holds an Executive MBA from Kennesaw State University, and a B.A. in Economics from Clark Atlanta University. In addition, she is a certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach and an Associate Certified Coach with International Coach Federation. Niki Okuk is the CEO/Founder, Rco2, formed in 2012 to reduce landfill through reuse, up-cycling, recycling and repair. With 16 employees, the company has up-cycled over 120 million pounds of rubber, and converted approximately 30 million gallons of oil into new products. By effectively diverting these products from landfills, Rco2 has become one of southern California’s largest sustainability plants. Ms. Okuk’s progressive hiring and management practices have also provided stable jobs for those local residents who struggle to find employment. Ms. Okuk holds an MBA from Nanyang University in Singapore, a Leadership in Sustainability certificate from Sloan School of Business at MIT, and a B.A. in Economics & Political Economy from Columbia University. Marci Collier Overstreet, is a first term member of the Atlanta City Council, representing the citizens of District 11. Her mission is to invest in technology, provide transparency, create an age-friendly community, and foster solid relationships with the constituents of District 11. She has over 25 years of experience in service and leadership in volunteerism. Councilwoman Overstreet has held multiple board and leadership positions including the Atlanta Commission on Women and as Past Board Chair/President of the Auxiliary to the Atlanta Medical Association. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Georgia State University. Danette O’Neal, PhD is an Author and Broker/Owner with over 28 years in years in real estate. Dr. O’Neal specializes in residential and commercial sales and property management. Her specializations include course development, entrepreneurial training, and organizational leadership development. She provides executive and business coaching through strategic planning and the facilitation of leadership development programs. Dr. O’Neal holds a PhD in Public Policy and Administration, a M.A. in Public Administration both from Walden University, and a M.A. in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University.
Jennifer Riis-Poulsen, is the Founder & CEO of Powerhouse Personal Safety & Empowerment Program which was formed in November 2011 with a mission to educate and empower all girls and women. She is a second-degree black belt in martial arts. Ms. Riis-Poulsen has developed a comprehensive personal safety and empowerment program focused on awareness and powerful techniques to build courage and confidence. The curriculum is based on her background in psychology and her 15 years of martial arts experience, and is designed for all females from ten years of age to older. Stacey Young Rivers is the Director of Technology Skills Analysis & Development for Turner’s Global Technology & Operations Division. Ms. Rivers is responsible for strategic programs focusing on skills acquisition and development. She is also a published author. Ms. Rivers holds a M.S. in Management from Troy University, and B.S. in Technology Management from Clayton State University. She is a certified Human Capital Strategist and Strategic Workforce Planner by the Human Capital Institute (HCI). Glenda Stinson, Supplier Diversity Development Administrator, Georgia Power, supports small and diverse supplier base to maximize value to the Company’s supply Chain and assists these suppliers to be competitive and knowledgeable about the requirements of contract and bid opportunities. Glenda Stinson is Chair of the Board of Directors of Women Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project, Inc., and is Georgia Power’s liaison to the Small Business Development Center’s Premiere Development Program (PDP) and Grow Smart.
A special thank you to our Sponsors A special thank you to our event Host, Glenda Stinson, Georgia Power and the entire diversity team, for providing support for WEOP’s annual Women’s History Month event and ongoing roundtables. Support from corporations is a critical component that provides organizations with resources to continuing programming for women owned businesses. Also, a special thank you to the following sponsors: UGA SBDC at Georgia State University
CONNECT TO WEOP WWW.WEOP.ORG