APRIL/MAY/JUNE ISSUE 2021

WOMEN IN POWER Business Magazine

Vol.21 No.2

Jovita Carranza Former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C.

FEATURE ARTICLE MEET

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Inuential Women In Nevada

2021

Nevada Women’s Hall of Fame & Pioneer Award Inductees

March 26, 2021 During Women’s History Month

www.womenschamberofnevada.org

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER Seventh Edition This is our first issue since the pandemic hit in 2020 which close the state down, so as we move forward into 2021 we will also cover the progress we are making with COVID-19 in each issue. The Women's Chamber of Commerce of Nevada celebrates 19 years as the state women's chamber in the 157-year history of Nevada. The Women in Power Business Magazine was originally created and designed in 2002 in digital form for members only. Three years ago, 2017, the Women in Power Business Magazine© established a print version of the magazine with a nationally recognized woman leader on the cover to inspire other women to reach for their dreams. Inside each issue we recognize ten influential women in Nevada with distribution to members and nonmembers locally, nationally and globally. The magazine will continue to recognize ten influential women of diversity in Nevada with inspiring backgrounds, educational articles to support you on your journey of selfdiscovery, innovation and leadership. More articles about how to live longer, branding tips, why interaction is so important, and working with younger generation to making future leaders. My hope is that you will find motivation by reading about the leaders in this magazine to help and develop other future leaders. We spotlight women entrepreneurs who are successful and dedicated to providing the best business practices, professional services, and community excellence in Nevada and around the World. They are staying on top of the cutting-edge business platform, leading in their respective fields, and are fully committed to serving their community. These are influential women to watch in Nevada. Read and follow their success and accomplishments. Thank you for allowing us to lead, motivate and celebrate you … one issue at a time.

June L. Beland Publisher of WIPBM President and CEO Women's Chamber of Commerce of Nevada

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WOMEN IN POWER Business Magazine

PUT WOMEN IN POWER in your advertising plan APRIL/MAY/JUNE ISSUE 2021

Published by Women's Chamber of Commerce of Nevada© All rights reserved Executive Board Dolores Campuzano-Pignatello Berenice Church Cassondra Cotton Anita Laruy Patricia Lee Summer Clark-Webb Rita Vaswani

WOMEN IN POWER Business Magazine

Vol.21 No.2

.org

www.womenschamberofnevada

Jovita Carranza Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C.

FEATURE ARTICLE MEET

10

APRIL/MAY/JUNE ISSUE 2021

Inuential Women In Nevada

2021

Nevada Women’s Hall of Fame & Pioneer Award Inductees

WOMEN IN POWER Business Magazine

Vol.21 No.2

www.womenschamberofnevada.org

Jovita Carranza Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C.

March 26, 2021 During Women’s History Month

FEATURE ARTICLE MEET

10

Inuential Women In Nevada

2021

Publisher June L. Beland

Nevada Women’s Hall of Fame & Pioneer Award Inductees

March 26, 2021 During Women’s History Month

Editor/Proofreader Marie R. Scrofani Photographer Elite Photography Group Designed By Infinity Business Media Group Magazine Printed by AA Printing Service, Inc Articles by Grant Opportunity Foundation Small Business Administration, DC SCORE - Social Security Marketing & Sales Women's Chamber of Commerce of Nevada© www.womenschamberofnevada.org 702.733.3955 Marketing Admin & Director Marie Scrofani, Admin 702.682.9200 Kevin Fairchild, Director 702.343.7921 Distribution Print and Digital

Reach over 500 High Profile Women’s Chamber of Commerce Members Reach 1.7 Million Chamber Members Nationally & Internationally Reach 17.1 Million Readers Digitally via Issuu.com, Social Media Platforms, and Email Databases

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Disclaimer: The Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Nevada dba WCCNV ©, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher. WCCNV, the Publisher and its Affiliates have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information was correct at time of publication. WCCNV, the Publisher and its Affiliates do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party or advertiser for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from accident, negligence, or any other cause. All articles are for informational purposes only and should not be relied on, or construed as legal advice and the views expressed are not necessarily those of the WCCNV Magazine. WCCNV Contact us at 2300 W Sahara Ave, 8th Fl.,Las Vegas, NV 89102. Ph: 702-733-3955

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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S Cover Story pages 14-15

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10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN NEVADA

JOVITA CARRANZA Former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C.

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15 SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS

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UPCOMING CERTIFICATION CHANGES FOR WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES BY SCORE

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SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS INCREASE IN 2021

All women entrepreneurs should apply for

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2021

WOMEN’S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE of Nevada©

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DANA R. BENNETT, PHD Member of the Women's Mining Coalition

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vibrant, innovative, and sustainable economy with high-paying jobs for Nevadans. She is also a member of the Women's Mining Coalition and the Executive Advisory Board for the renowned Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, which graduates students well-prepared to produce the metals and minerals required for a sustainable future. Dr. Bennett recently retired as President of the Nevada Mining Association, the first woman to lead that august organization.

A lifelong Nevadan, Dr. Dana Bennett currently serves on the Governor's Board of Economic Development. The Board guides Nevada's economic development programs and plays a significant role in shaping a

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Dr. Bennett grew up in Reno and began her public policy career as a legislative researcher in Carson City. She has been employed in both the public and private sectors and has, as she is doing now, operated her own research and consulting business. With an interest in public policy spanning three decades, she also serves on the Advisory Council for the Kenny Guinn

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Center for Policy Priorities, Nevada's only nonpartisan think tank. She interrupted her career to earn a doctorate in history and has written extensively about the history of women's political and policy activities in Nevada. Her dissertation focused on the women serving in the Nevada Legislature before 1960, and her most recent article explored the biographies of the Nevada women who opposed women's suffrage in 1914. She has also authored books about Battle Mountain and Midas, the historic mining town in which she currently resides. Dr. Bennett recently became the President of Friends of Midas, the town's historic preservation organization. She has resided in both of Nevada's urban centers and currently lives in rural Nevada. She knows Nevada well and is especially proud that she has spent at least one night in every one of Nevada's 17 counties.

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Ms. Fretwell is the Strategy and Government Innovation Senior Vice President for Switch. In this role, Ms. Fretwell uses her extensive city management experience, government knowledge and community relationships to develop strategic partnerships with our community

partners and clients. She leads efforts in the deployment of new technologies including autonomous systems, IoT, robotics, and big data for digital community initiatives and spearheads innovative public-private partnerships in communities across the country. Using a strong knowledge of emerging technologies, connected infrastructure, and public sector data needs. Ms. Fretwell is the principal investigator for a first-of-its-kind $1.8M contract w i t h t h e Fe d e r a l Av i a t i o n Administration to further develop the Un m a n ne d Tr a f f ic M a na ge m e n t (UTM)system supporting small commercial drone flight's safe integration into the National Airspace System (NAS). Ms. Fretwell has a bachelor's degree in political science (1989) and a master's degree in public administration (1991) from the University of Georgia. She also attained the Harvard Senior Executives

BETSY FRETWELL Strategy and Government Innovation Senior Vice President for Switch in State and Local Gover nment leadership certificate (2007). Ms. Fretwell represents Switch on several community business boards including as Vice Chair of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance; Executive Board member of the Vegas Chamber of Commerce; and board member of Las Vegas Events, Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems, and Henderson Development Authority. She also is a member of the International Women's Forum, a Fellow with the National Academy of Public Administration, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Smith Center for Performing Arts and MountainView Hospital. Ms. Fretwell has 27 years of public service in Southern Nevada serving Clark County, City of Henderson and City of Las Vegas in various positions. Her public sector career culminated with serving nearly 9 years as Las Vegas City Manager.

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MARIA JOSE GATTI Executive Director Of Community Engagement

community. She also implements programs to help educate and engage the e m p l o y e e s o f M G M Re s o r t s o n community-related initiatives, activities, and issues. Maria Jose also serves as the P r e s i d e n t o f T h e M G M Re s o r t s Foundation.

Maria Jose Gatti serves as the Executive Director of Community Engagement for MGM Resorts International. She is responsible for fostering and maintaining relationships with national and local community organizations. Through these relationships, she supports the Company's business objectives and additionally facilitates the Company's participation in programs and events that support the

In 2008, Maria Jose joined Luxor Hotel a n d C a s i n o, a n M G M Re s o r t s International property, as Director of Guest Experience and in 2010 was appointed to also oversee the Guest Experience program for both Luxor and Excalibur Hotels and Casinos. In this capacity, Maria was responsible for managing the reputation of the properties by handling guest feedback and training employees to provide exceptional guest service. During her three years at the properties, she served as chair of the Property CSR Councils; which were responsible for implementing the Company's CSR principles into the properties' culture.

MGM Resorts International

Before joining MGM Resorts, Maria Jose Gatti served as the Director of Programs for the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas and Nevada Partners two local non-profit organizations that focus on employment and training in the field of hospitality and gaming. In this role, she was responsible for developing, coordinating, and administering training programs to assist unemployed and under-employed people with finding careers in the Hospitality Industry. Through her relationships with leaders in Southern Nevada's casino and hotel industry, she coordinated job opportunities for thousands of people in the community. Her responsibilities included administering and monitoring federal grants to support the organization's employment programs. She also oversaw the evaluation and approval process of all Culinary Academy programs from the State of Nevada Postsecondary Education office.

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JUANA HART President J-Hart Communications LLC

Business communication consultant Juana Hart helps small service-based businesses and nonprofit organizations get the visibility, credibility, and buy-in they need to increase revenues. Juana has more than 25 years of experience in marketing, media, and business administration. She is a professional speaker who has served some of the

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world's leading associations and presented in the U.S. and Canada to more than 30,000 conference and meeting attendees.

including Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada, Vegas PBS, Komen for the Cure, Global Charity Foundation, and the S.H.E.R.O. Foundation.

In Las Vegas, before launching J-Hart Communications, she co-produced and anchored Nevada's first live morning television newscast on KLAS-Channel 8 (CBS). She moved on to co-anchor afternoon and evening broadcasts and hosted the popular Straight from the Hart franchise honoring outstanding workers and community servants.

Juana has received numerous awards and honors including Distinguished Women of Nevada, Outstanding Achievement Award-UPI Broadcasters, Katie Award for Best Public Affairs Prog ram, Outstanding Young Women of America, Leadership El Paso, and a variety of community service awards. She was a finalist for NAWBO-Southern Nevada's Women of Distinction Award in the Public Relations and Communication category, and Small Business of the Year for the Urban Chamber.

Juana is a past president of the Las Vegas Association of Black Journalists and has served as a Safe Nest advisory board member, board member of Caring, Helping, and Restoring Lives, Inc. (CHR), and Class! Publications. She has mentored many aspiring journalists and served as a volunteer for a variety of charitable events and organizations

Juana earned a BBA in marketing from the University of Texas at El Paso and is a lifelong learner. She is blessed with two daughters, a son-in-law, and two amazing granddaughters.

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W O M E N IN N E VA DA Connect2Compete, Cox Charities, and Cox Volunteers. As an active community leader, Tamar currently serves as a director for the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Foundation and as a board member for the YMCA of Southern Nevada. She supports the Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club which shares a passion for her native Hawaiian culture and was recognized with a Community Achievement Award from the Asian American Group for her role in making a positive difference in Southern Nevada.

Tamar Hoapili is the manager of community relations at Cox Communications, Las Vegas and recently celebrated her 20th anniversary with the company. In her position, Tamar oversees the company's community, charitable, and education outreach initiatives, including managing a $2 million annual budget. S h e l e a d s t h e d e ve l o p m e n t a n d management of key employee and community-centric programs including

She previously served as Cox's Southwest Regional Diversity Council Chair, working to engage employees in a culture of diversity and inclusion within the company and the Southern Nevada community, and is a past board member of the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement of Las Vegas and Las Vegas Chapter of Olive Crest. She is a past president of the parent-teacher association of Cornerstone Christian Academy, past

TAMAR P. HOAPILI Manager, Community Relations Cox Communications, Las Vegas president for the Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club, and previously served as a commissioner for the Nevada Commission on Minority Affairs. A former radio promotions director in Las Vegas and Honolulu, Tamar has been recognized with numerous community, industry, and company awards including a Pinnacle Award from the Public Relations Society of America, an EMA a w a r d f r o m Wo m e n i n C a b l e Telecommunications, an Impact Award from Cox Communications and a CAMY Award from Cox Media. She has also been recognized as a Gold Standard Hero, a coveted award recognizing outstanding leadership at Cox Communications. Tamar received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Hawaii, Manoa, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She is married to Jeff and together they have two sons, Kahoa and Kauila, and one daughter Luana.

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JOVITA CARRANZA Former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C.

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President Donald J. Trump watches as Vice President Mike Pence officiates at the ceremonial swearing-in of the Jovita Carranza, joined by her grandson Anthony Hernandez who holds the bible, as Administrator of the Small Business Administration Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

TIMELINE 2014: In 2014, she joined the "Women for Rauner" campaign in Illinois promoting the Bruce Rauner and Evelyn Sanguinetti ticket. 2015: Carranza was confirmed by the Illinois Senate on April 30, 2015. 2017: Carranza was sworn in on June 19, 2017. 2019: On July 31, 2019, President Trump announced the nomination of Carranza to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration. 2019: On August 1, 2019, President Trump nominated Carranza to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration, replacing Linda McMahon. 2020: On April 3, 2020, Carranza announced the launch of the Paycheck Protection Program – a $349 billion emergency loan program provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

Jovita Carranza served as the former 26th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). As a former member of President Tr ump's Cabinet, she advocated on behalf of the 30 million small businesses in America. In her role as Administrator, she lead a team of professionals dedicated to ensuring entrepreneurs located across America have the support and resources they needed to start, grow, and expand their small businesses, and recover in the event of a declared disaster.

Prior to leading the SBA, Administrator Carranza served as Treasurer of the United States at the U.S. Department of the Treasury under President Donald J. Trump. In her role as a principal advisor to Secretary Mnuchin, Carranza focused on increasing participation in our vibrant economy by fostering financial capability and sustainability. Former Administrator Carranza is a Chicago native and founder of a small business consulting company. She previously served as the Deputy Administrator for the SBA under former President George W. Bush, where she received a bipartisan, unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Before her first SBA appointment, Carranza had a distinguished 30-year career at United Parcel Service (UPS), where she was the highest-ranking Latina in the history of the company. She started as a part-time, nightshift box handler and worked her way up to President of Latin America and Caribbean operations. Former Administrator Carranza earned her MBA from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, and received executive, governance, management, and financial training at the INSEAD Business School in Paris, France; Michigan State University; and the University of Chicago. US Small Business Administration 409 3rd St, SW, Washington DC 20416

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DARCY K. NEIGHBORS

creative advertising approach. Her career includes serving as a business analyst at the Kennedy Space Center, founding and selling a retail business, and serving as director of business and marketing at Jeffrey Burr, one of Nevada's largest estate planning law firms. Neighbors earned a bachelor's degree in business administration (emphasis in marketing) from UNLV.

For 25 years, Darcy K. Neighbors has served as founder and CEO of one of Las Vegas Valley's premier marketing, advertising, and public relations firm (CIM Marketing Partners). She and the firm are highly respected for their strategic approach to marketing and

Neighbors has helped hundreds of companies increase their market share and profitability by positioning them through effective marketing, advertising, and public relations. Neighbors authored a book—Marketing Fusion: 7 Elements to Ignite Your Growth—to inspire readers to develop a true strategic marketing vision. She was honored as the 2013 Alumna of the Year of UNLV's Lee Business School and, in 2012, as its Marketing

Founder and CEO CIM Marketing Partners Department Alumna of the Year. She was also the 2012 past president of the S o u t h we s t C h a p t e r o f t h e L e g a l Marketing Association. In 2011, Neighbors was inducted into the Leadership Las Vegas Hall of Fame by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of the Leadership Las Vegas program sponsored by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Las Vegas chapter of the American Marketing Association. Neighbors is the founder and driving force behind DJs for PJs®, a charity that has collected more than 100,000 new pairs of pajamas for children at local charities, and is active throughout our community. She also serves on the Advisory Board of Lee Business School at UNLV. She and her husband, Sonny, are the devoted parents of two adult daughters, Hayley and Emily.

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HOLLY SILVESTRI Partner/co-owner with The Ferraro Group

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public relations firm impress communications for more than seven years prior to merging her firm with The Ferraro Group in 2008. Before entering the public relations field, Ms. Silvestri served as a newspaper reporter in San Diego for six years. While a reporter for the North County Times, the secondlargest daily newspaper in San Diego County, she earned two prestigious reporting awards from the California Newspaper and Publisher's Association and the Society of Professional Journalists.

As a partner/co-owner with The Ferraro Group, Holly L. Silvestri's responsibilities at the firm include overseeing strategic public relations initiatives, client relations, developing public relations plans, media relations, social media coordination, community relations/charitable outreach, business development, and overseeing the operations of the Las Vegas office and its staff. Ms. Silvestri owned and operated the

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Ms. Silvestri was recognized in late 2011 as the “PR Practitioner of the Year” at the Pinnacle Awards event held by the Public Relations Society of America – Las Vegas chapter. She also was named in March 2009 as one of the top “10 Rising Stars of Business in Southern Nevada” by the Las Vegas Business Press and was named a “Top 40 Under 40” business executive by Greenspun Media's In Business in 2007. In early 2008, she was a finalist in the Communications categor y for the National Association of Women B u s i n e s s O w n e r s “ Wo m e n o f Distinction” Awards Program.

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Her firm earned a Pinnacle Award for Marketing Communications for its successful launch of Dunkin' Donuts in the Southern Nevada market and a Pinnacle Award of Merit for its launch of the orthodontic clinic at the University of Southern Nevada. In addition, the firm received several Pinnacle Awards for its Nevada State Census PR work, a UNLV Now press conference, and a grand opening/media tour with the Nevada Governor for a local technology center. Ms. Silvestri is a board member of Southern Hills Hospital, a volunteer on Nathan Adelson Hospice event committees, and is on the Steering Committee for the Vegas Chamber's Executive Women's Council. She also cochairs the Business Excellence Awards committee for the Vegas Chamber. Also, s h e h a s a d o p t e d t h e a t - r i s k J. T. McWilliams Elementary School and helps with school supplies, the monthly garden maintenance fees, and other materials for its students and teachers. Ms. Silvestri earned a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from San Diego State University.

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W O M E N IN N E VA DA roads across America. Within her empire, she also has businesses in California, Missouri, and Nevada.

Sinni Singh is a female force to be reckoned with, especially in the world of construction which is full of men at the helm. Sinni is the owner and CEO of Flintrock Products, a multimillion-dollar organization in Oklahoma, whose materials can be found in bridges and

Sinni was born in India and arrived in America in 1985. She has studied for a master of Spiritual Psychology degree from the University of Santa Monica, obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Kurukshetra University, completed a Reiki Master's degree from Omega Institute, and a degree in textile design from Delhi Polytechnic Institute. She also earned a degree in dental hygiene. A woman of many talents, guided by God with a deep desire to empower women, Sinni has built an all-female executive team to manage her businesses. With the many resources available to Sinni, she has worked with young people

SINNI SINGH Owner and CEO of Flintrock Products at a homeless youth shelter in Las Vegas, providing meals, giving out scholarships to children, teaching mediation, and offering healings as acts of selfless service. Sinni has great plans for her life. The Home 4 Divine Healing Center keeps her busy with clients who receive her services for free. The client must sign a pledge to pay-it-forward in services or kind. Many clients are attorneys and physicians who have come to the center in Las Vegas. As Sinni grows in her daily life, she brings joy and blessings to all her employees in Las Vegas and Oklahoma. She will continue to grow by taking master course classes in spirituality, all the while being a strong businesswoman and leader in the world of men.

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DEBBI SOMERS CEO and Founder of Somers Furniture

Debbi Somers, CEO, and Founder of Somers Fur niture, attributes her entrepreneurial spirit to her father who

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put her to work at a young age helping with the family business. When she landed her first job selling water softeners, she not only studied the industry in-depth but went out with installers to get handson knowledge. Years later she moved to Las Vegas as a single mother with a sixyear-old daughter, taking a job at a local furniture store where she ended up in the company's convention furniture rental division. She applied her zeal for knowledge, which led her to start a similar business of her own. Debbi opened Somers Convention Furniture Rental in 1989 to serve the billion-dollar Las Vegas hospitality industry, including hotels, nightclubs, tradeshows, restaurants, and pool lounges. She started in a 10,000-squarefoot facility, and today her company occupies 57,000 feet just west of the Strip,

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complete with its own fleet of semitrucks. This enables Somers Furniture to manufacture luxur y fur niture for homeowners and businesses, as well as serve rental clients both locally and nationwide. Today Debbi's business has grown to multimillion-dollar-a-year status and she has developed many innovations and landed some of the most prestigious contracts in the field. Debbi has won dozens of awards, has been written about in multiple publications, and gives back to the community by supporting Goodie Two Shoes Foundation, Nathan Adelson H o s p i c e , A FA N , T h e C e n t e r Honorarium, Cronin's Disease Marathon, Walk for MS, and ALS Walk.

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W O M E N IN N E VA DA She was born and raised in New York City and received her B.A. from Hunter College. Judi began her education career as a fifth-grade teacher at P.S. 171 in East Harlem. She taught elementary and middle school in Providence, Rhode Island, where she began her graduate studies at Brown University. She completed her M.A. in secondary and adult education at UNLV.

Judi, who has championed public education and the arts, is a respected thought leader guided by an entrepreneurial spirit and the courage to challenge conventional wisdom. She was active in the civil rights movement and is a champion of equal rights and human justice. She has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of teaching and learning for all public school children.

Her career with CCSD included c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r, I n t e g r a t i o n Consultant, Teacher Corps Team Leader, A c a d e m i c a l ly Ta l e n t e d P r o g r a m Coordinator, and Director of Special Education. In 1987, she took a leave of absence to assist with political campaigns and established Steele & Associates, a management consulting firm. In 1991, she returned to CCSD and co-founded the Clark County Public Education Foundation.

JUDI STEELE Co-founder & CEO The Public Education Foundation Since its inception, the Foundation, working collaboratively with CCSD, has been a leader in creating and sponsoring innovative, results-driven initiatives to i m p r ove s t u d e n t p e r f o r m a n c e, demonstrate accountability and support educational excellence. Judi has received numerous honors and awards for her lifelong service to children, education, and the community. Judi has served on numerous boards of directors, advisory boards and was the Founder and President of the Arts Council of Henderson and “Nevada Shakespeare in the Park.” In 2006, the CCSD Board of School Trustees honored her, as she became the namesake of the Judith D. Steele Elementary School. Judi has a daughter, Elyse, a son, Arthur, and two granddaughters, Taylor and Haley.

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15 SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS All women entrepreneurs should apply for Lenders provide liquidity to female entrepreneurs with business grants In the rapidly changing modern economy, entrepreneurs need access to fresh capital for new products, research goals and fluctuating inventories. While large companies that have fared well on the open market for several years can rely solely on profits to reinvest, every new firm needs to set up the basics like a tax id, business insurance, etc. But to grow, they need loans to survive rough business quarters. T h i s i s e s p e c i a l ly t r u e f o r s m a l l businesses. While it can be difficult for startup companies to become profitable, small businesses led by women are at a disadvantage. Data from the loan market suggests that female entrepreneurs are 5% less likely to receive conventional business

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loans. This trend also pertains to women who apply for the government-supported loans of the Small Business Administration

but the lower loan amounts for women clearly show that bias is a critical factor.

Women entrepreneurs are starting businesses at a faster rate than ever before

Fo r t u n a t e ly, s eve r a l l e n d e r s a n d corporations have acknowledged female entrepreneurs' disadvantages. They have attempted to reduce gender inequality and build the economy with these 15 small business grants for women.

On average, women who manage to secure a loan also receive smaller sums than male borrowers. This means that businesses with female owners struggle to obtain credit, which is a necessary part of being competitive in any market. Economists, sociologists, and market analysts have examined many factors to learn why women entrepreneurs struggle to obtain credit. Some researchers believe that women may be more averse to financial risks than men, and others state that women simply apply for fewer loans. These are important topics to consider,

The Eileen-Fisher Women-Owned Business Grant Female entrepreneurs who are in need of capital to expand a business can apply for the Eileen-Fisher Women-Owned Business Grant. Eileen-Fisher awards five women with grants up to $120,000. To be considered for this grant, yours must be a woman-owned company that promotes social and environmental change. Your business must have existed for at least three years, and you cannot have earned more than $1 million in annual profits.

Girlboss Foundation You may have heard of Sophia Amoruso from the successful Netflix series, "Girlboss." Or you may be familiar with her retail company, Nasty Gal. But what you may not know is that Amoruso has been providing grants to women in the arts since 2014. If you are an entrepreneur in music, fashion, design, or another area within the art field, you could be eligible for the Girlboss Foundation Grant. Amber Grants Amber Grants are suitable for female entrepreneurs who are planning to launch small, local businesses. Each month, one female-owned business is selected for a $10,000 grant. At the end of the year, one of the monthly winners is selected for a $25,000 grant. To apply for an Amber Grant, you simply need to explain the purpose of your business. Small Business Technology Transfer Program Your company may also be able to obtain funds from the Small Business Technology Transfer Program for research and development needs. To obtain a research grant from the federal government, your company must have fewer than 500 employees. You can earn up to $75,000 during the startup phase, and you can receive an additional $750,000 if your research yields positive results. Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) V-WISE offers two low-cost entrepreneur training programs to women veterans or women who are spouses of veterans. It is sponsored by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. While not a grant program, VWISE offers valuable skill-building courses to help women start and grow businesses. The V-WISE program is a 15day online course that costs $75, and the V- W I S E I G N I T E p r o g r a m i s a n accelerated course that lasts one day and

costs only $25. Both V-WISE and VWISE IGNITE offers agendas full of networking opportunities, training with expert instructors, mentorship and more. .

grow their business. Read more about this g rant oppor tunity and eligibility r e q u i r e m e n t s o n t h e To r y B u r c h Foundation website.

Small Business Innovation Research If you have a cutting-edge idea that you believe will satisfy the needs of the market, apply for a Small Business Innovation Research g rant. Your company can earn a $150,000 grant to establish research and development goals. If the goals are proven to be feasible, you can receive up to $1 million in a two-year window.

GrantsforWomen.org If you're looking for funding o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r yo u r b u s i n e s s, GrantsForWomen.org is a good place to start. The website is a database of grants specifically for women. They also have lots of information about the different types of grants available, such as private, corporate, federal, etc. Not all grants are specifically for business owners, but they offer funding options in a wide range of industries.

Ms. Foundation for Women The Ms. Foundation offers several different awards to women who own businesses that further the advancement of women and girls. In the past, recipients of the award have had businesses that work to prevent domestic violence, advocate for re productive health, promote access to affordable childcare, and more. In addition to funding, the foundation provides grantees with m e n t o r s h i p s u p p o r t , n e t wo r k i n g opportunities, and trainings. Learn how you can apply on the foundation's website. Cartier Women's Initiative Award Each year, Cartier awards 21 female entrepreneurs with the Cartier Women's Initiative Award. Winners receive oneon-one exper t coaching, business workshops, media coverage for the entrepreneur and their business, and prizes ranging from $30,000 to $100,000. To learn more about how you can apply for this grant, visit the Cartier Women's Initiative website. Open Meadows Foundation Grant The Open Meadows Foundation awards grants to women on a biannual basis. To qualify for this grant, your company must promote racial, gender or economic equality in some way. Your company's operational budget cannot exceed $75,000. If your company is selected by the panel, you can earn a $2,000 grant. Tory Burch Foundation The Tory Burch Foundation offers a way for women to access funding for their business through the Tor y Burch Foundation Capital Program. The program helps women entrepreneurs match with community lenders who provide affordable loans to help them

37 Angels 37 Angels is an organization made up of female angel investors that invest in women-owned small businesses. The organization recognizes the disadvantages that female entrepreneurs face in the loan market and seeks to close that gap. To help women keep their companies afloat, 37 Angels offers grants as large as $150,000. Bell Capital Belle Capital is an investment firm focused on companies led by women. Their mission is to help mitigate the unfair gap in funding that women receive compared to men. Although women c o n t i nu e t o p r ove t h e m s e l ve s a s successful entrepreneurs; their businesses even proving to do better than that of their male counterparts' in some cases, they still receive less funding than men. To learn more about Bell Capital's investment criteria, visit their website.

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WHEN

women support

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FedEx Small Business Grant FedEx has demonstrated through its previous grant competitions that it is fair with its distribution of funds to women and men. To determine the winner, FedEx allows the public to vote for their favorite company in the competition. The winners with the most votes receive a $75,000 grant, and they receive free exposure through FedEx's media outlets.

OTHER

WOMEN, incredible things happen WomensChamberofNevada.org | 23

UPCOMING CERTIFICATION

CHANGES FOR WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES BY SCORE If you're a woman small business owner who wants to do business with corporate or government clients, you know there's a lot of competition. But you can get an edge by getting your company certified as a woman-owned business.

Certification makes your business more visible to potential clients, increases your networking opportunities and can expose you to new possibilities. Whether you've never thought about getting certified, have considered it, or are already certified you should know the Small Business Administration (SBA) has proposed to amend its certification process. New regulations are expected to be published this summer.

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Here's what you need to know. There are two types of woman-owned business certifications. The Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) certification is for businesses wanting to do business with the private sector, nonprofits, state governments or local governments. For those wanting to work with the federal government, your goal is certification from Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) or Economically Disadvantaged Wo m e n - O w n e d S m a l l B u s i n e s s (EDWOSB).

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efficiency, and ease of administrative burden, applicants would apply online through an electronic application process. Allow participation from an expanded list of federal and state entities with existing certification programs and confirm the continued participation of approved third-party certifiers. Require approved third-party certifiers to notify applicants of their fees and the option to use SBA's free online certification process. Eliminate the self-certification option for SBA 8(m) program participants. Adopt a $750,000 net worth standard when assessing economic disadvantage for eligibility for both the 8(m) EDWOSB Program and the 8(a) Business Development Program.

the SBA or approved third-party at a date dependent on the last time your business was examined by the SBA.

What can certification do for you? Being certified as a woman-owned business doesn't guarantee anything, but it can help you gain an advantage with potential clients. • Federal government agencies are • required by law to meet goals for giving a certain percentage of their contracts to WOSBs or EDWOSBs. In industries where women have historically been • underrepresented, some federal agencies even set aside a certain • percentage of their contracts for To b e e l i g i b l e f o r t h e wo m e n ' s WOSBs or EDWOSBs. contracting program, your business • State and local governments, nonprofit must: and private sector businesses may have • Be a small business similar quotas to meet. In these • Be at least 51% owned and controlled situations, being certified can help Perhaps the biggest change to affect by women who are U.S. citizens • Have women manage day-to-day operations and also make long-term decisions To q u a l i f y a s a n e c o n o m i c a l l y disadvantaged business within the women's contracting program, your business must: • Meet all the requirements of the women's contracting program • Be owned and controlled by one or more women, each with a personal net worth less than $750,000 • Be owned and controlled by one or more women, each with $350,000 or less in adjusted gross income averaged over the previous three years • Be owned and controlled by one or more women, each with $6 million or less in personal assets The eligibility requirements to qualify as a WOSB or an EDWOSB are fully defined in Title 13 Part 127 Subpart B of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). You can also get a preliminary assessment of whether you qualify at the SBA's Certify website. According to SBA, the new requirements currently are scheduled to be published on June 30, 2020, and take effect 30 days later.

your small business get in the door to participation is the elimination of selfcompete with larger companies for certification. Businesses will need to contracts. certify through an approved third-party entity or go through the SBA's free online • Certification organizations may also offer member benefits such as certification at certify.sba.gov. educational programs, conferences, networking events and matchmaking Already certified? Here's what to know opportunities. If you're already certified through a thirdparty or the SBA, you'll need to get recertified: "Third-party certified firms must Do you already work with corporate or re-certify three years after the date of their government clients? most recent re-certification as a third- Certification as a woman-owned business could open up even more opportunities party certified firm.” with those companies. For self-certified WOSBs or EDWOSBs with active WOSB or EDWOSB set-aside You can stay updated on the upcoming contracts, your business is still certified cer tification changes on the SBA throughout the life of the contract. If the contracting website or check with a contract is more than five years, however, SCORE mentor. the business must get re-certified by SBA or an approved third-party certifier before the end of the fifth year of the contract.

Per the Office of Advocacy, the proposed rule would: • Provide that SBA will establish a free electronic application process for all firms seeking to be certified as WOSBs If your business is self-certified and has no or EDWOSBs. In the pursuit of speed, active contracts, you must re-certify with

WomensChamberofNevada.org | 25

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS INCREASE IN 2021 Approximately 70 million Americans will see a 1.3 percent increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2021. Federal benefit rates increase when the cost-of-living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor's Consumer Price Index (CPI-W).

retirement, survivors and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients, and representative payees. If your clients want to know their new benefit amount before they receive their COLA notice, they can securely obtain their COLA notice online using the Message Center in my Social Security.

The CPI-W rises when inflation increases, leading to a higher cost-ofliving. This change means prices for goods and services, on average, are a little more expensive, so the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) helps to offset these costs.

Your clients who already have a my Social Security account can opt out of receiving a mailed COLA notice and other paper notices. They can also receive alerts by text or email when there is a notice in the Message Center by updating their notification preferences.

We have been mailing COLA notices throughout the month of December to

Other changes based on the increase in the national average wage index also

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begin in January 2021. For example, the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll tax in 2021 will be higher. The retirement earnings test exempt amount will also change in 2021. Your clients can read our COLA fact sheet at: www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/co lafacts2021.pdf. Please encourage your clients to sign up for or log in to their personal my Social Security account at: www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Your clients can find more information about the 2021 COLA at: www.ssa.gov/cola.

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