BALTIMORE, MD – On Wednesday, January 14th, the Mayor's Office of Small and Minority Business Advocacy and Development (SMBA&D) held a townhall fireside chat for WBEs at the Vollmer Center at Cylburn Arboretum from 5p to 7:30p. This was the first SMBA&D outreach event of the year. The main panelists were Vanessa Freund (Deputy Director of SMBA&D), Ginny Lawhorn (Main Street Advocacy Officer for Baltimore Main Streets and SMBA&D), and Andrea England (Small Business Development Coordinator for Baltimore Main Streets and SMBA&D).
"The WBE townhall was a fabulous event that gave participants an opportunity to ask questions related to business growth, WBE certification, Main Streets, and resources offered by SMBAD," said Freund. "The partners at the event offered additional support in connecting folks with resources and the event allowed for connections to be made between participants, SMBAD, and additional partners."
One of those partners was the Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC), where Regional Director Jennifer Funn came to represent and provide additional resources. "So many people start small businesses and they have a wonderful idea, but they have no idea what to do and what the opportunities are," said Funn. "This event tonight provided the opportunities for people to become certified women-owned businesses. Also, the services that are available and the real estate that’s available through the main streets program. It’s a way for people to get in the door and it’s a way for them to expand their business."
One of the ways entrepreneurs in Baltimore City and its market area can expand their business is through M/WBE certification. Dottie Li (Founder and CEO of Transpacific Communications) praised SMBA&D for a smooth and quick certification process:
"We were able to tell people what a tremendous agency [SMBA&D] has been because we are the true [beneficiaries] from the fastest certification process. We want to encourage other entrepreneurs to go through this certification process so they can do business with the great City of Baltimore." said Li.
We applied for this certification process within the city and literally within days we received the certification which is mind-blowing. Nobody - not the federal government, not any other businesses, does this process this fast, this quick."
Over 300 individuals registered for the event and 114 attendees showed up. Those that came got a hands-on opportunity to network and also talk with the speakers. In addition to Vanessa, Ginny Lawhorn, and Andrea England also shared their thoughts on the event.
"The SMBA&D WBE Fireside Chat was a wonderful evening of conversation, connection, and community," said Lawhorn. “It is important for business operators from every phase, concept to established success, to share their experience and expertise in supportive spaces such as this. I appreciate the interest and engagement of the talented planners, my fellow panelists, and especially the attendees."
"The event was wonderful. We had a strong turnout of WBEs, and the room was packed with entrepreneurs who are passionate about building community and growing their businesses," said England. "Their energy and commitment were truly inspiring. I’m grateful for the opportunity to support and uplift them."
One of the attendees who felt uplifted from the townhall was Monica Smith (business consultant). "It was a packed house full of women ready to take initiative and launch their businesses or grow their business. The panel was phenomenal in terms of getting information - specifically about access to capital and certifications," said Smith. "I think that’s a big challenge for women who want to get started in getting government contracts and just getting organized. So they really opened the door in getting access to that information."
Another WBE attendee realized the growth that's happening in Baltimore and came to her own realization about her entrepreneurial journey and growth.
"This townhall fireside chat event was phenomenal. It really reiterated the fact that we have all the tools," said Jaelin Porter, a real estate agent and yoga instructor. "For those of us that are from Baltimore, from this place, see this place thriving and exploding and want to be a part of it - everything we need is already here and I would say this fireside chat just reemphasized that the tools are here."
If you would like to know more about our upcoming events, sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Instagram at @bmoresmbad. For more information on starting the M/WBE certification process, visit https://www.baltimorecity.gov/smbad/m/wbe-certification-process