VIVA NOLA FEB-MARCH 2022

WBEC South Goes Beyond Certification to
Support Women Entrepreneurs
A
New Orleans organization
known for providing
national certification of
women-owned businesses for
more than 25 years has expanded
its programming to serve the
changing needs of women
entrepreneurs. For example, The
Women’s Business Enterprise
Council South (WBEC South)
launched several new programs to
help women scale their businesses
and gain access to corporate
buyers.
Enterprising Women of Color,
powered by the Minority Business
Development Agency, is a new
program offered by WBEC
By Julie Lilliston
South that is open to all womenowned
companies of color,
from startups to longstanding
successful businesses. The
customized programs include
business coaching, procurement
opportunities, technical assistance,
leading-edge training, networking,
matchmaking opportunities, and
access to capital assistance.
In January, Enterprising Women
of Color hosted a “Doing Business
with Salesforce” Supplier Impact
event at the WB Collective, a
co-working and event space in
New Orleans owned and operated
by WBEC South. More than 20
business owners participated in a
hybrid matchmaker event designed
to connect small companies with
opportunities at Salesforce, the
world’s #1 customer relationship
management platform.
“The WB Collectives in New Orleans and Nashville
are for women executives and CEOs to gain access
to resources they need to thrive.”
- Phala K. Mire.President and CEO, WBEC South
“We are excited to start 2022 by
hosting an impactful engagement
event with corporate partners
such as Salesforce,” shared
Tiffany Carter, executive director,
Enterprising Women of Color.
“Intentional efforts such as the
Salesforce Supplier Matchmaker
illustrates the power of program
partnerships, and we look forward
to connecting participants
with corporate opportunities
throughout the year.”
Another new program launched
in August 2021 is the Women’s
Business Center South in Memphis,
funded by the U.S. Small Business
Administration. Open to all
women-owned businesses across
the five-state region of Tennessee,
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
and the Florida Panhandle, WBC
South provides coaching, tools,
and resources for women business
owners to sustain and grow their
enterprises. Ongoing education
sessions include managing
cash flow to technology and
eCommerce, business accounting,
tax planning, marketing, and sales.
After the center’s launch, WBC
South Executive Director, Vonesha
18 ~ VIVA NOLA February / March 2022