The opening night of the Upstate Minority Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) Conference is a celebration of MWBE companies and our significant contributions to the New York State economy.

Upstate regions nominate companies for recognition and awards. There are also region-wide awards for MWBE companies  demonstrating exemplary success in the Upstate New York Region.

I am humbled and honored to announce that Gwen, Inc. is the inaugural recipient of the “Meritorious Impact and Legacy Award” presented by the MWBE Conference Committee and the MWBE Office of Mayor Malik Evans, Rochester New York.

I was nominated by the Central New York and Southern Tier MWBE Committees to be the FIRST recipient of this region-wide award.

Thanks to Me’Shae Brooks-Rolling, Event Prep & Founder Rolling Enterprises, and Gladys Brangman, Founder/CEO of Business Leaders of Color who respectively Chair these regional committees, for nominating Gwen, Inc. to the conference committee for consideration.

Receiving the “Meritorious MWBE Impact and Legacy Award” means the world to me. MWBE certification levels the playing for companies historically excluded from access to government contracts.

MWBE companies and the programs creating equitable access for our companies are under attack. New York stands strong in its commitment to MWBEs. Many states are summarily dismantling these programs.

Gwen, Inc. has been a dually New York State Certified Minority and Women Business Enterprise since 2014. My company is also certified by the City of Rochester.

These certifications position my company to do business with government agencies and businesses receiving state or City of Rochester funds. My certifications give  me access to contracts with school districts, City, and County agencies, Federal agencies with NYS offices.

 Full Disclosure…

I pursued MWBE certification “in and on purpose.” Obtaining these certifications is a definite value add for my business. Being certified also empowers me to advocate against laws, policies, practices, hindering equitable contracting opportunities for minority and women owned businesses.

I intentionally mentor aspiring minority and women entrepreneurs. I want them to know their companies are important and will benefit from certification. The eye is the limit. I hope seeing how certification helped me build a legacy impact company, gives them courage to go through the rigorous MWBE certification process.

I am not alone in being honored as an outstanding Upstate MWBE. My equally successful colleagues received the following regional awards.

I am emotional about receiving this award at this historic moment for MWBE companies in America.

Gwen, Inc. is significantly impacted by the current political environment. Gwen, Inc. is thriving. This is not the case for many of my colleagues. A number of MWBEs may be out of business in the near future.

The impact of anti-DEI executive orders, policies, and practices is reactivating the tradition of historically excluding MWBEs from equitable access to government contracting opportunities.

If there has ever been a time for MWBE businesses to put a stake in the ground on behalf of our companies, that time is now. We must REFUSE to let politics put us out of business. We can’t stand for this. POINT. BLANK. PERIOD. AND STILL WE RISE!

Thanks again to the Upstate MWBE Conference and the City of Rochester MWBE Office for recognizing my 40 year impact and legacy as a Black woman President/CEO and certified MWBE company. I promise to keep making you proud.

I am committed to continue building a legacy that makes a positive impact by paving the way for new generations of MWBE companies

We are in this together.

We need each other to thrive.

Visit https://esd.ny.gov to learn how to apply for NYS MWBE certification.