The Greater Southwest Black Chamber of Commerce presents “The Impact of Women’s Business Enterprise Certification”
The Greater Southwest Black Chamber of Commerce (GSWBCC is focused on empowering and providing the business community with the knowledge needed to become successful long-term entrepreneurs that are certified and capable to compete in the marketplace. On Mar. 18, 2013, Founder of the GSWBCC, Linda Gray, hosted the women’s empowerment luncheon at the Holiday Inn Select in Desoto. The Mistress of Ceremony was Venita Benitez, who is Diversity Program Manager for Prism Electric and Founder of Global Slavery Remembrance Day. The panelists included Carmen Garcia- Outreach Director of DART (Diversity and Economic Opportunity), Annie Partee- DISD, Director of Minority/Women Business Enterprise Department, Anita Steele- WBCS Director of Certification (Women’s Business Council-Southwest), Tawanna Lofton- Business Owner and CEO of TBey & Associates HR Staffing and Consulting, and Lisa Cruz Alonzo- City of Dallas Business Development and Procurement Services.
It was a great turnout for the event that included a diverse crowd. Some of the attendees included Zarin Gracey- Executive General Manger Business Development of Procurement (City ofDallas), Verna Melton- CEO of Verna’s Ventures LLC., Timothy C. Woods- President of Woods Consulting Group and Mike Frosch- Director of Business Development and Procurement (City of Dallas).
Closing remarks were provided by Anita Blackstone- NDG’s VP of Marketing and Jennifer Randall- CEO Absolute Staffing, Inc.
Venita Benitez, Diversity Mngr, Prism Electric & Horace Satisfield – Collin County Black Chamber of Commerce
Catering by Shnisse Nichols, CEO, Divine Designs Event Planning
Shawanna Washington – Realtor, Coldwell Banker & Jennifer Rivers-Randall – Business Manager/CEO, Absolute Resource Solutions, LLC
Tawanna Lofton – President/CEO, TBey & Associates, Zarin Gracey – Executive General Manager/Business Development & Procurement, City of Dallas & Linda Gray – Founder & President, GSWBCC
Linda Gray, Founder & President of GSWBCC
Anita Steele, Carmen Garcia, Lisa Cruz Alonzo, Tawanna Lofton & Annie Holmes-Partee
Mike Frosch, Lisa Cruz Alonzo, Rev. B. L. Smith, Executive Advisory Council, GSWBCC & Richard Carrizales
Richard V. Carrizales – Outreach Coordinator/Business Development & Procurement Services, City of Dallas, Venita Benitez – Diversity Mngr, Prism Electric, Horace Satisfield – Collin County Black Chamber, Tawana Lofton – President/CEO, TBey & Associates, Timothy Woods – President, Woods Consulting Group, Carmen Garcia – Outreach Director of Diversity & Economic Opportunity, DART & Mike Frosch – Director/Business Development & Procurment Services, City of Dallas
Venita Benitez – Prism Electric, Tawana Lofton – President/CEO, TBey & Associates, Anita Steele – Certification Mngr, Women’s Business Council, Southwest, Carmen Garcia – Outreach Director of Diversity & Economic opportunity, DART, Annie Partee – Director of Minority & Women Business Enterprise, DISD, Lisa Cruz Alonzo – Business Development IPL Coordinator III & Linda Gray – GSWBCC Founder & President
Timothy Woods, President of Woods Consulting Group & Venita Benitez, Diversity Mngr /Prism Electric
