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This class will focus on the most common misconceptions regarding government contracting, diversity business certifications (DBE), and business grants. The guest speakers will assist businesses in how to better understand how these processes work, and what qualifications a business must have in order to engage in these processes. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions to the presenters. Note: This class will be held via Zoom
About your speakers: Richard Van Norman is the Diversity Team Lead in the Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise. The Office is the central point of contact in the state of Tennessee for diverse businesses – minorities, women, service-disabled veterans, persons with disabilities, and small business firms desiring to compete in state procurement contracting of goods and services. He has been with the office since its inception in 2004 and is responsible for diversity liaisons, professional services contracting, and the tracking and monitoring of diversity participation in State procurement. Wisty Pender Director of Business Enterprise Resource Office (BERO), Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Ms. Pender has spent 16 years with BERO, advocating for disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) throughout Tennessee, including women-owned, minority-owned, and veteran-owned businesses. She has spearheaded grants supporting struggling small businesses, entrepreneurs, and DBEs throughout her state; she’s developed tools for the creation of custom content, funding resources, mobile services, and placemaking funding. Rafael Borjas is a Diversity Business Liaison in the Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise (Go-DBE). Rafael has been with Go-DBE since November of 2019. Within Go-DBE he specializes in assisting businesses seeking diversity business certification (DBE certification) and creating outreach to promote the State of Tennessee’s diversity business program.
Speaker(s): Richard Van Norman, Diversity Team Lead, Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise (Go-DBE) Rafael Borjas, Diversity Business Liaison, Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise (Go-DBE) Wisty Pender, Director of the Business Enterprise Resource Office (BERO) program for Tennessee Economic and Community Development
Fee: No Cost