Message from Special Secretary Martinez
Partners in Success
Small business owners learn early that it is impossible to
achieve success alone. You need support throughout your entrepreneurial journey and there is no better partner than the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Later this week, the Baltimore District Office will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Maryland Small Business Awards. I want to thank my colleague here in the Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs for serving on the awards committee. Lisa Mitchell Sennaar is a dedicated member of our team and a lifelong advocate for social justice.
I am pleased to offer my sincere congratulations to the 2024 honorees. Among them is my dear friend, Elda Davarie of EMD Sales, Inc., recipient of the Entrepreneurial Success award as well as JJ Adams Fuel Oil Company, winner of the Family-Owned Small Business of the Year, Will Homes Consulting, LLC, winner of the Minority Owned Small Business of the Year, and Dobbs Defense Solutions, LLC, winner of the Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year. They are familiar to our office and are very deserving of this honor.
All 14 of this years honorees have tapped into the many resources offered by the SBA, such as business guides, learning platforms, federal contracting guidance, and local assistance programs. They also offer a variety of loan programs, and when the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in March, the SBA immediately jumped into action by authorizing low-interest, long-term Economic Impact Disaster Loans and opening Business Recovery Centers to help impacted businesses complete the loan package and connect with additional resources. I had the opportunity to visit several of the centers and see their great work first hand.
The SBA's work is vital to Maryland's small business community, and just like the many small businesses they continue to support, was an important part of my personal journey as an entrepreneur. I encourage you to connect with them during the Baltimore District Office's upcoming Resource Day events.
Sincerely,
Maria Martinez
Special Secretary
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SBA Resource Days:
Western Maryland - June 20, 2024
Central Maryland- July 11, 2024
Southern Maryland - August 20, 2024
Northern Maryland - August 22, 2024
How Can We Help?
The Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs has a broad range of responsibilities within the Executive Department. We oversee implementation of Maryland's three socioeconomic procurement programs across 72 participating agencies and departments and work with stakeholders to develop the policies that govern them. We also help small, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses navigate procurement processes, connect them to federal, state, and local resources, and are home base of the newly-formed MBE Ombudsman unit. The 2025 fiscal year will open on July 1st, so we are asking: How is the business community connecting to these programs and where should we focus our efforts?
Please help by taking a 3-question survey. Your input is sincerely appreciated.
Take Our 3-Question Survey
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Prepare Your Small Business
for Summer
Summer is almost here. Are you ready? Chances are your small business is impacted by seasonal trends in one way or another. Is this your peak season, your off season, or something in between? Is this the time to stock up on summer inventory, or should you be planning your long-term goals while business is slow? Either way, you need to prepare for seasonal fluctuations and have a solid understanding of how summer will affect your bottom line. While every small business and industry is different, there are some key items that can help you manage seasonal shifts with confidence. Check out these tips to prepare your small business and capitalize on opportunities as they arise this summer.
7 Tips to Prepare Your Small Business for Summer
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Congratulations Veteran Entrepreneurs!
The Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs co-hosted the 2024 Small Business Military Appreciation Breakfast with Prince George's Community College in celebration of both National Military Appreciation Month and National Small Business Appreciation Month. The keynote address was delivered by Major General Janeen L. Birckhead. Serving as the 31st Adjutant General of the Maryland National Guard, she leads a force of over 6,300 soldiers, airmen and federal and state employees. Congratulations to the outstanding veteran small business owners who were recognized by Governor Wes Moore for their service and entrepreneurial spirit with a Governor's Citations.
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Small Biz Spotlight
Congratulations to our Small Biz Spotlight winner – PACE Consulting. Located in College Park, Maryland. PACE, which stands for Providing Answers in Counseling and Education, was founded in 2007 by Dr. Paula Anderson, LCPC, NCCC. The company has a team of 25 highly skilled professionals who are committed to providing behavioral health clinical and organizational consulting services to schools, universities, corporations, non-profits, and government agencies. Some of their services include organizational development consulting, staff augmentation services, workshops, community-based counseling to adolescents, college students, adults, couples, and families. They also provide schools and organizations with workshops and training on stress management, psychological safety, workplace culture, change management, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Some of PACE's most recent clients include Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Prince George’s County Government, Baltimore County Government, Montgomery County Public Schools, and Maryland Small Business Development Center, just to name a few. Some of their notable recognitions are by prestigious publications like Forbes and Fortune, in their special feature on “Extraordinary Women Doing Extraordinary Things.” (October/November 2023-Baltimore edition), Dr. Anderson was awarded as one of the “25 Influential Women in Business--Making a Difference” in October 2013 by MEA Magazine, and in 2014, PACE received the coveted Top 100 MBE Award, where the company was recognized as one of the top 100 minority businesses in Delaware, Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia. In recent years, PACE Consulting was awarded the 2022 & 2023 Best of College Park Award in Psychotherapy, a testament to their commitment to excellence. Learn more about Pace Consulting online or call 240-582-7513.
Pace Consulting was randomly selected for this Small Biz Spotlight by attending our T.I.P.S. webinar series. Join us later this month for your chance to be featured in an upcoming bulletin.
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Compete with Confidence
If you want to do business with the State of Maryland, our T.I.P.S. Small Business Webinar Series is a must. Our carefully curated "Training and Insights for Procurement Success curriculum delivers an insightful understanding of the state's procurement processes and builds core competencies. Our goal is to help you learn to compete with confidence in the state's contracting arena. Two classes are offered each month and there is never a cost to participate. Just register in advance to receive the participation link.
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eMMA Vendor Training
The State of Maryland is dedicated to facilitating an open and transparent procurement process. To ensure all businesses have the opportunity to participate in the contracting process, the Maryland Procurement Academy (MDPA) and Office of State Procurement (OSP) offer a variety of online resources to help vendors effectively use eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA), Maryland’s online procurement platform. Visit the Vendor Training and Support page to view the schedule of upcoming virtual instructor-led sessions and access the vendor web channel of on-demand video content.
eMMA Vendor Training and Support
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Our team is actively engaged with small business communities across Maryland.
You'll find us at these events in June. We hope to see you there!
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