City of Indianapolis - Office of Minority & Women Business Development

On Wednesday, October 30th, the Office of Minority and Women Business Development Director, David Fredricks recognized Veteran Strategies, a veteran-owned business and certified VBE, as the Vendor of the Month for November 2024. OMWBD staff and representatives from WISH-TV attended the award ceremony and celebrated the founder and CEO of Veteran Strategies, Robert Vane, along with Jenny Dexter, their Chief Strategy Officer, for the firm's commitment to community service and for their business excellence in the public relations realm. Throughout the month of November, OMWBD will be shining a spotlight on Veteran Strategies, Inc. and their contributions to the Indianapolis community at large.

Our November 2024 XBE Directory is here! 🍁 Explore hundreds of certified XBEs in the greater Indianapolis area by scanning this QR code, or through accessing the LinkTree in our bio and our OMWBD website.

Congratulations to Veteran Strategies, Inc. on being awarded as our November Vendor of the Month! Veteran Strategies is a public relations firm with expertise in public outreach, brand development and marketing, media relations, (speech)writing, and crisis communications. Founder Robert Vane is a veteran of the United States Army who is a powerful advocate for our Hoosier veteran community, and we wish to honor his service in both the armed forces and across the greater Indianapolis area with VSI. If you are a community leader, business owner, or otherwise engaged with the public at large, be sure to reach out to Veteran Strategies for all of your public relations needs! Visit https://lnkd.in/g7MfqmyJ for more information on how Veteran Strategies, Inc. can help you and your organization succeed! Stay tuned throughout the month of November as we highlight Veteran Strategies, Inc. and their positive impact on the city of Indianapolis and beyond!

Next month, OMWBD will be joining the Tax and Wealth Hub and InerG Impact in Anderson, IN for a Business Certification Workshop. If you are interested in attending, please scan the pictured QR code or follow this link for more information on how to RSVP: https://lnkd.in/gv8v8G9t. We hope to see you there!

The Office of Minority and Women Business Development is thrilled to announce the return of our Annual Year End Forum! The theme of our 17th Annual OMWBD Year End Forum will be "Beyond Supplier Diversity", as we look into creating an equitable environment where diverse businesses can thrive in Indianapolis. Registration will open MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH. Stay tuned to our social media for the link to register as this date draws closer and more details regarding the event.

Yesterday afternoon, contractors, developers, and diversity consultants from across Indianapolis gathered at the Indianapolis Public Library's Michigan Road Branch to dive into the requirements, expectations, and examples of good faith effort. This workshop was focused on providing information and training to those who are responsible for ensuring that good faith effort was used to obtain (M/W/V/D)BE participation in their projects. Attendees were able to ask questions and share examples from their personal work experience to bring back to their respective enterprises. More information about good faith effort can be found on our website, found here: https://lnkd.in/gJ9z_sN8.

Yesterday afternoon, contractors, developers, and diversity consultants from across Indianapolis gathered at the Indianapolis Public Library's Michigan Road Branch to dive into the requirements, expectations, and examples of good faith effort. This workshop was focused on providing information and training to those who are responsible for ensuring that good faith effort was used to obtain (M/W/V/D)BE participation in their projects. Attendees were able to ask questions and share examples from their personal work experience to bring back to their respective enterprises. More information about good faith effort can be found on our website, found here: https://lnkd.in/gJ9z_sN8.

On Monday, October 14th, the Office of Minority and Women Business Development will be closed in observance of Indigenous Peoples Day. We commemorate the centuries-long, rich history of Indigenous peoples while celebrating their culture and contributions. Our office honors the resilience and sovereignty of Indigenous peoples, and strives to learn from, listen to, and amplify their voices. OMWBD will be closed in honor of this holiday, and will re-open on Tuesday, October 15th.

The City of Indianapolis Office of Minority and Women Business Development would like to welcome Grace Julian to our team as our new Communications Coordinator. Julian is a recent graduate of Indiana University Bloomington who entered the local government realm seeking to enhance positive social determinants of health in the greater Indianapolis community. She will be acting as a liaison between OMWBD and the public, seeking to promote our office’s services while also bringing the spotlight to our certified business enterprises. Grace Julian looks forward to the opportunity to engage with and uplift diverse businesses across Indianapolis. She is inspired by OMWBD’s mission to help business-owners work towards sustainable success through certification, education, and networking initiatives. As the daughter of a veteran business owner, she is thrilled to be a part of an organization driven by equity and inclusion to help others overcome systemic obstacles in the entrepreneurial sphere. As Communications Coordinator, Grace Julian will play a vital role in marketing key business growth opportunities to Indianapolis entrepreneurs and promoting our XBEs. She will be leading the Vendor of the Month program, along with maintaining our social and news media presences. Those who are interested in our Vendor of the Month initiatives or public outreach may contact Grace Julian by email at [email protected] or by phone at 317-327-7068 (x77068).

🌟 Vendor of the Month: Black Onyx Management 🌟 Black Onyx Management is a powerhouse that provides top-tier services to businesses, focusing on building societal equity. Black Onyx Management, Inc. has conducted in-depth research for national organizations, reaching over 1,000 Black residents and nearly 250 Black businesses. Their extensive surveys have provided valuable insights, and their training programs have equipped over 1,000 individuals with the skills for inclusive hiring practices and implicit bias training. Partner with Black Onyx Management to elevate your business with their insightful research and effective training programs. Reach out to Black Onyx Management today and see the difference they can make! https://lnkd.in/e47GEYu