On Sunday, March 8, Mary Grace Musuneggi joined other “Inspiring Women Authors” for a celebration of Women’s History Month.
The event included reading of excerpts from A Man is Not a Plan as well as questions from women in attendance.
The event was sponsored by Passages & Prose and held at the Barnes & Noble at Settlers Ridge.
Get your own copy of A Man is Not a Plan here and learn how to make your own history happen!
This article was supplied by Danielle Dietrich, Esq. of Tucker Arensberg. Danielle is the April, 2020 Singles Steps Strategies Spotlight.
Many people have heard of diversity certifications for their business, but most haven’t explored the option. Now is a great time to work on an application for certification if your business is a candidate: 51% owned and controlled by one or more women or minorities. Certifications as a WBE and/or MBE generally do not have size requirements. However, in order to qualify as a DBE (through the government), your business must be below the threshold set by the Small Business Administration rules for your industry. For DBE certification, the owner may have a maximum personal net worth of less than $1.32 million (certain assets, such as ownership in your business and your residence are excluded).
Not only can a certification help your business in the long run, but the documentation required is much of the same information that your business may be pulling together for loans and other relief due to the COVID-19 crisis.
State and federal agencies, as well as corporations, often have diversity spend requirements or goals.
Many state and federal contracts have requirements that a certain amount of the contract spend must be with diverse suppliers. It is not enough to be a diverse supplier- you will need to show that you are certified. Having a certification can give you access to those opportunities that you would not have without your certification.
Even if your business does not do government work, many corporations now have similar goals and/or requirements for diversity spends. There are also additional opportunities for diverse businesses to network with these corporations and learn about opportunities for work. There are incredible networking opportunities, both formal and informal, with other diversely owned businesses. For example, I am part of a local group of women-owned businesses that gets together monthly for lunch or breakfast. The amount of connections made through this informal group is tremendous. It is rare to leave that meeting without a connection having been made to help your business.
The process involves gathering a lot of information about your business and your finances (both personal and business) and filling out a detailed application. Some business owner are intimidated by this process- perhaps your business records aren’t in the best shape. However, I suggest that you view this as an opportunity to get this part of your business “cleaned up” – your business will be the better for it.
After the application is submitted, it will be reviewed by one of the certifying agencies. They may ask for additional documentation or clarification on certain issues. Next, the agency will schedule a site visit. They will visit you at your place of business (or your home, if you do not have a separate office) to interview the owner(s). During this visit, they are looking to make sure that the purported woman or minority owner is really the one controlling and operating the business. Please note that during the COVID-19 crisis, I have heard of some of these site visits taking place via video conference.
After the site visit is completed, the certifying agency will issue a decision. If you are approved, congratulations! If you are denied, you may have the opportunity to file a formal appeal. I strongly suggest that you do not appeal without legal assistance.
I have helped many clients through all levels of the certification process- as much or as little as needed. Some clients want me involved throughout the entire process- helping them gather and organize documents, drafting the application, etc. Other clients put together their entire application, and have me do a final review to spot potential issues prior to submission. Some clients only call me once there is an issue- requests for more information, or to appeal denials.
The best time to involve me in the process is prior to submitting your application. Through my experience with the different certifying agencies and knowledge of the factors they consider, I can spot potential issues and trouble spots prior to submission. For example – I often see language in Operating Agreements in multimember LLCs that requires “supermajority” votes for certain actions. These can potentially tank your application! By having me review the application, I can help you correct any issues prior to submission, saving you time and money. Once you submit the application, you cannot go back and change the information that you submitted. If you are denied, you cannot apply again for another year.
– Danielle Dietrich, Esq., Tucker Arensberg
As a thank you to Single Steps Strategies for including me in this feature, I am pleased to offer readers a complimentary 15-minute consultation regarding whether any of these certifications are right for your business- please email me to schedule (all consultations subject to a conflicts check). – Danielle
Although Take Your Child to Work Day is officially April 23rd this year, the current world situation will see that passed over. But in the spirit of the event, we recognize that for many parents right now, their children are experiencing their workday in their own homes as we shelter in place. So, you may want to consider a parent/child work activity for that day.
In any case, for those of us who own small businesses, it is likely that your children have been part of your work world from an early age.
I began taking Christopher to my office on weekends when he was about 2 years old and I was doing my job, and all the administrative jobs for my business. I couldn’t afford staff, and so weekends were days for catch up on filing, organizing, planning and paperwork.
Christopher actually learned the alphabet by watching me sort and file. He learned some adult expression, such as “besides the fact,” “in addition to”, and “I will be back in touch”, by listening to me on business calls; and somehow knew exactly when to use these.
But as involved as he became in my world as he was growing up, I never anticipated that someday he would join me in my business. It has been an interesting and rewarding experience for us both.
Years after he and Christine married, she joined our group also.
Our family business has been a joy.
But a family business is not for everyone; as many family business owners can attest. When we hire staff, we tell them that the best thing about working here is that we are family. So, we celebrate birthdays, holidays; we buy donuts and pizza; we understand family obligations.
The worst thing about working here is that we are family. Sometimes the obligations, commitments, concerns and disruptions in our family, enter the day to day work life of the business.
So, we have learned that a family business sometimes needs to have even better systems, job descriptions, rules and regulation than other business models, so that everyone is working towards the same goals. Everyone has the same focus.
We have learned to often use the expression “it’s business, not personal.”
We have learned to step away from the business sometimes, too, so that we continue to share family moments, so that the business does not absorb every aspect of our lives.
And we have learned that in times in our world where we are experience life changing events, that we are both a family and a business that is affected.
So, to all the small business owners out there, especially those family owned businesses, we are keenly aware how the current events are creating stresses that you may have never imagined for your business.
To all of you, your families and your employees, we wish you health, safety, and hope. Hope as we believe this too shall pass. Hope that you will come out stronger and more prosperous when it does.
– Mary Grace Musuneggi