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Women Continue to Find Indiana a Great Place to do Business

Diversity is important to economic success.  It means not only elements like gender, race and nationality, but also the different experiences and insights people bring with them.  Women, who are among those who add diversity, are a key component to Indiana’s complete economic comeback. 

Governor Mitch Daniels and Lt. Governor Becky Skillman see the success of our female entrepreneurs as a sign of a thriving economy.  Women all across Indiana are experiencing this success.  Lately, Lt. Gov. Skillman has been traveling to talk about the progress and opportunities women have as entrepreneurs and business owners.  Recent trips to Vincennes and Wabash have brought together women interested in sharing their experiences as females in Indiana’s thriving workforce. 

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and the Indiana Small Business Development Center hosted the “Advancing Hoosier Women in Business” conferences in Vincennes and Wabash.  Speakers representing a wide range of fields, from computer technology to clothing manufacturers to cookie makers, shared their experiences as women in business. The conferences also served as a way for businesswomen to connect, network, and learn from each other. 

In southern Indiana, nearly 150 people gathered at Vincennes University to share stories of success and hear from featured speakers. Keynoting the event was Sally Byrn, vice president of physical and analytical chemistry at Aptuit, Inc. and the co-founder of SSCI (Solid State Chemical Information.) Other speakers included Pam Higginson, co-owner of The Graceful Lady in Haubstadt, and Christine Ernst, president of Miller Construction Company in Vincennes.  Also on hand were representatives of the Small Business Administration and the Indiana Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises to discuss the resources available to women in business.

In Wabash, women gathered at the Honeywell Center Rink to share their time and stories.  They heard from such entrepreneurs as Christina Sapusek, president and owner of Visionary Web Design, and Brenda Coffman, owner of Blondie’s Cookies. Sharon Rivenbark, founder and owner of For Bare Feet Originals, served as the conference keynote speaker.  Rivenbark’s company has seen remarkable success as it has grown to a league-licensed producer of socks, headbands and wristbands for the Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Hockey League and Women’s National Basketball Association, as well as dozens of universities. 

The businesswomen at the recent conferences represent some of the most motivated and forward-thinking entrepreneurs in the state.  But this level of success is not just in Vincennes and Wabash – it’s in every corner of Indiana.  Women are doing great work throughout the state to improve their economy and their community.  These women are tremendous partners in the state’s efforts to move Indiana forward and make it an even better place to work and live.

Female entrepreneurs across the Hoosier State continually find places to grow their companies and are making significant contributions to Indiana’s economic comeback.  Our women-owned businesses are contributing more and more to our economy every day, generating billions of dollars per year in sales and employing thousands of Hoosiers.  The leadership and diversity they bring to the table helps grow Indiana’s success in the workforce. 

Assistance is available to support the efforts of these businesswomen.  The Indiana Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (MWBE) Division works every day to promote the state’s certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Women Business Enterprises (WBE).  The office works to ensure equal opportunity to these businesses interested in obtaining state contracts, a goal they are achieving. 

 

State contract spending with MWBEs is trending up.  Between 2003 and 2005, MWBEs obtained $97 million in contracts.  That rose to $386 million in contract commitments between July 2006 and January 2007.  To date, MWBEs have received construction contracts at Lucas Oil Stadium worth nearly $23.6 million. 

 

To learn more about the MWBE Division, or how to become a MWBE-certified company, visit their Web site at http://www.in.gov/idoa/mwbe/. 

State government has many resources for future small business owners, male or female, to utilize.  The Indiana Small Business Development Center offers free and low-cost information, management counseling, and educational services to support our small business owners and potential entrepreneurs.  For more information on how this office can help your business needs, visit their Web site at http://www.isbdc.org/. 

More business seminars for women will be planned throughout the state.  Assisting all of our state’s large and small business owners succeed is the best way for Indiana to have a complete economic comeback.

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