Three Local Small Business Owners Receive Citations During Ready, Set, GROW! Procurement Connections Workshop
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford today joined over 130 small business owners in Baltimore County to celebrate Black History Month, and applaud the efforts of three local small business owners during the Ready, Set, GROW! Procurement Connections Workshop held at the Community College of Baltimore County’s Essex Campus.
“We understand the value of diversity, and that’s why Maryland has the most minority- and women-owned businesses in the nation,” said Lt. Governor Rutherford. “Today we are connecting small businesses to greater economic opportunities, and recognizing several of the entrepreneurs who help make Maryland a great place to own a business.”
The celebration was part of a multi-faceted workshop highlighting business opportunities with state agencies. Participants got an overview of the state’s procurement programs designed to provide opportunities for small, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses, and learned how to access the state’s contracting pipeline. Buyers from eight state agencies were on site to identify what they are buying right now, and what is in the pipeline. Vendors had the opportunity to meet with the buyers one-on-one during the open networking session. Small business resource organizations also participated, providing access to organizational, financial, and managerial resources.
“Small, minority, women, and veteran business owners are drawn to this event because they can meet our procurement officers live and in person,” said Jimmy Rhee, special secretary of the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs. “This is what ‘Maryland is open for business,’ looks like.”
In celebration of Black History Month, the following business owners received a Governor’s Citation in recognition of their contributions to Maryland’s small business community and the community at large:
● L. Randolph Brooks, PhD – Brooks & Brooks Services, Inc.
● Barnett Carroll – Aegis Mechanical Corporation
● Debra Keller-Green – Keller Professional Services, Inc.
The Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs conducts the Ready, Set, GROW! Procurement Connections Workshops at locations around the state. In 2019, the workshop series will be held in Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Carroll counties, as well as Baltimore City. For more information, visit: https://gomdsmallbiz.maryland.gov/Pages/Ready-Set-GROW.aspx.
