December 2013

Bidding Opportunities pg 2

Recent MWBE Certificationspg3

TurnHolidayGiftsintoaMarketingToolpg2

Indiana'sMinority&Women'sBusinessEnterprisesDivision

In This Issue

www.in.gov/idoa/mwbe

How to Connect@IndianaMWBEhttps://twitter.com/IndianaMWBE

LikeUswww.facebook.com/IDOA.MWBE

Subscribe/Unsubscribeemail:[email protected]

BusinessReads pg 2

ToolsforSuccess pg3

Business Crossword pg 5

Nominate a Business for the 2014 National Small Business Week Awards By:ngoriel,SBA.gov Community Moderator

Posted Nov. 21, 2013 2:06 p.m.Areyouasmallbusinessownerwithanamazingsuccessstorytotell?Ifso,submityournominationtodayforthe2014NationalSmallBusinessWeekAwards.Nominationsarecurrentlybeingacceptedonlineathttp://nationalsmallbusinessweek.sba.gov/.Formorethan50years,NationalSmallBusiness Week has recognized theoutstandingachievementsofAmerica’ssmallbusinessesfortheircontributionsintheirlocalcommunities,andtoournation’s

economy.WinnerswillbeannouncedduringNationalSmallBusinessWeek–May12-16,2014.Areyouthenextwinner?Applyonlinetoday:http://nationalsmallbusinessweek.sba.gov/. In addition to the portal,nominationscanalsobesentdirectlytoSBADistrictOffices,whichcanbelocatedonlineatdistrictoffices.Allnominationsmustbesubmittedonline,postmarkedorhanddeliveredtotheSBAnolaterthan11:59p.m.ETonJanuary17,2014.

Business Voice: Black and White Investments (BWI)BlackandWhiteInvestments(BWI)wasstarted in2005whenGaryHobbsandhiswifebecameinvolvedinrealestateinvestment.Theystartedoutbybuyinganapartmentcomplexhereorastripmallthere,untilin2009,theyfoundtheirnicheinaffordablehousing.BWI's core business is as an urbandevelopment company.They focusonmultifamilyaffordablehousingthatservesspecialneedpopulationssuchasseniors,thoseneedingassistedliving,singleparentslookingtogettheireducation,etc."The brick and mortar allows us to pay our bills, but impacting lives and leaving a legacy is what we're all about," saidMr.Hobbs.TheHobbsfamilytakesalisteningapproachtodevelopment,puttingmoreemphasisontheserviceaspect.Theytrytocreateabeautifulfacilitywiththeengagementofthecommunity.Mr.Hobbs'ultimategoalistopositivelyimpactthelivesofhistenantsandtomakethecommunityabetterplacetolive.While striving to reach his goal, Mr.

Mr. Gary HobbsBlack and White Investments

Hobbsfacesmanychallenges as abusiness owner.The challengingpartaboutrunninghis business isstructuringnewrealestatethatcreatesabalancebetweenmakingaprofitforhis business andwhatworksforthecommunityandhispotentialtenants.Recently,Mr.Hobbshadtofaceagreaterchallengewhentherewasafireatoneofhisbusinessproperties.Thankfullynoonewashurtasaresultofthefire.In2013BWIwasawardedtheMBEfirmoftheyearbythemayorofIndianapolisattheIndianaBlackExpo.BWIalsohadthehonorofbeingranked16thinthenationinFortunemagazine.TheHobbsarefocusedonimprovingtheir33employees'traininganddevelopment. Continued on pg. 3...

Indiana'sMinority&Women'sBusinessEnterprisesDivision

Business Reads"Who Moved My

Cheese" Dr.SpencerJohnson

Thisisabrieftaleoftwomiceandtwohumanswho live in a mazeandonedayarefacedwithchange:someonemoves their cheese.Reactions vary fromquick adjustment towaitingforthesituationtochangeby itself tosuit their needs. This storyisaboutadjustingattitudestowardchangein life, especially atwork.Changeoccurswhether a person isreadyornot,but theauthor affirms that itcanbepositive.

Happy HolidaysThe IndianaMinorityandWomen'sBusinessEnterprises Divisionoffice will be closedTuesday,December24;Wednesday,December25 and Wednesday,January1forthestateholidays.

Project Name Due Date Contact InformationSRC Bike Storage Addition - Bid Number B0022651 Tuesday,

Dec. 10Indiana State UniversityScott TillmanPhone: (812) [email protected]

Purdue University Softball Stadium Thursday, Dec. 12

Weigand ConstructionPhone: (260) 490-7449Fax: (260) [email protected]

Subcontractor & Other Bidding Opportunities

More bidding opportunities can be found at http://www.in.gov/idoa/mwbe/2757.htm

6 Ideas to Turn Your Customer Holiday Gifts Into a Marketing Tool

Hopefully you’ve alreadycreated your annual cus-tomerandclientholidaygiftlist. Whether they’ve beennaughty or nice, all clientsshould get recognized inthis holiday ritual. But howcanyoumakeyourholidaygifts do double duty—notonlyasa“thankyou”forthepast year’s business, butalsoasamarketing tool toencourage more businessin thenewyear?Herearesomeideas.

Withthesesimpletips,youcan turn holiday businessgiftsintothegiftthatkeepsongiving—givingyoumorebusiness,thatis.

1Remind them of youThesimplestwaytomakeyour holiday gift amar-ketingtool istochooseapromotionalproductwithyour company’s nameand/or logoon it.But forbest results,make sureit’ssomethingyourclientwillactuallyuse—ideally,inasettingwhenthey’llbethinkingaboutbuyingwhatyousell.Alsomakesureitmatchesyourbrandandisrelevanttoyourbusiness.

2 Personalize itApromotional productwithyourlogoisn’ttheonlyway

By:RievaLesonsky,SBA.gov Guest Blogger Posted Dec. 3, 2013 11:55 a.m.

toputyourpersonaltouchonacorporategift.Forinstance,if youownagraphicdesignbusiness, youcoulddesignyourownwrappingpaperorgiftboxes foryourgifts (besuretoaddalabelthatsaysyoudesignedit!).Thisway,you’resubtly remindingclientsofyour talentswhile theyopenyourgift.Ifyouownaninteriordesignfirm,youcouldmakegiftwraporribbonsoutofleftoverfabricswatches.Yougettheidea.

3 Give what you make or sell Thisnotonlysavesmoneybecauseyou’reusingyourowninventory,butalsoremindstheclientofyourqualityproduct.Everytimetheclientdrinksacupofcoffeemadewithyour fresh-roastedbeans,usesyourhandmadestationeryorputshisiPadinyourleathercase,he’llberemindedwhyhedoesbusinesswithyou.

4 Deliver your gifts by hand Ifyourclientsarelocal,makeanimpactbydeliveringyourholidaygiftsyourself.Makeabriefappointmentsoyou’renotinterruptive,andspendthetimecatchingupwiththeclient.Don’tmakethisahard-sellsalescall,butlistenforcuesastohowyoumaybeabletohelptheminthefuture.

5 Give the gift of time Insteadofgivingaphysicalgift, takekeyclientsouttobreakfastorcoffee—somethingbrief thatprovidesabreakintheirbusydays,butalsogivesyoutimetoreconnect.You’llstandout fromthecrowdofsocialmediaconnectionsbysimplybeingpresentinreallife,andyou’llbetopofmindwhentheclientturnstonextyear’sbudget.

6 Give the gift of information Abusinessbookormagazinesubscriptionthat’srelevanttoyourclient’sindustry,challengesandinterestsshowsyouputsomethoughtintowhatwillhelphergetaheadin thecomingyear.Plus,youcan followup laterbyaskingtheclienthowshelikesthebookandwhyyouthoughtitmightbehelpfultoher…seguingnicelyintohowyourbusinessmightbehelpfulaswell.Andifyou’veprocrastinated,thisisaquickandeasygift.

For the full list of certified MWBE firms please visit: http://www.in.gov/idoa/2743.htm

Congratulations to the Certified MWBEs

Certified MBEs

Certified M/WBEs Q: What might someone be surprised to know about you?A: Theymay be surprised to knowI'mapianist.I'mbeenplayingsinceelementaryschool.

Q: What is your personal philosophy when running your business?A: My personal philosophy inhandling business isGod first,wifeand family next and then businessandotherthingsafterthat.

Q: When you’re not running your business, what are you doing instead, or what would you like more time to do?A:Mywifeand I both like to traveland enjoy playing golf. VisitingAustralia, Israel, andAfrica are stillonmybucketlist.

Business Q&As

"We think what it'll be a competitive advantage if we can be more strategic on how we develop our people in all aspects of technical skills and soft skills including leadership and project management,"saidMr.Hobbs.Lookingintothecomingyears,BWIistryingtogetanunderstandingofthenewhealthcarelaw.TheHobbsfamilyiscurrentlyprovidinghealthcareforalloftheiremployeesandwishtocontinue doing so. Theyareexpectingbigthingsfortheirbusinessin2014.BWIhopestocreatemorejobsandhavealargerimpactinthecommunityinthecomingyears.

Thomas & Reed, LLCE. Thomas(317) [email protected]

M/WBE

America’s Finest Filters, Inc.Michael White(502) [email protected]

MBE

Aristocrat Limousine Service, Inc.Paul Harris(317) [email protected]

MBE

B & C Consultating Corp.William Campbell(317) [email protected]

MBE

C3 Billing Services, LLCCharles Lopez, III(317) [email protected]

MBE

Central Asbestos Services, LLCRudy Funez(317) [email protected]

MBE

Durkin & Villalta Partners EngineeringAlvaro Villalta(317) [email protected]

MBE

Fairfield Service Company of Indiana, LLCKrishna Murarka(219) [email protected]

MBE

Nicholas C. Huang, P.C.Nicholas Hauang(317) [email protected]

MBE

Prestige Cleaning ServiceKenneth Stringer(317) [email protected]

MBE

Manybusinesseshavethemind-setthatonce theyare"certified" theywillbe inundatedwithcontractingopportunitiesfromtheentitiestheyhavebeencertifiedwith,butthatisamyththathastobedispelled.

Youshouldlookatminority-,women-and veteran-owned businesscertification as only one aspectincluded inyourbusiness'overallmarketingtool-kit.Yourdesireasabusinessownershouldbetohaveagreatbusinessmodelprovidingaqualityproduct,serviceorsupplyand thenbeable tomention "oh by theway,Ihappentobeacertifiedvendor."

Secondly,youhavetobepreparedandmakesureyourbusinesshasthecapacitytohandletheopportunitiesyouare seeking. Berealisticanddon’ttrytogrow tooquickly.

Tools for Success: The Myth of Certification...

Youcanquicklygooutofbusinessbytryingtotakeonwhatyoudon’thavethecapacitytohandle.

Remember,yourproductandpricinghastobebetterthanyourcompetitor,period!Yes,itisgreattobecertifiedand therearemanybenefits thatcomealongwithyourcertificationbutultimately,yoursuccessisuptoyouandnotbasedonyourstatusasacertifiedvendor.

Also,onceyoulandthebigcontract,it’simportanttoperformwell.Good

news travels fast andbadnewstravelsevenfaster.Justlikealways,word of mouth is thebest formofmarketingabusinesscanhaveanditcanhelpyouorharmyourbusinessquickerthananythingelse.

HappyHolidaystoeachof you and may youprosperandbefulfilledinallyoudo!

By:TerrieDaniel,MWBE Deputy Commissioner

Terrie DanielMWBE Deputy Commissioner

Business Voice Cont...

Congratulations to the Certified MWBEs

For the full list of certified MWBE firms please visit: http://www.in.gov/idoa/2743.htm

Indiana Department of AdministrationMinority & Women's Business Enterprises402 W. Washington Street Room W469

Indianapolis, IN 46204(317) 232-3061

[email protected]

Business Crossword

ViewThis TechnologiesAntawan Brown(317) [email protected]

MBE

A1 Elect-Ricks, Inc.Julia Crouch(812) [email protected]

WBE

Architectural Brick and TileJacquelin Winter(317) [email protected]

WBE

Certified MBEs Continued

Bing Real Estate, Inc.Pamela Schiesz(317) [email protected]

WBE

Door Services of Indiana, Inc.Angela Peterson(317) [email protected]

WBE

Feb Frank PromotionsKelly Frank(812) [email protected]

WBE

Certified WBEs

HP Products CorporationBridget Shuel-Walker(317) [email protected]

WBE

Indiana Virtual Professionals, Inc.Maria Swift(317) [email protected]

WBE

Kristie L. WeddleKristie Weddle(812) [email protected]

WBE

Lifestyle Consulting, LLCMargaret Crickmore(317) [email protected]

WBE

McKinley Development, LLCAnne McKinley(317) [email protected]

WBE

Neptune Construction, Inc.Joan Jacobs(317) [email protected]

WBE

Printing All StarsVicky Denney(812) [email protected]

WBE

Republic First National CorporationAngela Deming(800) [email protected]

WBE

Shilling Sales, Inc.Carole Nole(260) [email protected]

WBE

Storrow Kinsella Partnership, Inc.Margaret Storrow(317) [email protected]

WBE

Trinity Group, Inc.Tarin Tuck(812) [email protected]

WBE

Tully Recruiting, LLCLisa Harris(317) [email protected]

WBE

ACROSS 2 Qualifies MBE/WBEs for subcontracting op-portunities on state contracts 3 One that competes with another 5 On the bucket list of the BWI owner 9 The ability or power to contain, absorb, or hold 10 A day of special celebration DOWN 1 Commonly known as the best marketing 4 Communicating the value of a product 6 Author of Who Moved My Cheese 7 Different 8 A legendary story