The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that by 2050, 55 percent of the population will be composed of minorities. This means that our small businesses will be more diverse, and inclusion will be a critical component of business. The federal government and many corporations remain committed to do the right thing through greater diversity and inclusion of suppliers. This workshop explores certifications at the corporate, federal, state, and local government levels. You will also learn how to utilize them to improve your bottom line.

Presented by: Nancy N. Alvarez serves as the Head of the 8(a) Business Development Program for the U.S. Small Business Administration, Dallas/Fort Worth District Office.  She is instrumental in providing leadership, management and oversight to optimize the deployment of SBA’s Federal Contracting programs and serves the small business communities within a 72 county geographical area in North Texas. As the SBA’s Women Ownership Business Representative, she is responsible for increasing participation of women owned small businesses in Federal Contracting Programs and advocates to local Federal agencies on behalf of Women Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs). Nancy graduated from Jacksonville University with a Bachelor degree in Business Administration (Magna Cum Laude). She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor.  She served on the Board of the City of Jacksonville, Mayor’s Hispanic American Advisory Board and the Mayor’s Small & Emerging Business Advisory Council.  Additionally, she served as an advisory board member in the Beaver Street Enterprise Center, Jacksonville’s first business incubator.  Nancy is currently an advisory board member of the Dallas/Fort Worth Federal Agency Small Business Advocacy Council (FASBAC), a small business professional’s forum where federal agencies share, gather, and create ideas that promote small businesses’ interest and participation in the federal marketplace.