Jay Sachetti joined Jeff O’Brien, partner at Husch Blackwell and Dyanne Ross-Hanson, president of Exit Planning Strategies talked about the market for mergers and acquisitions, exit planning opportunities for companies that don’t end up for sale and how companies can maximize their eventual sale price during an early October panel at the first Upsize on Tap event at Summit Brewing Co. in St. Paul.
When the state Legislature passed a law requiring employers to provide paid leave and safe time for employees, Justin Bieganek started hearing differing details from friends, colleagues and peers.
Business owners who want their companies certified as women-owned no longer have to travel to Chicago to get that done.
Mary Riebe is launching a certification program this fall at the Center for Women Entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurship Education, part of Metropolitan State University in Minneapolis.
As part of the certification process, the center delves into a load of paperwork for each applicant and does a site visit. “We make sure they’re who they say they are, and if General Mills places an order for 10,000 yogurt cups, they can fill it,” says Riebe, director of the center. Cost for certification is $300.
The program is coming to the center through the Women’s Business Enterprise Council, which has 14 offices around the country providing certification to women business owners.
Many companies and governmental bodies choose certified vendors in order to support women-owned firms. Riebe calls the local program, the only one, a “huge economic development for women in the state. They had to go to Chicago before to get certified. That’s difficult if you’re watching the bottom line.”
She calls the certification process time-consuming and involved, but says it’s worth it for owners because of increased business. “Once they’re certified, it’s a flood,” Riebe says.
Mary Riebe, Center for Women Entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurship Education: 612.659.7259; wo*****************@********te.edu; www.metrostate.edu/com/cwe
