I’m proud to announce that Reify Media has received national certification as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Greater Women’s Business Council.

What’s a WBE?

WBE an official term for a business that’s owned by women. (A WBE must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women.) BUT it’s about more than official paperwork-style ownership; the certification process confirms that the business’s management and daily operation is controlled by a woman with industry expertise.

And that’s why the certification process is rigorous. We went through a month long, multi-step process to earn our certificate. And I say “we” because it was truly a team effort – our team member Kathryn Dunn facilitated the process, deadlines, and great end result. We earned our certification through the Greater Women’s Business Council (GWBC), a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Why Become WBE Certified?

Now what? Well, this certification is accepted by hundreds of U.S. corporations, as well as select federal, state and local government agencies. They use it to help ensure that they are including women-owned businesses among their suppliers, demonstrating their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier diversity programs.

So next, we’ll be showing off our certification! We’ll continue working with our great current clients, and we’ll work to participate in supplier diversity programs when possible.

WBE to Spotlight, Advocate, Change

We also hope, humbly, to serve as a WBE example. We know there are statistics that need to change; women are starting businesses at a faster rate than men, but they are not receiving funding, seeking financing, reaching the million-dollar revenue mark, or hiring employees at nearly an equal rate. Having a proud focus on being a WBE could be, we hope, a spotlight on these statistics and the work that’s being done to change them.

Cheers!