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Publisher & Editor WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS
In the world of small business,
October holds special meaning because
it is National Women’s Small
Business Month. It is in October
when the business community
celebrates and recognizes the 12.3
million and growing womenowned
businesses.
There is good reason to highlight
and celebrate these businesses
because they generate $1.9 trillion
in revenue and employ nearly 9 million
people. Like all small business
BY TOM KINDRED
operations, women-owned small
businesses support local nonprofits,
schools and governments through
their tax dollars. Women-owned
businesses appear in all marketplace segments including: service providers, STEM fields, technology,
manufacturing, education, professional services and retail.
The Treasure Coast is home to many women-owned small businesses. These talented and creative
business women possess incredible business acumen, which they leverage to enhance and
increase the value of the Treasure Coast marketplace. Just a few examples of these Treasure Coast
women-owned businesses include:
• Kimberly Amsalem – Graphic Designs International
• Yolanda Solorzano – Los Cocos Mexican Restaurant
• Darla Rose – Bella Rose Day Spa
• Amy Stapleton – Chatables
• Vanessa Freeman – Hart’s Mobility
• Alice E. Lee – Midway Broadcasting Co. – WFLM 104.5
• Julissa Mercado and Ashley Jameson – The Skin Spot
• Linda Schlitt-Gonzalez – Coldwell Banker Paradise - Ed Schlitt Realtors
These savvy businesswomen also understand the potential power and opportunity of government
contracting and becoming a certified women-owned business. In 2020, women-owned
small businesses were awarded $27.1 billion in prime contracts and $14.3 billion in subcontracting
contracts. That is more than $41 billion in revenue for women-owned small businesses. And
yes, that is billion with a B.
Scotty Wilson, the Procurement and Technical Assistance Center specialist with the Florida SBDC
at Indian River State College will assist and guide a small business owner in navigating all the steps
required to achieve woman-, minority-, veteran- and disabled veteran-owned status and certification.
Once the small business owner has successfully obtained certification, the center will then
assist the small business owner in pursuing and connecting to government contracting.
In the past three years, Wilson’s leadership, along with the assistance of the Florida SBDC at
IRSC, has helped regional small businesses connect to more than $185 million in government
contracts. That is real revenue generated by real Treasure Coast small business owners that brings
real value to the business, the owner and the marketplace.
So, congratulations to all the Treasure Coast women-owned small businesses. October is the
month to celebrate your entrepreneurial spirit, dedication, success and commitment to your business.
Thank you for all you do for your families, your organization’s team and the region’s small
business marketplace.
Gregory Enns
772.940.9005
enns@indianrivermag.com
Florida SBDC at IRSC
Tom Kindred Jr.
772.708.3673
tkindred@irsc.edu
Associate Publisher
Allen Osteen
Assistant to the Publisher
Lauren Shott
772.672.9859
lauren@indianrivermag.com
Associate Editor
Judith Collins
Design Editor
Michelle Moore-Burney
Copy Editors
Pattie Durham, Gaettane A. Paul
Contributing Writers
Nancy Dahlberg, Suzanne Seldes,
Anthony Westbury, Bernie Woodall
Advertising Representatives
Sunny Gates
772.204.5043
sunny@indianrivermag.com
Jim McCabe
917.912.0040
jim@indianrivermedia.com
Shelby Shea
443.373.9174
shelby@indianrivermedia.com
Distribution
Wes Holloway
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Treasure Coast Business is a publication
of Indian River Magazine Inc., 308 Ave.
A, Fort Pierce, FL 34950. Treasure Coast
Business magazine publishes four times
a year. To subscribe visit tcbusiness.com.
All material contained herein is copyrighted
by Indian River Magazine Inc.
IRSC
Tom Kindred with Alice E. Lee, president/general manager of WFLM
104.5. She is the first black owner of a regional radio station.
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