Women-Owned Businesses Fueling Employment

WOMEN’S BUSINESS ENTERPRISE NATIONAL COUNCIL: WBENC

According to the Center for Women’s Business Research 2009 study, “the economic impact of women owned business in the United States, there are an estimated 8 million US business -currently 51% women owned with an economic impact of $3 trillion annually and job creation or maintenance of more than 23 million jobs-16% of all US jobs”.

The Federal Government established a 5% goal for procurement with women-owned businesses in 1994. As of 2008 the actual expenditures for Federal contracts awarded to WOSBs was $14.7 billion or 3.4% against a goal of 5%. The difference between current performance (3.4%) and the goal (5%) represents approximately $6.9 billion in contracts annually, which would significantly support the growth of women owned businesses.

Why is it important that the Federal Government reach and possibly exceed the 5% goal with women owned companies? It’s all about employment.

By 2018 the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that small businesses will create 9.7 million new jobs, with approximately 5 million to 5.5 million of those being created by women owned businesses. This represents over half of the new jobs in the small business sector and one third of the total new jobs that will be created nationwide over the next eight years.

Supporting small and woman-owned business is important to our nation’s job growth and economy.

Asocia Group is a Woman-Owned Enterprise (WBE), and has been WBENC certified since 2007 by the Greater Women’s Business Council(GWBC).

We are committed to fostering diversity and supporting other diversity and woman-owned businesses.

Asocia Group’s commitment to diversity:
www.asociagroup.com/WBENC

ASOCIA Group Ranks Top Ten on Top 500 U.S. Emerging Diversity Business List 2010

Asocia Group was recently selected as one of the Top 500 Emerging Businesses in the U.S for 2010 by DiversityBusiness.com. Asocia Group achieved the top ten spot on the list of companies nation-wide. This award is bestowed upon companies seen as one of the top entrepreneurs in the country. Asocia is a woman-owned business (WBE), certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Over 650,000 businesses in the United Sates were reviewed as part of the 10th annual list. This award is the basis of Diversity Business’ annual “Top Business List” which is seen by over 15 million people and is used by Fortune 500 companies and large buying organizations to find new business partners.

“The Div500 companies are the heroes of diversity-owned business in America,” said Kenton Clarke, CEO of Computer Consulting Associates International, the company that built DiversityBusiness.com. “These are the people that have conquered the hurdles and made the sacrifices, building and strengthening their communities, providing jobs and helping to keep the fabric of the U.S. economy together.”

The list is the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the United States economy - America’s privately held companies. This esteemed, elite list is coveted by the most successful companies in the U.S. The list has become the most recognized and respected compilation of companies that truly differentiate themselves in the market place in a time when doing so has never been more important.

As an award winner Asocia Group will be honored at the “10th Annual National Business Awards Ceremony and Conference”. The event on April 27 - April 29, 2010 brings together America’s “Top Business Owners” and the “Top Fortune 500″ companies for promoting business opportunities. Attendance is expected to top 1200. The ceremony and conference will be held at Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center in Washington, D.C.

Information Technology – Careers for Women with Equal Pay, High Income Potential and Work-life Balance

What would you say if you knew of a career field where there was such a deficit of available candidates, especially women candidates, that you could pretty much be guaranteed consistent employment if you have the right skills? How about a field that offered higher than average salaries, flexible work hours and the ability to be your own boss? Well you might want to consider Information Technology as an option, as it can offer all of that and a lot more.

It is true that the Information Technology industry has seen the effects of the current economic downturn, however, it is still a very high demand field…and even more so for women because of the huge deficit of women candidates. According to NCWIT: The National Center for Women & Information Technology,http://www.ncwit.org:

• Girls represented just 15 percent of Advanced Placement computer science (CS) exam-takers in 2006, that’s the lowest female representation of any AP exam.
• In 2007 women earned only 19 percent of all CS degrees. Back in 1984, women earned 37 percent of CS degrees.
• Women hold more than half of all professional occupations in the U.S., but fewer than 26 percent of all computing-related occupations.
• Only 13 percent of Fortune 500 technology companies have women corporate officers.
• A study on U.S. technology patenting reveals that patents created by mixed-gender teams are the most highly cited (an indicator of their innovation and usefulness); yet women were involved in only 9 percent of U.S. tech patents.

Benefits a career in information technology can offer include, higher than average salaries, equality in pay, work-life balance and rewarding work:

• Salaries are climbing in IT: Information Technology jobs are already among the highest paying in the United States. There may be as many as 1 million new IT jobs by 2014. With the upcoming baby boomers retiring, companies will have an even greater need for candidates, thus causing salaries to continue to rise.
• Equal Pay for Women: According to recent research by Sheila Greco Associates, women IT salaries are comparable to men at the highest level of the profession, with base salaries ranging from $150,000 to $200,000 in the mid-market. At Fortune 500 companies, the ranges are from $450,000 to more than $1.5 million.
• IT Jobs Enable Work-life Balance: IT professionals are afforded options in schedules and work hours, depending upon the type of role and area you are in. For instance, IT consultants can either work as independents or as employees of companies. As an independent you can choose your projects and also operate as your own business. If you are working as an employee for a company, senior-level positions are typically mobile and can command flexible schedules as well.
• IT Is Not Just For Geeks: If you think IT careers are not interesting and are not glamorous, then you haven’t heard of Marissa Mayer, Vice President, Search Products & User Experience for Google. In the Wall Street Journal’s article Glamour at Google as the first female engineer and current vice president, Marissa talks about her personal style philosophy, and what’s in her wardrobe.
• IT Can Be Exciting & Rewarding Work: You think IT is boring and just about computers. Wrong! IT involves a lot more than just computers. IT is about creating products and services that we all need to help improve our lives. IT is dynamic and exciting and it changes just about everything we do. The range of jobs in IT is vast and there is something to suit everyone. Some are very creative and some are highly technical. They can be broadly summarized as software developers, systems operators, sales professionals, training professionals, helpdesk support, technicians /engineers, web designers, technical authors, business analysts and executive positions.

Asocia Group Named As One Of The Nation’s Top Diversity Businesses

DiversityBusiness.com, the nations’ leading business-to-business internet site, recently named Asocia Group, a leading information technology consulting and staffing firm, as one of the Top 500 Diversity Businesses in the United States. This list is a classification that represents the top small businesses in the U.S., in sectors such as technology, manufacturing, food service and professional services. Large organizational buyers throughout the country that do business with multicultural, small and women-owned businesses use the list.

As a woman-owned company, certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council(WBENC), Asocia is proud to represent this sector of diversity businesses as a leader in our field.

Asocia is being honored at a special awards ceremony at DiversityBusiness.com’s “9th Annual Multicultural Business Conference”, taking place April 29 - May 1, 2009 at the Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Orlando, Florida. http://asociagroup.com/news/atlantabased-information-technology-consulting-staffing-and-executive-search-firm.html