NEWARK, NJ, March 23, 2021 — The Institute For Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL)  and GreaterNewark Enterprises Corporation (GNEC) announced today a partnership to assist COVID-19 impacted businesses through the Small Businesses Need Us initiative. The program directs help to small businesses in the region who need it the most and are struggling to survive and to navigate the devastating and crippling effects of the pandemic.
 
“The majority of small businesses are ill-equipped to sustain through a crisis the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic. Government aid and grants are not enough,” states IFEL CEO JIll Johnson. “Small business owners need hands-on support to address the business challenges they are facing. The volunteers we bring to the table through Small Businesses Need Us provide the lifeline that small enterprises need to stay afloat.”
 
The Small Businesses Need Us initiative pairs small business owners with seasoned business professionals organized into cross-functional teams. The teams, which are formed based on the needs of the entrepreneurs,  will help the businesses address their most pressing issues. Volunteers have a broad range of expertise including technology, legal, financial, marketing, operations, business planning, and more. All work is done through phone and video conferencing.  There is no cost to the business for these resources. Businesses do not have to be located in Newark to receive assistance as the program extends throughout the region.
 
“The pandemic, civil unrest, high number of COVID-19 deaths, and the lack of stimulus funds have produced an extremely challenging environment for businesses. The barriers, particularly to entrepreneurs of color, are more evident than ever before,” noted GNEC Executive Director Victor Salama. “The Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation is excited to be partnering with the Institute For Entrepreneurial Leadership. Like so many small business owners in our communities, GNEC clients have faced tremendous challenges during the pandemic. Having access to expert technical assistance through IFEL and its volunteers is precisely what our clients need to sustain and grow their businesses during these difficult times.”
 
The Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation will work together with businesses not only in Newark but also those in the surrounding region. For more information on the Small Businesses Needs Us initiative or to apply as a business owner, visit  www.gnecorp.org/small-businesses-need-us. Questions may be emailed to  info@gnecorp.org.
 
 
 
ABOUT THE GREATER NEWARK ENTERPRISES CORPORATION
 
The mission of the Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation is to help communities build businesses and to create long-lasting wealth for their families through business ownership. GNEC is a boutique economic development organization that works with businesses to provide financing, consulting, and business coaching. The GNEC carries out that mission by working within community facilities throughout New Jersey. Our sole purpose for existence is to help entrepreneurs to start or to grow their businesses by providing the resources and capital solutions critical to business success. We believe that entrepreneurs who leverage the limited resources available to them are the ones who ultimately succeed.
 
 
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP
 
Founded in 2002, the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL) is an independent, not‐for‐profit organization that supports economic development through entrepreneurship. We are experts in creating and implementing small business programming in support of larger economic development objectives. Our mission is to eradicate the systemic barriers that prevent entrepreneurs of color from being able to access the knowledge, networks, and capital required for business success.  Visit us at https://www.weareifel.org
​

​aaccnj.com - Oct, 2020

​CAMDEN – Today, Governor Phil Murphy and Congressman Donald Norcross announced $14 million in additional Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to develop workforce development programs. The programs are designed to help businesses impacted by COVID-19 replenish their workforce and help jobless residents learn new skills that lead to successful reemployment.
  
“As this pandemic continues to threaten our public health, we must work to ensure that a stronger, fairer, and more resilient New Jersey emerges on the other side of COVID-19,” said Governor Murphy. “With today’s announcement, we are investing in opportunities for job training in our workforce that will reignite and grow our economy.”  
 “The Coronavirus pandemic has upended our economy, but we will recover by working together,” said Congressman Norcross. “Using federal CARES Act funding, New Jersey is helping workers and businesses get back on their feet. These workforce programs will help employers provide skill-building opportunities and on the job training, connecting New Jerseyans with the services they need to get the job they deserve.” 
“The need is everywhere,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “We all know of businesses that are struggling or have closed, and workers who have been laid off or have had their hours drastically reduced as a result of the pandemic. We are grateful for the opportunity to use these funds to turn lives around and help our state recover economically.”  
The CARES Act funding has been divided to a three-pronged plan to bolster workers’ skills and get them back on the job. The programs will be implemented by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.  

1. Relief Employment ($4 million grant) – This funding will provide dislocated workers and the long-term unemployed the opportunity to perform temporary jobs related to the state’s recovery from the pandemic. The first sector targeted for these jobs will be long-term care. 
2. Customized and On-the-Job Training ($3 million grant) – This funding will cover up to 50 percent of training costs of a new employee if an employer commits to hiring that employee upon completion of the training. Essential and struggling industries such as retail, grocery, hospitality, tourism, health care, transportation, and logistics will be targeted. 
3. Employment and Training Services ($7 million grant) – This funding will expand career support services supported by the Workforce Investment Boards throughout the State. The services include outreach, intake, assessment screening, resume critiques, virtual job referrals, and referrals for short-term training, which can be provided remotely. 

One way or another, coronavirus has likely impacted your business — for better or worse. We’ve been busy creating content to help you through this challenging time. It is organized here by category to help you easily navigate through it all.

If you're just getting started with reading our coverage, we suggest you start here first. These are our general articles on small business resources available during the coronavirus outbreak:

• Coronavirus: 8 Things Your Small Business Needs to Do
• Coronavirus Best Practices for Small Businesses
• How to Use Crowdfunding to Support Your Small Business Through Coronavirus
• Worried About the Budget? How to Handle Staff Concerns During Coronavirus
• 3 Expert Strategies for Curbing Coronavirus-Related Business Losses

If you’re trying to get a better understanding of the federal government’s coronavirus stimulus legislation, you can read about that here:

• Everything You Need to Know About Coronavirus Federal Small Business Stimulus Aid Programs
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act: What Businesses Need to Know
• Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act: What Small Businesses Need to Know
• National Small Business Town Hall Presented by Inc. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

If you’re looking for financial assistance and considering applying for a small business loan, we’ve got you covered. Here is all of our coronavirus small business loan content:

• 10 Commonly Asked Coronavirus Small Business Loan Questions
• Everything You Need to Know About SBA Disaster Assistance Loans
• How to Apply for an SBA Disaster Relief Loan
• How to Get an SBA Coronavirus Emergency Payroll Protection Loan

Now is also a challenging time for managing employees, keeping morale and productivity up and ensuring your company culture stays intact. Here is all of our content about managing your team through coronavirus:

• 7 Things to Do When Creating an Emergency Work-From-Home Policy for COVID-19
• 5 Experts on How to Manage Employees Through Difficult Times
• 5 Ways to Manage Coronavirus Concerns When Employees Can't Work From Home
• Top Tech Tools to Keep Your Team Connected During Coronavirus
• Is Your Workforce Suddenly Remote? Here's What to Know About Cybersecurity
• 5 Ways to Calm Coronavirus Fears Among Your Employees
• Managing From Home? Here’s How to Keep Your Team Engaged During Coronavirus
• 6 Ways to Keep Your Team Productive While Working From Home
• How to Recruit and Hire During the Coronavirus Outbreak
• 4 Business Management Trends for Leading a Remote Team

Staying connected with customers is always challenging, but it’s more important now than ever. If you’re looking for creative ways to do that, check out our customer-focused marketing content:

• Staying Connected With Customers Through the Coronavirus Outbreak
• 5 Ways to Retain Your Customers During the Coronavirus Outbreak
• 15 Examples of How Companies Are Communicating with Customers About Coronavirus
• 5 Top Tech Tools for Customer Communication During the Coronavirus
• 5 Video Marketing Tools for Small Businesses

Trying to run your business from home? With kids running around in circles? We get it. Here is some of our best advice on how to adjust to your new headquarters:

• How to Survive Working from Home — While the Kids Are Home, Too
• Buying a Printer? 7 Features to Look for in a Home-Office Printer

Looking for some inspiration? Here are some examples of how small businesses are adapting in the face of coronavirus:

• 6 Small Businesses Thriving During Coronavirus
• 10 Small Businesses Doing Amazing Things to Support the Coronavirus Effort
• 9 Creative Ways Small Businesses Are Adapting to Coronavirus

How will coronavirus impact businesses in the long run? Here we ask experts to provide analysis on the ongoing outbreak and how businesses are adapting and will continue to adapt:

• Experts Unpack the Massive Cross-Industry Impact of the Coronavirus, From Retail to Hospitality
• Will Coronavirus Drive Permanent Shifts in Shopping Behavior?
• The Delivery App Landscape Is Changing and Sustaining Businesses During COVID-19
• A Consumer Psychologist Details What Businesses Need to Know During COVID-19

COVID-19 has brought the world’s economy to a grinding halt. The economic impact and recovery will last for months, and potentially even years. As congress and other government authorities move to save different areas of the economy, it’s important to understand what resources you have available to you as a small business owner.

Everyone’s first priority during this pandemic should be to stay safe and healthy — but maintaining your business’s health can be equally important. Take advantage of the following resources so you can stay informed and lessen the impact of the crisis.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce AssistanceThis section was updated with new information on 3/30/20:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has put together a number of resources for small business.

• This toolkit to help businesses and citizens alike understand how to navigate the coronavirus. There are guidelines on how small business owners can ensure they are keeping their customers and employees safe. The toolkit also includes a business preparedness checklist. This checklist can help you figure out what to prioritize and to create a plan of communication for your employees.
• This customizable flyer allows small businesses to communicate their coronavirus efforts to their customers. You can find the flyer here.
• This Chamber guide walks you through the SBA loan applications process. You can see it here: U.S. Chamber's Small Business Loan Guide.
• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has created a full list of programs providing financial assistance to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. You can find that here.
• You can also connect with your local Chamber of Commerce to see what local programs are being implemented and connect with other business owners in your area. You can find your local Chamber of Commerce here.

Assistance from the SBAThis section was updated with new information on 3/31/20:
The SBA is offering a few key programs to help small businesses survive the coronavirus outbreak. They are:

• SBA Disaster Assistance Loans
• SBA-Backed Paycheck Protection Program Loans (which will be from your bank)
• Emergency $10,000 grants

You can read our full coverage of SBA assistance here.
The SBA has created a comprehensive Coronavirus page with all of its resources in one place. You can find that page here.

The SBA announced it would offer disaster assistance loans for up to $2 million for small businesses affected by the coronavirus. These low-interest loans are available to businesses that have sustained “substantial economic injury” due to the spread of the coronavirus. You can apply for one of those loans here.

The SBA is also backing what are called Payroll Protection Loans. These loans are convertible to grants and do not have to be paid back provided you use the money for a list of acceptable expenses, primarily payroll. These loans are available from private lenders. The treasury department has just release more information on these loans. You can learn more here and see the application here. You will still need to apply at your local bank. You can also learn more about these loans in this Emergency Small Business Loan Guide from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

[For a full breakdown of SBA loans and federal response read: Everything You Need to Know About Coronavirus Federal Small Business Stimulus Aid Programs]

In addition to disaster relief loans, the SBA has a comprehensive list of resources available to small businesses during the crisis. This includes COVID-19 fact sheets; strategies for employees to adhere to; common problems small businesses may face, like supply chain shortfalls; and local assistance information.

Export-Import Bank of the United StatesAdditionally, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has announced relief measures for U.S. exporters and financial institutions that include waivers, deadline extensions, streamlined processing and flexibility for its customers for an initial period of 30 days, with the possibility of more, for the following programs:

• Working Capital Guarantee Program.
• Multi-Buyer and Single-Buyer Short-Term Insurance Program.
• Medium-Term Single-Buyer Insurance Policies Issued to Exporters.

For everything you need to know about applying for a small business loan, see the U.S. Chamber’s Small Business Loan Guide.

SCORESCORE is offering advice and assistance from its business mentors including help navigating financial challenges and assistance in applying for SBA disaster assistance loans. SCORE has centralized all of its assistance options here.

SBDCSmall Business Development Centers are local offices sponsored by the SBA to help small businesses. While the SBA has provided its own resources, SBDCs are also offering extensive help to small businesses throughout America.
​
This includes OSHA resources and information, like preparing workplaces for COVID-19, preventing worker exposure to COVID-19 and additional OSHA resources. You can also find links to the National Cyber Security Alliance for information on how to stay safe online during the pandemic and avoid typical scams associated with the disaster.

Yes, attending a gathering, ceremony, or celebration is permitted as long as the event complies with the following limits on gatherings.
Gatherings are allowed, but different limits apply depending on the type of gathering, and where it is happening:
Indoor Gatherings

• General indoor gatherings must be limited to 25 people or 25% of a room's capacity -- whichever number is lower. All attendees at indoor gatherings must wear face coverings and stay six feet apart.
• Indoor gatherings for weddings, funerals, or memorial services must be limited to 150 people or 25% of a room's capacity -- whichever number is lower.
• Indoor gatherings for religious and political activities protected under the First Amendment must be limited to 150 people or 25% of a room's capacity -- whichever number is lower.
• Indoor gatherings for entertainment centers where performances are viewed or given, including movie theaters, performing arts centers, and other concert venues, must be limited to 150 people or 25% of a room's capacity -- whichever number is lower.

Outdoor Gatherings

• General outdoor gatherings must be limited to 500 people and social distancing must be practiced
• There is no limit for outdoor gatherings for religious or political activities protected under the First Amendment.

To save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19, wear a mask, wash your hands, practice social distancing, and stay home if you are sick.
Face coverings are required in indoor public spaces and in outdoor public spaces when social distancing is difficult to maintain.
For more information on rules for indoor gatherings, refer to paragraphs 4-6 on pages 9 and 10 of Executive Order No. 183 and paragraph 1 on page 6 of Executive Order No. 152.
For more information on rules for outdoor gatherings, refer to paragraph 1 on page 5 of Executive Order No. 161 and paragraph 2 on pages 7-9 of Executive Order No. 152.
Safety Tips For Gatherings
During this difficult time, we understand everyone wants to spend time with family and friends. To ensure we don't inadvertently spread COVID-19 and needlessly put our loved ones at risk, the NJ Department of Health has offered some safety tips that can help reduce the risk of transmission when we gather in-person.

• Remind invited guests to stay home if they have been exposed to the virus in the last 14 days, are showing COVID-19 symptoms, or recently travelled to an area or a state with high COVID-19 infection rates.
• Ask guests to wear face coverings when they cannot social distance.
• Make hand sanitizer available for guests.
• Limit the number of people handling or serving food—for example, consider identifying one person to serve all food so that multiple people are not handling the serving utensils.
• Remind guests to wash their hands before serving or eating food.
• Use single-use hand towels or paper towels for drying hands so guests do not share a towel.
• Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces and any shared items between use when feasible.
• Consider keeping a list of guests who attended for potential future contract tracing needs. If you are called by a contact tracer, it's critical that you answer the call to protect us all. Your help is the key to stopping the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives.

Finding ways to create a more equitable and inclusive business climate in urban areas has been a goal of activists all summer. Finding the funding is more challenging.
On Monday in Newark, Mayor Ras Baraka announced the city and partners have been promised $2 million to create the “NWK FAM Fund” — a program aimed at putting capital in the hands of Black and Latinx business owners.
The new investment vehicle — short for “Newark 40 Acres and a Mule Fund” — aims to combat and reduce social and economic inequalities resulting from systemic racism.
The program, backed by prominent Black and Latinx investors, as well as leading corporate and philanthropic institutions, hopes to raise $100 million in investible capital, including $10 million by the end of the year.
“Black Lives Matter is not rhetoric, it’s a statement of action,” Baraka said. “It’s more than just eliminating racist behavior and inequality in our justice system; it’s about creating equality and opportunity for our black and brown communities.”
The NWK FAM Fund will be co-managed by Invest Newark (the city’s economic development corporation) and New Jersey Community Capital.
Officials said AT&T, Shaquille O’Neal, Panasonic, Carlos Medina, Nelson Mullins law firm, New Jersey Community Capital, Public Service Enterprise Group and Popular Bank are the first of the investors and corporate partners.
The fund also has an advisory board that consists of prominent financial, corporate and philanthropic leaders who share the fund’s vision of curing systemic racism with a systemic response. The initial board members include:

• Alejandra Ceja, executive director, Panasonic Foundation;
• Manuel Chinea, chief operating officer, Popular Bank;
• Sabrina Conyers, partner, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP;
• Michellene Davis, executive vice president, RWJBarnabas Health;
• John Harmon, CEO and president, African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey;
• Carlos Medina, CEO and president, Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey;
• Randall Pinkett, chairman, BCT Partners;
• Malcolm Robinson, chairman, Montclair Capital Group;
• Paul Sangillo, vice president-legal, Innovative Cosmetic Concepts.

Those interested in learning more about the NWK FAM Fund or donating can contact Bernell Hall of Invest Newark at BHall@investnewark.org.
Baraka said the need for the fund is simple — and more pressing than ever.
“There are vast wealth disparities in our nation, state and city between white-owned businesses and Black and Latinx-owned businesses, clearly worsened by the pandemic,” he said. “We need to empower our entrepreneurs of color so that they can compete at increasingly higher levels. The Newark 40 Acres and a Mule Fund will bring pride and prosperity to our city as a whole and to our Black and Latinx business community in particular.”
According to the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, the median net worth of New Jersey’s white families is $309,000, while the median for New Jersey’s Latinx and Black families is just $7,020 and $5,900, respectively. It is one of the worse racial wealth gaps in the nation.
Organizers said the objective of the fund is to close these gaps by providing Black and Latinx business owners with a more level playing field with their competitors.

Hall, the CEO of Invest Newark, said the model is the first of its kind in the country.
“We believe that we have created a national model where financial institutions, corporation donors and local economic development corporations partner to create a holistic investment platform that provides Black and Latinx businesses with access to the business contracts, patient capital and technical assistance necessary to grow despite the current pandemic and social unrest,” he said.
Officials said the initiative will drive economic wealth among Black and Latinx populations in Newark by leveraging invested capital, public subsidies and public assets to enhance the value of Black and Latinx-focused small businesses and real estate development.
Baraka said the city is superbly equipped to continue its immense economic progress.
The city is home to an international airport and seaport, a transcontinental train station, five major highways, headquarters to major corporations, the seventh-busiest indoor arena in the United States and more than 55,000 students and teachers attending high-level institutions.
New Jersey Community Capital President Wayne Meyer said Newark has had more than $5.6 billion in public and private investment and record levels of local job creation (pre-COVID-19) since 2014. He feels the fund can bring so much more.
“Despite over a century of broken promises, Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs have thrived and been the economic engines of their communities,” he said. “It is a privilege for New Jersey Community Capital to help Mayor Baraka and his team provide capital to Newarkers looking to carry on this rich tradition.
“We are honored to be thought of as a trusted partner in the Newark FAM Fund and look forward to doing all we can to grow and sustain Newark’s Black and Latinx business community.”
The name of the fund comes from one of the earliest Reconstruction promises to the newly freed slaves of 1865 — one that provided each freshly emancipated family head with “40 acres and a mule” in America’s mostly undeveloped and unowned land at the time.
Under this initiative, “freedmen” and their families would be able to become small, independent farmers. However, the program was never pushed forward, and most of the freedmen rapidly reverted into a new form of semi-slavery as tenant “sharecroppers,” living in poverty and perpetually in debt to their white landlords.

By Karin Price Mueller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

New Jersey was approved late Friday for an expanded $300 unemployment benefit created by President Donald Trump after Congress couldn’t agree on a new stimulus plan.

But that doesn’t mean the payments will reach unemployed residents any time soon.
It took Gov. Phil Murphy several weeks to decide to apply for the benefit, which was announced on Aug. 7. The state didn’t apply until Aug. 26, in part because of confusion over how the program would be implemented.
Because the funding comes from FEMA, federal rules don’t allow the state to use existing unemployment systems or employees to distribute the funds. That means it will take time before the state can process the payments.
Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo said the payments probably won’t be distributed until October, and it will probably come as a lump sum rather than as a weekly payment.

“I know that’s not what someone wants to hear who wants their money now,” he said.
After its initial submission to the program, the Labor Department had to send FEMA some additional information, but the back-and-forth wouldn’t delay the approval process or the timeline, Labor Department spokeswoman Angela Delli-Santi said.
The $300 benefit is meant as a partial replacement for the expanded $600 weekly payment from the CARES Act coronavirus relief package, which expired at the end of July.

The Labor Department previously said not everyone will qualify for the benefit. Those receiving weekly benefits of less than $100 and those whose unemployment does not relate to COVID-19 won’t be eligible.

The state will first get three weeks of benefits for the weeks of Aug. 1, Aug. 8 and Aug. 15. It will have to apply weekly for more funding after that.
The program will continue until the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund, which funds the program and had a balance of $44 billion last week, runs out or until Congress passes a new unemployment extension.
Benefits are be retroactive to the week of Aug. 1.
A total of 1.54 million New Jerseyans have applied for unemployment benefits since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. So far, 1.35 million have qualified for benefits.
The state has paid out $14.7 billion since the middle of March, the Labor Department said.

Brett Farmiloe , Score.com — August, 2020

INNOVATION
​Co-creation as the foundation of innovation is the ultimate ‘killer app’ in any company. Co-creation means collaborating and bringing different experiences, thoughts, and ideas to the table, each one valid for brainstorming to be effective. Diversity is the secret ingredient that enables co-creation to exist. It is embracing differences that fuel disruptive thinking, a different view of customer experience, a business process, and a new business venture.
-Kate King, Beni.fit

THE ABILITY TO ADAPT
​You can’t build an evolving organization without a diverse collection of people who can adapt to the changes in the workplace. That’s the benefit I find from diversity: the ability to adapt. Individuals can change when they want to and having diverse workgroups helps influence and accelerate positive change.
-Ryan Nouis, Executive Staffing Agency

RECRUITING IS MADE EASIER
​When a candidate steps into the office and looks around, they take note of the people working there. They naturally ask themselves a series of questions like “Do I see myself fitting in here?” The question becomes a lot easier to answer if there’s someone already at a desk that mirrors a candidate in some way. That could be gender, race, age or another attribute that helps ease those candidate concerns of “Will I be safe here? Can I be myself at work? Will I be able to connect with my coworkers?” A diverse set of employees helps attract the right candidates, and recruiting becomes just a little easier.
-Brett Farmiloe, Markitors

EMPLOYEE RETENTION
We are big believers in diversity. In October, we just celebrated our fifth annual Diversity & Inclusion career event and have an ongoing list of ideas to promote inclusion and workplace diversity. As the founder of the most respected workplace award program in the Southwest, we have seen that the biggest benefit of diversity is employee retention. You can sense it in surveys and you can see it in statistics. Plain and simple: the best companies prioritize diversity because they recognize employee retention positively impacts their bottom line.
-Denise Gredler, Best Companies Arizona

A TEAM CHARACTERIZED BY A COMPLEX SKILL SET
A diverse workgroup is more likely to be characterized by a complex skill set because people with different backgrounds bring along different experiences and lessons. Diversity in the workplace is essentially the glue that brings all the pieces together and makes magic happen.

When it comes to age, we found that all generational groups bring something valuable to the table also, making them irreplaceable. Specifically, Gen Z is the one who can understand programming the best, while Millennials have idea-generation abilities and are more creative. On the other hand, Gen X has greater complex problem-solving abilities while Baby Boomers are emotionally intelligent.

The fact that each demographic group is characterized by unique skills is proof that diversity is an asset that makes a team complete and organizations cannot afford to neglect it.
​
–Stavros Triseliostis, CareerAddict

IMPROVES COMPANY REPUTATION
​Our experience is that working diligently to hire diverse employees from different backgrounds and walks of life, not only promotes productivity and creativity but also sets the standard for what kind of company you are. Actively seeking diverse employees can improve your company’s reputation and let people know that if they are searching for an accepting and diverse employer, you are it! People will begin to start seeking you out.
-John Yardley, Threads

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
​As a husband and wife team, we have over 35 years of combined experience and 15 years of experience working together. We met in the courtroom when I was a defense attorney and Michelle was a prosecutor. Our collective diversity not only gives us perspective in terms of being male and female but it really brings a different level of emotional connection, empathy, and compassion for our clients.

My wife, Michelle, is an expert negotiator. I love taking cases to trial. Together, we have been able to successfully resolve thousands of cases and believe that we are going to get clients the best outcome possible because of our partnership.
-Court Will, Seattle Personal Injury Attorney

EXIT THE ECHO CHAMBER
​Diversity makes it harder to enter a self-reinforcing echo chamber. A wide spectrum of opinions gives us more data points to triangulate the best course of action.
-Lukas Ruebbelke, BrieBug

MIRROR THE POPULATION YOU’RE SERVING
​Recruiting for diversity has been, and remains, the number one source of my success in leading teams and delivering business results. The variety of ideas, the learning that comes from incorporating ideas and the ability to mirror the population you’re trying to serve are key. Diversity comes in all forms: background, ethnicity, religion, gender, generation and lifestyle. It’s hard, it’s fascinating and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done for my personal leadership growth. Even for the development of my kids, as many team meetings were at my home.
-Tracy L. Bullock, Sandler Training

AIDS IN UNDERSTANDING POTENTIAL CLIENTS
We have employees from a variety of different backgrounds and life experiences. While it makes us stronger as a company in general, it also makes us more appealing to potential clients. We have people who better understand certain communities and how to market to them. When they’re in charge of acquisitions for those communities, we see a much higher rate of conversion.
​–Dan Bailey, WikiLawn