WE MEAN BUSINESS!
Thursday, October 9th 2025 | The Hotel at UMD - 7777 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740
Time: 8:30am - 1:00pm
IT STARTED WITH “SHE” AND EXPANDED TO “WE”
In Celebration of National Women’s Small Business Month
As we celebrate “We Mean Business” during National Women’s Small Business Month, we look toward a future filled with new beginnings and expanded possibilities.
To all women and men who have faced job loss in the federal government and to the contractors who have seen opportunities slip away, know that growth and renewal are still within reach.
Prince George’s County is committed to fostering new contracts, creating pathways for employment, and building partnerships that will drive greater expansion in our economic future.
Regular: $70
Includes 8% Processing Fee (Scroll up & click shopping cart)
Kimberlee Andrews
PGCEDC’s Business Development Manager For the Government Sector
Dawn P. Jackson
Mistress of Ceremonies
SUMMIT SCHEDULE
Panel One | MISSION POSSIBLE: Staying Competitive Amid Government Change
Change in the government landscape impacts both business performance and personal well-being, but it also sparks resilience and innovation. This panel will highlight stories from former federal professionals and seasoned contractors on how they transitioned, adapted to contract shifts, and stayed mentally strong while navigating the pipeline together.
Panel One Panelists
Cheryl Thompson, Civility Management Solutions, LLC
Diedre Windsor, Windsor Group, LLC
Kym Ali, Kym Ali Consulting
Maria Asulieman, AMA Consulting, LLC
Panel Two | PEOPLE POWER: Adapting To Workforce Evolution in Government & Business
Finding and keeping the right talent is essential in today’s evolving government and private sector markets. Panelists will share how clearances, immigration barriers, and the unique strengths of transitioning and government employees can help contractors and businesses attract top talent and build dynamic, future-ready teams.
Being Procurement Ready is Essential in challenging times. We will discuss the procurement process and opportunities, with local government officers.
Panel Two Panelists
Chanel Payne, Employ Prince George’s
Darlene Perkins, Prince George’s County Office of Procurement
Logan Dean, Maryland Department of Labor
Nichelle Johnson, Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs
Suja Joseph, Maryland Department of Labor
Panel Three | THE REINVENTION BLUEPRINT: HOW TO RESET YOUR BUSINESS FOR GROWTH
Success in today’s market means thinking bigger than a single revenue stream. Hear from leaders who have successfully expanded beyond federal contracts, built diverse client bases, and unlocked new avenues for profit.
Panel Three Panelists
Husein Sharaf, Cloudforce
Joye Sistrunk, Premier Group Services, Inc.
Kenneth Kelly, Strativia, LLC
Likia Hawkins, Steel Point Solutions, LLC
HOW WE STARTED
PGCEDC launched “She Means Business” in 2023 to curate a vibrant community of successful women entrepreneurs from our region for a Breakfast Summit celebrating National Women's Small Business Month.
This groundbreaking event was designed to celebrate the remarkable diversity of women in the business world and to forge connections with like-minded, successful entrepreneurs. This summit is a vibrant gathering of women from various cultures, industries, and backgrounds, coming together to share, learn, and inspire each other in their entrepreneurial journeys.
The purpose is to provide current and aspiring contractors with insights on the changing business landscape, workforce attraction, diversifying their contracting portfolios. The annual event is now “We Mean Business” because “WE ALL” have been impacted by the challenging times. Attend and leave with an upgraded perspective on the government and private sector contracting industry.
She Means Business Event Recap Video
She Means Business Breakfast Summit 2024 Gallery
