Certifying Your Business with Angela Harvey-Franklin
As solopreneurs, entrepreneurs, and business owners, navigating business ownership can be overwhelming which is why we recently sat down with Angela Harvey-Franklin, Executive Vice President of Operations with the Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council. We’re here to provide all of the fast facts you need to decide how to take your business to the next level.
Angela, thank you so much for being here today. Can you share more about your background and how you discovered your passion for small, minority business ownership?
My passion for certification actually stems from my desire to help. I started off at Wiley Publishing in a world of business development and sales, specifically with the women and children (WIC) programs. As my tenure there progressed, and my trajectory shifted, I quickly recognized that a career change was in order. I was then hired by the City of Indianapolis under the Ballard administration as the Deputy Director of the Department of Minority and Women Business Development. That is where I knew I was exactly where I wanted to be, and that’s the world—the world of minority business—that I’ve wanted to be in every sense.
For many business owners, the process of certification feels overwhelming. Can you start by explaining business certification and its value?
Business certification refers to a process in which individuals or businesses undergo training, assessment, and evaluation to obtain a recognized credential or certification from a reputable organization. These certifications are typically related to specific skills, knowledge, or competencies in the business field. Here locally to Indianapolis, the larger certifying bodies include the State of Indiana, the City of Indianapolis, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), and the Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council (MSDC).
The value of certification is truly endless for small, minority-owned businesses—and the first step of certification is doing your research. Businesses that identify who they want to work with are better equipped to select a certification that gets them better connected to their target contracts and prospective clients.
Once a business is certified, a few things happen. First, the certifying entity becomes a champion for the business because they benefit when that business receives a contract opportunity. Getting certified in many ways provides you with an advocate in the bidding process helping you to secure procurement. This also means that your business is at the forefront of contract opportunities, increasing your visibility and the likelihood that you’ll secure multi-year, multi-dollar contracts. It’s truly beneficial in a multitude of ways.
You’ve certainly sold the value of certification, but what exactly does the process of getting certified entail?
Getting certified is an exercise in gathering paperwork! While many companies do pursue certification themselves, there are many entities and agencies that can assist and simplify the certification process. After the paperwork is gathered and submitted, certification is truly an exercise in patience as companies await their approval, which usually takes between two to three months depending on the certifying body’s queue.
Once a business is certified, how exactly do they start putting their certification to use?
After all approvals are received, many businesses then get access to a database with other, certified minority-business enterprises. I tell every small, diverse business I coach that they must work that database.
All too often, small businesses, especially small, minority businesses view other businesses as competition—when in all reality, those businesses should be considered valuable partners. I encourage those who are newly certified to attempt to connect with a handful of peer companies every week. This is a great way to grow loyal partnerships that lead to fruitful collaborations.
In her role with Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council, Angela Harvey-Franklin coaches businesses of various industries and sizes as they navigate start-up challenges, business certification, and operational efficiencies. Learn more and connect with Angela on LinkedIn.