Are you a small or diverse business owner in California? If so, you’re invited to MCE’s 5th annual Certify & Amplify webinar on June 28 to help you certify in the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Supplier Diversity Program and amplify your business opportunities throughout the state.
Commonly referred to as “Supplier Diversity,” General Order (GO) 156 is a statewide program that encourages utilities to prioritize contracts and subcontracts from businesses that meet diversity qualifications. To qualify, businesses must meet the CPUC small and diverse business qualifications:
- Diverse businesses must be at least 51% woman-, minority-, LGBTQ-, or disabled-owned enterprises.
- Small businesses may have no more than 100 employees or have grossed more than $16 million in the past three years.
After being certified as a diverse supplier, qualified businesses are listed in the multimillion dollar CPUC Supplier Clearinghouse, which utilities can then access for their contracting needs, increasing a certified business’ visibility and credibility across the utility industry.
“I got certified as a woman-owned business after attending MCE’s Certify & Amplify Workshop. I was surprised how few businesses are actually certified here in Solano County. It felt good knowing that there are more opportunities out there for my small business should I want to grow my client base.” ⎯ Debbie Lamb, Owner of Lamb Consulting
This year’s speakers include:
Stephanie Green oversees the General Order 156 Supplier Diversity Program in the CPUC’s Executive Division. In addition, she supervises the Business and Community Outreach team and serves as the Commission’s Tribal Liaison.
Victor Baker, MBA, serves as the President and CPO of EquitiFy, a coaching, consulting, and training company that offers Leadership, Organizational Development, and DEIBA services to promote a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work ecosystem while maximizing performance.
Wayne Gross is a Business Outreach Liaison for the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Services at California’s Department of General Services, which is tasked with certifying all small businesses and DVBEs in the state.
As an essential part of creating a sustainable and equitable economy, MCE is committed to offering inclusive opportunities to entrepreneurs of diverse backgrounds throughout our supply chain. Register today and then join us on Wednesday, June 28, from 11am to noon online to learn more about the Clearinghouse. This event is free, and auto-generated captions will be provided.
Have questions about the event? Email MCE’s Strategic Initiatives Associate, Caroline Love, at clove@mceCleanEnergy.org
