Woman- and Minority-Owned Businesses Industry Outlook

Getting Noticed

On Wednesday, October 4, Ingram’s Magazine hosted an energetic and animated Industry Outlook assembly. This was the third time in the six-year history of the Industry Outlook that the light was shone on small business with a particular focus on its salient subsets, minority business and women-owned business.

Some 25 representatives of greater Kansas City’s female and minority owned community met at Ingram’s offices in Kansas City’s Freight House District for a fruitful discussion.

Chairing the session was Rosie Privitera Biondo of Mark One Electric. This assembly was part of Ingram’s ongoing effort to highlight business issues in Kansas City’s greater metropolitan area. 

Although there were some interesting divisions among the diverse groups assembled, and even within them, participants found enough commonality of purpose to establish some larger and potentially groundbreaking themes.

Why the Focus/ Women

In this session, Ingram’s attempted to do something few other publications dare to, that is to challenge the basic assumptions underlying the minority and women’s business enterprise movement. As a first question, participants were asked if there is still a need for a focus on women and minority issues. The answers were instructive.

(seated, left to right)

Byron McIntosh, Greenleaf Construction Co.

Rosana Privitera Biondo, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

Troy Stremming Ameristar Casino & Hotel Kansas City

(second row, left to right)

Jeanette Prenger, ECCO Select

Ron Harland Sr., Evolv Solutions

Don Gardner, Moody Nolan, Inc.

Michelle Sweeney, Ingram's Magazine

Lonnie Scott, Minority Supplier Council of Kansas City

Mary Lynn Mikhail, Soli Printing

Tara Johnson, Herman Johnson & Co.

Sherry Turner, Kansas Women's Business Center

Mary Lou Jacoby, Warehouse 1

Swati Yelmar, Saicon Consultants, Inc.

Renee Stevenson, Asian Chamber of Commerce

(third row, left to right)

Rita Cortes, Hoffman Cortes Contracting Co.

Miguel Meneses, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater KC

Diane Forgy, Overland Limousine

Greg Baker, City of Kansas City, MO

Eric Burtin, Burtin & Associates

Joanne Mina, J.M. Neil & Associates

Joanne Gabbert, Adams-Gabbert & Associates

Laura Lee Jones, LionShare Marketing Inc.