Category Archives: Women In Business

From U.S. Census Bureau

Around 10 million U.S. mothers living with their own school-age children were not actively working in January—1.4 million more than during the same month last year, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data.

The pandemic has had a devastating effect on employment overall but especially on mothers’ paid labor. The 10 million not working accounted for over one-third of all mothers living with school-age children in the United States, according to the Current Population Survey.

Last spring, between March and April, some 3.5 million mothers living with school-age children left active work — either shifting into paid or unpaid leave, losing their job, or exiting the labor market all together.

Some 45 percent of mothers of school-age children were not actively working last April.

The school year began in earnest months ago but deep into the academic year, school systems are still trying to figure out how and when to return to in-person classes.

Some have found ways to juggle work, child care and virtual schooling. By January 2021, more than 18.5 million mothers living with their own school-age children were actively working — still 1.6 million fewer than in January 2020.

The Capital District Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), a nonprofit organization serving women in the construction and related industries, will bring together New York State Women Business Enterprises (WBE) construction businesses and state agencies at its annual WBE Showcase in March.
The fifth annual event is slated for Tuesday, March 24, 2020, at the Century House in Latham. The showcase will run from 5-7:30 p.m.
Following Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2014 mandate to increase statewide MWBE utilization goals to 30 percent for all state contracts, it is crucial for businesses that are at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by women to get certified and market themselves as certified businesses, according to NAWIC.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has announced legislation to reauthorize and to expand the MWBE Program to more contracts entirely funded by the state.

The proposed legislative changes and expansion to include all state-funded contracts would leverage the largest pool of state funding in history to combat systemic discrimination and create new opportunities for MWBE participation at every level, according to Cuomo.

Since 2011, state-certified MWBEs have won more than $10.4 billion in state contracts and the state has certified more than 6,600 MWBEs and re-certified more than 4,700 MWBEs.

“In New York, we know that our economy is strongest when everyone is empowered to participate, which is why we continue to work to increase access and opportunities to success for minority and women owned businesses to strengthen and diversify our economy,” Cuomo said. “These actions will break down barriers to success and empower these business owners to help fuel our economy and move this great state forward.”

By Maureen Werther

Roberta Berkowitz started Prendo Forensics LLC in 2010 after a 25-year career in sales and management. Since that time, the company has received several Woman and Minority Owned Business Enterprise (WMBE) certifications on the state and national level, allowing her business to be eligible to bid on state and federal contracts.

Prendo Forensics LLC, in Bolton Landing, provides forensics and digital-related supplies and equipment to local, state and federal government agencies, as well as to colleges, universities, high schools and BOCES training programs. Berkowitz describes her company as a “sole source provider,” which means that clients can order a broad range of equipment and supplies from a variety of manufacturers through a single distributor.

She sells law enforcement supplies and forensic products for crime scene investigations and training.

By Jill Nagy

Wetlands scientist and ecologist Deborah Roberts is used to being called in at the beginning, the middle and the end of various projects.

Her company, Roberts Environmental Consulting in Queensbury, can warn a potential developer of environmental constraints on a planned project; can help guide a developer through environmental issues during the course of a project; and, if necessary, can suggest ways to remediate environmental blunders.

Roberts formed the company in 1994, after several years working for a large company in the Boston area. She moved back to the area where she grew up when her children were in grade school. She then set up shop on her own.

Today, with those children long since grown and gone, she still relishes the independence of her own company, the flexibility and the control she has over her projects.