Case Studies

Sisters Valerie and Michelle became business partners when they decided to purchase A La Carte Catering and Cakes in 2008. Their vision was to infuse their passion for food, family, and service into the well-established catering company they took over. With hard work and dedication, Valerie and Michelle have continued...

Star Wellness is an industry leading certified WBE with over 15 years of experience in providing onsite biometric screenings, vaccinations, & vascular ultrasounds to employees for the early detection and prevention of disease. They provide turn-key solutions for onsite any employee wellness screening needs. With the...

Anne Mitchell, a 4th generation El Paso, Texan, launched a private label line of salsas representing El Paso that later blossomed into a retail souvenir store. During the pandemic, companies were looking for ways to better connect with their employees and customers. Leading Anne to launch Gifting with Sol. Shipping a...

Firemans Paving Contractors is woman-owned and operated by a FireFighter Wife, Renee Gilmore. From new paving construction to repairs, replacement and maintenance of existing surfaces, Firemans Paving Contractors is a full-service company located in Fort Worth, Texas, and serving the DFW metroplex. Renee and her team...

Sweta Pandey is the president and CEO of Dutech Systems, Inc., a global IT consulting firm that specializes in IT Staffing, IT Consulting, SOW and project-based solutions. Dutech Systems has been a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) and member of the Women’s Business Council – Southwest (WBCS) since 2019...

Indu Sanka is the President & CEO of FIRST SIGNS Graphic Solutions (FSGS), and was the winner of 3 major WBCS awards in 2019.

Michelle Ray is the CEO of Absolute Facility Solutions, a consulting group that specializes in the implementation of facility management software and support services including product development, product consulting, training, data normalization, need assessments, field surveys, and CAD & BIM services.

Melinda Zito O’Brien, Founder and Owner of Energy Utility Group, started working in the energy sector after seeing a new opportunity emerge as energy became deregulated in the U.S. And now she’s on a mission to help fellow Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) reduce their energy costs while incorporating sustainability into their operations.

"Attending events such as Harvesting Partnerships and Power to Potential have provided the opportunity to introduce me and my business to corporations that I may not otherwise have had the chance to meet. A recent introduction to a Sustaining (Corporate) Member at an event led to a conversation that eventually turned into a contract." - Molly Sandlin, President of CAET Project Management Consultants

Renee Gilmore is the President of a women-owned and operated firefighter company, Firemans Paving Contractors. Located in Fort Worth, the company proudly services the DFW area and has been WBCS certified for 3 years. Renee serves on our Parade of Stars Gala Committee and was also a 2018 Lillie Knox Recipient. We reached out to her to discuss how certification and the Lillie Knox Investment Award has helped her business grow.