photo by steed media service

Lakisha Williams is a woman on a mission. “Our main goal is to be able to help small business owners make the right contacts to expand their businesses,” explains Williams, the executive director of the Black Women Contracting Association (BWCA).

Williams credits a sound business strategy for being the force that keeps her going. “My role is to keep the office afloat, assist small business owners with expanding their businesses, and [provide] more opportunities to get their businesses exposed,” she says.

BWCA is a 501(c)(3) Michigan based corporation whose mission is to manage contacts, contracts, advertising and transportation services for women-owned businesses.

Over the past two years, Williams has witnessed the BWCA grow from 85 participants to over 3,000. Through signature events like their annual In the Board Room business seminar, power networking sessions and educational workshops, the organization continues to enhance business opportunities for African American women by focusing on face-to-face interaction to establish viable relationships. “Black women are often underrepresented,” Williams admits. “They don’t get a lot of opportunities that the majority might receive. So, I saw it as an opportunity for me to step up and do my part to help these women get the contacts they need, the education [and] a lot of stuff they just don’t know.” –janaya black

For more information, visit www.bwcadetroit.org.

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