Corporate Counsel

Something that women and/or minority business owners may want to consider is registration with the Indiana Department of Administration Minority and Women's Business Enterprises Division to become certified as a minority-owned or woman-owned business.

Established in order to give such businesses an equal opportunity to participate in the state purchasing process, the criteria considered for such certification include that the minority/woman member possess:

• ownership of the business (at least 51%);
• the requisite expertise in the industry;
• management and control of the entity and its operations; and
• U.S. citizenship.

It is an onerous application process, which includes on-site visits, interviews, and the submission of documentation to support the status of the business.  However, it could be well worth registration to those who are qualifying entities, as each year the Governor's Commission on Minority and Women's Business Enterprises votes on contracting goals and sets the level of participation for minority- and women-owned firms on state contracts.

If you are a minority or woman owned business enterprise, you may want to consider certification to give you an edge on state contracts and perhaps other opportunities.

As an attorney with Alerding Castor Hewitt, LLP, an Indianapolis business law firm that provides legal counsel to companies of all sizes, my practice ranges from formations of young start up companies to assisting with licensing agreement negotiations for well-established corporations. 

And, as a woman and a minority myself, I am more than willing to help guide clients through the process to achieve certifcation as a minority or woman owned business enterprise.