CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — June 1, 2021. For more than forty years, the City of Charlotte has offered a variety of programs to small, minority, and women-owned businesses. One such program, the Charlotte Business INClusion (CBI) program, seeks to enhance the competition and participation of these small, minority, and women-owned businesses by contracting and promoting economic development and growth opportunities throughout the Queen City. It is a component of a larger, city-wide strategy to grow small businesses (SBEs).

The City of Charlotte certified Mavendog as an SBE in 2017 and, we are proud to say, has re-certified Mavendog through 2023.

Mavendog is a niche, specialty, project delivery company with strong roots in Charlotte and the Carolinas. It is a Small Business Entity (SBE) by design.

“Even though we are a small business, our size is a big part of why we are so good at delivering projects and programs,” says Jon Vordermark, President. “Project management services don’t fit well in unwieldy, goliath consulting enterprises. Mavendog’s success is built on being small, nimble, and surgical. The world of project work is unpredictable, chaotic, and emotionally taxing. Thus, a more nimble delivery philosophy and personal touch can go a long way and have an enterprise-wide impact. But with any smaller company, operational investments and overhead can weigh heavily, especially for marketing and sales. That is why CBI’s programs are so beneficial, helping level a playing field where an SBE is otherwise drowned out by those with a louder sales voice.”

Because CBI’s minority, women, and small business enterprises (MWSBEs) offer major contributions to both the state and local economies, the success of these organizations is a crucial part of a larger growth plan. With more than 2.13 million residents, the City hopes to provide new contract opportunities to these often overlooked businesses, and consequently “lift all boats” in our local economy. “We credit the Charlotte Business INClusion program for helping Mavendog build exposure, especially when we first came on stage, to many companies, state, and municipal players,” added Jon.

The CBI is one component of a larger small business development and growth strategy, and its program functions include administering the certification process for Small Business Enterprise and Minority Women Business Enterprise firms within the designated thirteen county Charlotte Combined Statistical (CSA) area. These firms must first be registered with the NC Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses (NCHUB).

Organizations must meet certain requirements in order to be certified as a City’s MWSBE vendor, but once certified, they will be listed in the City’s vendor database. This will give the companies an increased opportunity of new contracting and subcontracting opportunities, as well as free workshops, seminars, networking, and capital loan opportunities. Currently, there are over a thousand vendors listed in the City’s database.

For more information on the Charlotte Business INClusion program, visit their website.

To see how Mavendog can help you to address those tactical projects ahead, schedule some time to speak with us!

Mavendog, LLC is a project leadership firm headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are a team of specialized, flex delivery leaders who help clients evaluate, plan, and drive project wins. Our services span Strategic Portfolio Development, Program Leadership, and Project & Change Delivery. We provide expertise for large program initiatives, as well as tactical support for short-term and part-time project needs.