Women’s Business Centers
The Women’s Business Centers offer tools and support to women-owned and women–led business to assist in establishing businesses, stabilizing companies, generating sustainable profits, strategizing for future growth and contributing to the growth and economic development of the community.
Our small business experts can provide:
- Customized, one-on-one business counseling.
- Seminars and classes focused on key business topics, such as marketing, finance, certification and small business resources.
- Review and feedback on written business plans.
- Loan package preparation assistance and lender referrals.
- Certification assistance and review.
- Networking opportunities to find mutual support, access to resources and business referrals.
The Women’s Business Center of Charlotte, the Women’s Business Center of North Carolina, and the Women’s Business Center of Central Virginia are funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Contact WBC
The Women’s Business Center of Charlotte
Goodwill Opportunity Campus
5301 Wilkinson Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28208
(704) 509-5884
wbc-charlotte@TheInstituteNC.org
Rocio Gonzalez
Executive Director, Women’s Business Center of Charlotte
Sheila Obregon
Program Director, Women’s Business Center of Charlotte
The Women’s Business Center of North Carolina
114 West Parrish Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 956-2334
wbcadmin@TheInstituteNC.org
Erica Vazquez Executive Director, Women’s Business Center of North Carolina
Renee Clauson-Rivera Program Director, Wilmington
The Women’s Business Center of Central Virginia
Virginia Union University
1500 N. Lombardy Street
Richmond, VA 23220
(919) 225-8339 wbccentralva@TheInstituteNC.org
Alyssa Mako
Interim Executive Director, Women’s Business Center of Central Virginia
The Women’s Business Center of The Triad
Bennett College, Catchings Complex
900 E. Washington Street
Greensboro, NC 27401
Alyssa Mako
Interim Executive Director, Women’s Business Center of The Triad
The Women’s Business Center of Charlotte, the Women’s Business Center of North Carolina, the Women’s Business Center of Central Virginia, and the Women’s Business Center of the Triad are members of the Association of Women’s Business Centers.
Minority Executive Education Institute
Small and diverse firms face unique challenges. In order to survive in today’s increasingly global marketplace, CEOs must lead their firms with innovative, clear strategies. In the absence of specialized executive training, few of these firms will be positioned for continual success in the marketplace. The Minority Executive Education Institute (MEEI®) delivers comprehensive and robust graduate-level business education designed to help diverse business executives strengthen and grow their companies.
Nicole Gye’Nyame
Project Director, Construction and Transportation Resources
Construction and Transportation Resources
A MESSAGE FROM THE INSTITUTE:
The U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) has discontinued financial support of its national network of Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) programs, effective September 30, 2025.
As one of its partners operating the South Atlantic Region SBTRC program for more than 10 years, this is a highly disappointing decision. Over the past 10 years, we have facilitated meaningful and profitable relationships between general contractors, airports, state DOT organizations and small diverse businesses across the regional footprint of Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, southern Maryland and the DC Metro region. While our relationship with the US Department of Transportation has changed, the Institute remains firmly committed to championing small diverse businesses that have faced generations of marginalization. We have proven that procuring goods and services from small diverse businesses is a business proposition that adds value to supply chain and provides opportunities for all. Thus, the Institute will continue engaging our corporate and local government partners to provide opportunities for impactful collaboration and small diverse business growth across our footprint, as we’ve done for almost 40 years.
We appreciate your continued trust and partnership as we navigate these challenges together. Should you have any questions or wish to provide any feedback, please feel free to contact us.
Center for Strategic Partnerships
At the Institute, we focus on moving small and diverse entrepreneurs and businesses forward, leveraging tools and relationships across our organization. As the Institute’s consulting arm, the Center for Strategic Partnerships (CSP) identifies opportunities and develops collaborations between internal and external partners with the goal of fostering strategic alliances that provide economic prosperity for diverse populations.