Women's Business Center of Richmond

While the Institute is firmly rooted in North Carolina, it has had a regional presence in five southeastern states. In 2021, it is deepening its presence in Virginia by establishing a new Women’s Business Center (WBC) Richmond on the campus of Virginia Union University. This expansion is made possible by grant funding awarded by the US Small Business Administration as part of its largest expansion of WBCs in SBA history.

Dannellia Gladden-Green, PhD will serve as Executive Director of WBC Richmond. With more than two decades in corporate America, she has held positions of increasing scope and responsibilities. Her areas of expertise include Productization, Business Development, and Supply Chain Management with an emphasis on Diversity Equity & Inclusion. She is an author and entrepreneur who founded SAGEsse Consulting, a general management and strategy company headquartered in Richmond, VA.

"For such a time as this, the Women's Business Center Richmond will become a leading complement to the entrepreneurial efforts of, for and through women-owned enterprises and I am super-excited to add my leadership to the team making this a reality," said Dr. Gladden-Green.

The WBC Richmond will provide one-on-one counseling, training, technical assistance, networking, and resources vital to the success of women entrepreneurs in the Richmond area. Services that are desperately needed as female entrepreneurs and women-owned small businesses struggle to recover during an economic downturn and worldwide pandemic.