Women’s Resource Center Partners to Offer Free Business Coaching for Female Entrepreneurs

March 21, 2022 – Sarasota

One of the major outcomes of the pandemic is that it further reinforced the disproportionate struggle of minority, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses. Addressing this issue, the Women’s Resource Center has partnered with the Tampa Bay Women’s Business Centre, CareerSource Suncoast, and SCORE Manasota to offer free business coaching, training, networking, workshops, access to capital, and mentorship programs to female entrepreneurs living in our region. The program launches on April 27. To find out more information, request an appointment with a Women’s Resource Center Career Coach by calling 941-366-1700.

“We are excited to partner with the Women’s Resource Center and share our vital services and access to educational and financial resources with women entrepreneurs,” says Dr. Kerry Szymanski, director of the Women’s Business Centre. “Through funding from SBA and other generous donors, our team of business coaches can help meet the different needs of these women. We have a particular focus on the unique barriers that minority business owners face, especially during times of crisis. Additionally, we have strengthened our diversity and inclusion by offering services in Spanish so that clients who may have a language barrier can still access much-needed resources.”

Since Manatee County is the dividing line for the territory that the Women’s Business Centre can serve, WRC also reached out to CareerSource Suncoast and SCORE Manasota in this partnership so that the program can serve female entrepreneurs throughout the Sarasota-Manatee region.  

“With the explosive growth in female-owned businesses, we’ve seen an increased need for coaching, education, and support services. By partnering with these three professional organizations, we can offer valuable tools to support our entrepreneur clients across the region, explains Lori Gentile, WRC’s Director of Client Services.

The Tampa Bay Women’s Business Centre opened in 2013 as part of The Centre for Women’s mission to help women achieve economic prosperity. It is the only Small Business Administration (SBA)-designated Women’s Business Centre on the west coast of Florida and is part of a national network of 135 women’s business centers nationwide funded in part by the SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership.

CareerSource Suncoast is the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) designated workforce services provider in Manatee and Sarasota counties. As a private, non-profit organization, its mission is to encourage economic development that improves our community through business growth, career advancement, and entrepreneurship. Providing education, training, and support services, CareerSource Suncoast helps turn possibilities into opportunities.

SCORE Manasota is a non-profit resource partner of the Small Business Administration. SCORE has been mentoring new and existing businesses for over 50 years and has a network of volunteers who donate their time to help entrepreneurs. As highly successful and experienced business professionals and entrepreneurs, SCORE mentors deliver valuable, timely, and practical advice.  SCORE mentors help businesses open new markets, reach new customers, and achieve new goals.

WRC offers robust career program initiatives, including free individual career coaching, resume preparation, interviewing skills, networking techniques, access to a local job list and more. To learn more about services available at WRC, please call 941-256-9721 or visit mywrc.org.