Meet Rachel Precious, Owner of Precious Oysters. Rachel is one of WBDC’s 2024 Women Rising Award recipients and will be honored at our Annual Gala on October 25, along with five other entrepreneurs. Rachel earned a degree in conservation biology and in 2016 she decided to pursue oyster farming, where she spent several years working for various local farms. Today, she is the owner and founder of Precious Oysters Raw Bar Catering, which combines her love of event planning with her passion for oysters. After Rachel started Precious Oysters in 2018 she quickly realized she needed a business plan, which was when she found WBDC. She took the GPS nine-week business plan course in 2022. "The GPS course was life-changing," she said. "I not only learned technical skills, such as how to write a business plan and QuickBooks, but meeting every week with a group of women of all different ages and types of businesses who all had the same questions and the same goals was inspiring." In May 2023 Rachel received an Ignite Grant, which she will use to purchase a freezer for her new space in Norwalk. Join us at WBDC’s 2024 Women Rising Gala on October 25 to celebrate Rachel, our other Women Rising awardees, and all women entrepreneurs in CT! Go to www.ctwbdc.org/gala to purchase tickets.
Women's Business Development Council
Professional Training and Coaching
Stamford, CT 10,222 followers
The Women's Business Development Council (WBDC) is the Leader of Entrepreneurial and Financial Training for Women in CT.
About us
Founded in 1997 as a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization, the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) is one of over 120 SBA supported women’s business centers nationwide. WBDC helps clients increase productivity, maximize preparation, earn money, and continue to achieve their personal and professional business dreams. •WBDC’s small business training and counseling educates, empowers and guides the aspiring, emerging and established entrepreneur throughout their small business venture. •Financial coaching is tailored to individual needs and goals for the purpose of creating a stable financial future and improved quality of life. Components of the program include: Budget Coaching, Seminars and Long-term Financial Coaching addressing credit related issues, increasing personal wealth and saving for long-term goals. •Workshops and one-on-one career coaching and counseling for those who are unemployed or who are willing to explore other professional avenues in order to reach their career goals. Women and men enrolled in WBDC programs become more effective employers and employees with the potential to grow their business, advance their career and increase their income
- Website
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http://www.ctwbdc.org
External link for Women's Business Development Council
- Industry
- Professional Training and Coaching
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- Stamford, CT
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 1997
Locations
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Primary
184 Bedford Street
Suite 201
Stamford, CT 06901, US
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470 James Street
Suite 007
New Haven, Connecticut 06513, US
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300 State Street
Suite 419
New London, CT 06320, US
Employees at Women's Business Development Council
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Heidi Richards Mooney
Publisher & Editor in Chief - WE Magazine, Marketing Small Biz, Flowers Galore & Inventing Women. Wordpress WEB Designer, Content Design Creator &…
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Dorothy Bratchell
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Carol A. Cheswick
Connector | Teacher | Entrepreneur | Business Consultant | Dog Lover | Dedicated to Empowering Women
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Katia Lacy
Updates
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Last week we were joined by our Wisconsin friends from WWBIC. Had a great day exchanging best practices on advocacy and entrepreneurial programming. Thanks for visiting us in CT! Christina Knudsen, MEPD, Wendy Baumann, Fran Pastore, Dorothy Bratchell, Louise Lisboa, Linda Fecteau & Sonique S.
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Last week, the WBDC team enjoyed connecting with clients and community partners at an Oktoberfest Meet Up in our New London Office. Thanks to our friends at Chelsea Groton Bank for joining us and for sponsoring the event. Stay tuned for information about upcoming networking events. Jennifer Baudro, Mandy Crispim, Alexis Kahn, Jennifer Laptew Williams, Megan Marco, Margarida Martins-Querido, Erin McBride, Ivy Mellow, Marta Oddone, Lacy Donovan, Shellena Pitterson, Tish Rabe, Mariana Serrano, MPH, Brenda Thickett, Laura Blake, DPS, Susan Hackett, Linda Fecteau, Dr. Marian Gryzlo, Danielle Ruggiero & Louise Lisboa
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The results from our Annual Impact Survey are in! WBDC has served just under 4,000 clients from April of 2022- March of 2024 58% are women of color; 40% work in an economically distressed community. 98% of our clients would recommend WBDC’s services. Our clients are impacting the economy with: 58 new jobs created A net revenue increase of $4.4 million across 94 clients 34 clients accessed critical funding totaling $1.9 million (not including WBDC grants!), fueling their growth and success! Our clients have also made personal finance milestones since coming to WBDC: 70 started paying themselves from their business 110 opened a business bank account 45 increased their credit score Want to achieve your business goals? WBDC can provide the guidance and support you need. Get in touch today!
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Sara Sharp, Counsel, Hurwitz Sagarin Slossberg & Knuff, LLC will be honored at our Gala this year with The Patricia Billie Miller Award for Outstanding Community Service. This award honors a WBDC volunteer whose dedication inspires others to achieve their dreams and exhibits a passion for, and commitment to, WBDC and the women it serves throughout our state. Congratulations Sara and thank you for your continued support of WBDC and women entrepreneurs in CT! To learn more about the gala and purchase tickets, go to www.ctwbdc.org/gala
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Meet Michele Piskin, owner of Michele Piskin Consulting As a Certified Dementia Professional, Michele is dedicated to providing compassionate care and support to individuals living with dementia and their families. Her boutique-style care management service offers personalized solutions tailored to each client's unique needs. "My goal is to provide the empathy and customized support needed to navigate this challenging journey," says Michele. Taking the GPS class from WBDC helped Michele develop her business plan and the one-on-one counseling provided by WBDC’s business advisors helped her find the right path for her business and personal goals.
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Meet Sofia Byrnes, Owner of Cottontails Childcare & Learning Center in Stamford. Sofia is one of WBDC’s 2024 Women Rising Award recipients and will be honored at our Annual Gala on October 25, along with five other entrepreneurs. Sofia started her entrepreneurial journey with a home-based childcare after not finding childcare for her son, who is now 23. When Sofia started looking for spaces for Cottontails Childcare and Learning Center in 2021 she realized she would have to prove to landlords and banks that she was knowledgeable enough to take on such a business and would be able to run it which was when she first turned to WBDC for support. In addition to the training and one-on-one business advising Sofia has received from WBDC, Sofia has also received grants through the WBDC/OEC Childcare Business Opportunity Fund. According to Sofia, "With the help of WBDC who always believed in me I created business plans, projections, and policies and was able to open Cottontails Childcare and Learning Center." Join us at WBDC’s 2024 Women Rising Gala on October 25 to celebrate Sofia, our other Women Rising awardees, and all women entrepreneurs in CT! Go to www.ctwbdc.org/gala to purchase tickets.
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Meet Vincencia “Vee” Adusei, Owner of VASE Construction in New Haven. Vee is one of WBDC’s 2024 Women Rising Award recipients, and will be honored at our Annual Gala on October 25, along with five other entrepreneurs. Since early 2023, Vee has worked extensively with WBDC Business Advisors. She also received an Ignite grant (then named Equity Match Grant) from WBDC in May 2023 and used the funds to purchase a new truck, allowing her and her staff to get to and from construction sites more easily. Join us at WBDC’s 2024 Women Rising Gala on October 25 to celebrate Vee, our other Women Rising awardees, and all women entrepreneurs in CT! Visit ctwbdc.org/gala to purchase tickets.
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We’re #hiring a new Small Business Advisor (Spanish-language, Child Care) in Hartford, Connecticut. Apply today or share this post with your network.
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We’re excited to announce the latest addition to Team WBDC! Danielle Ruggiero, WBDC’s new Director of Programs, will oversee our entrepreneurial classes and business advising services. With over two decades of leadership experience in program and product development, Danielle has a proven track record of driving innovation, increasing revenue, and building strategic partnerships. Welcome to the WBDC team, Danielle!