Diverse Opportunities

SHARE Reading Connects Minority-owned Businesses with Large Companies

By Julie Larison, Senior Director of Membership Services, GRCA

SHARE Reading is an exciting new networking and B2B event created and sponsored by UPMC that will foster opportunities for minority business enterprises (MBE), woman-owned business enterprises (WBE), LGBTQ business enterprises LGBTQBE), disability-owned enterprises (DOBE) or other small business enterprises in this category. This initiative is designed to engage with large companies committed to supplier diversity and minority-owned enterprises.

The SHARE program is an annual event produced with the support of local stakeholder groups in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and now in Reading. SHARE Reading will be an in-person event in the city and is slated for early 2023.

The Greater Reading Chamber Alliance( GRCA) will concentrate the work of its minority business and diversity and inclusion committees on gathering data and providing outreach and support for the SHARE program. A SHARE steering committee led by Greater Reading Chamberof Commerce & Industry Board member Jonathan Encarnacion, is comprised of Kutztown SBDC, Berks NAACP, Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce, Community First Fund and the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council.

Is your Company Seeking Diverse Suppliers for Products or Services?

In preparation for the B2B networking component of the SHARE event, companies will participate in a matching-making process that connects them to the appropriate minority-owned business. Berks County businesses committed to diversity in supplier development and purchasing can send the appropriate contact information to SHARE@greaterreading.org to be included in the match-making process and invitation list for the 2023 SHARE Reading event.

Are you a Minority-owned Business that is seeking certification?

Businesses in the Greater Reading area that are Minority, Women, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (MWDBE) can learn more about MBE certification, benefits and how to become certified by contacting GRCA or the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council (www.emsdc.org).