MBE Magazine

Dedicated to the success of minority and women business owners. | https://mbemag.com

MBE magazine examines affirmative action and procurement programs in the public and private sectors and provides in-depth coverage of crucial issues affecting the growth and survival of minority- and woman-owned businesses. Each issue also features the success story of a prominent minority or female entrepreneur whose life and accomplishments may serve as a role model for others.

01/20/2026

3 THINGS CLARENCE HOWELL TRACKS DAILY IN HIS MARCO'S PIZZA FRANCHISE

(And why these metrics matter more than anything else)

Clarence is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt who left oil & gas to open his first franchise. Here's what he watches like a hawk:

1. MAKE TIME: How long from order to oven? This tells you if your kitchen is running efficiently or if there's a bottleneck slowing everything down.
2. OUT THE DOOR TIME: How long from order screen to driver's hands? This is your delivery promise. Fall behind here and customers notice immediately.
3. DELIVERY TIME: Total time from kitchen to customer's door. This is the ONLY metric customers actually care about. Everything else supports this.

He also tracks: • Labor costs (daily) • Food costs (weekly) • Customer satisfaction (weekly) • Employee turnover (monthly) • Net sales (because that's what actually goes in your pocket)

His advice for aspiring franchise owners?

"Who are you? Why are you doing this? Do your people know, understand, and believe it?"

Start with culture. Build systems around that. The rest will follow.

What's the ONE metric you wish you tracked earlier in your business? Let us know!

Read the full interview with Clarence: https://bit.ly/4jPyym8

12/09/2025

What if your retirement fund could become your first franchise?
That’s exactly how James Thompson went from corporate leader to multi-unit Toastique franchise owner—with plans to dominate airport locations next.

Here’s what his journey teaches every aspiring owner:

✅ You don’t need restaurant experience
✅ You DO need the right systems + team
✅ Financing has more options than you’ve been told
✅ Airports = built-in customers
✅ Ownership beats job security every time

His story proves that it’s never too late to pivot into purpose and profit.

Read the full feature here: https://bit.ly/4oYUH2x

Share this with someone who’s been talking about “one day owning a business.”

12/02/2025

Have you ever worked so hard that your body finally said, “Enough”?
That’s exactly what happened to Class 101 multi-unit franchise owner Ronda Swanigan — and what she did next changed everything.

Right after giving birth, still in the hospital, Ronda Swanigan was answering student messages.

Until her husband looked at her and said:
“You’re not even healed yet.”

That moment forced her to shift from “doing it all” → to leading differently.

Here’s what helped her grow into an award-winning, multi-unit franchise owner serving 250+ families a year:

She stopped trying to power through everything alone.
She embraced a simple mindset shift: Who Not How.
She used her experience as a Black woman + educator as a strategic advantage.
She built KPIs and systems that supported her, not drained her.
She stepped into leadership instead of survival mode.

Her story is a reminder that your business cannot grow if you’re always the one holding it up.

Read more of Ronda’s CEO lessons >>> https://bit.ly/48s6Wy6

11/11/2025

You don’t need a bigger marketing budget.
You need a microphone.

Speaking isn’t just about confidence — it’s one of the most profitable growth strategies for small business owners.

That’s why we sat down with Liz Wool, a powerhouse who helps founders:

✅ Engage audiences with ease
✅ Sell without sounding salesy
✅ Turn one talk into months of leads
✅ Land collaborations from the stage

The truth is: if people don’t know you, they can’t hire you.
This feature is your sign to stop hiding and start being heard.

Read the full interview here>>https://bit.ly/4p0EsCk

10/27/2025

The franchising playbook isn’t just for mega-brands anymore. Small businesses are using it to scale fast. Check out the link in our bio for the full breakdown.

10/07/2025

Keith Lambert saw a problem every plant faces — workers losing vital knowledge — and built a mobile tool that makes proof-of-work simple. If you run operations, try this 3-step starter plan to stop losing know-how.

Read Keith's story>>>http://bit.ly/476vgWR

10/03/2025

AI doesn’t carry consequences—you do. If an AI-generated idea tanks revenue or erodes trust, YOU hold the bill. That’s why leadership—not just automation—protects your bottom line.

Read the 5 ways to protect your bottom line beyond the prompt.>>> http://bit.ly/4pSGeqg

And, share this with someone who needs to hear it.

10/02/2025

If you're a small business owner tired of hearing "we'll get back to you" from potential corporate clients, this might change everything.⁠
⁠
A new study of 150+ corporate executives reveals something shocking: 96% WANT to work with more small suppliers, but they're only spending 7% of their budgets with small businesses.⁠
⁠
Here's what's driving this shift: 🌍 Global trade disruptions forcing supply chain diversification 📈 91% of executives are actively changing their small supplier strategies 💰 Real results: 50% see cost savings, 53% report stronger supply chains.⁠
⁠
But here's the reality check small business owners need to hear: ❌ 41% of small supplier partnerships failed last year ❌ Average corporate loss from failed partnerships: $10+ million ❌ Main reason: Poor vetting and unreliable performance data.⁠
⁠
The barriers keeping you out: • Complex onboarding processes (taking months) • Lack of transparent performance metrics • Corporate teams don't know where to find qualified small businesses • Internal resistance to changing established vendor relationships.⁠
⁠
The game-changing news: 85% of executives plan to INCREASE small business spending next year.⁠
⁠
For minority and women entrepreneurs who face 29-39% loan denial rates, corporate procurement might be your fastest path to sustainable, scalable revenue.⁠
⁠
The question isn't whether the opportunity exists—it's whether you're positioned to capitalize on it.⁠
⁠
Read the entire story.>>> http://bit.ly/42Te8kK⁠
⁠
Are you ready to land corporate contracts? Share this post and comment with your biggest procurement challenge—let's help each other break through these barriers!⁠
⁠

09/30/2025

Maria Fernanda Trochimezuk's story proves that your biggest challenges can become your greatest contributions.

After struggling to find scholarships as a Latina student, she didn't just overcome the obstacle—she eliminated it for others.

Today, she runs: 🌟 Bravo Story: Helps corporations tell authentic, diverse stories 🌟 IOScholarships: Connects underrepresented students to STEM funding

The impact? Students are becoming first-generation college graduates, and corporations are building genuine connections with diverse audiences.

Her philosophy: "Authentic engagement means consistent investment, not seasonal campaigns."

In a landscape where Hispanic entrepreneurs face 29% loan denial rates, Maria built not one but two NMSDC-certified businesses focused on creating opportunities for others.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, her story reminds us that sustainable change happens when we transform our personal struggles into systemic solutions.

Read Maria’s story.>>> http://bit.ly/3WbMGep

Share this post if you believe in turning obstacles into opportunities! What challenge in your life could become your next business idea? Let us know in the comments!

09/29/2025

Minority and women entrepreneurs: the funding gap is real, but so are the solutions. Here are 10 grants (from $5K to $300K+) you can apply for in 2025—no repayment required.

Tag another founder who needs this!>>> http://bit.ly/3Kj3Y6V

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Enterprise Publishing Inc. (EPI) is a media services company that serves the supplier diversity communities in the U.S. and Canada. Our mission is to Inform, Educate and Inspire. EPI offers three value-added vehicles to share and promote your story.

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