JKS Incorporated is excited to announce that we have successfully renewed certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and have been newly certified as a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program.
“Each year we are required to go through the recertification process with WBENC,” said Christy Cox Spencer, JKS Incorporated’s President. “The process is very thorough and detailed—which I appreciate as they are ensuring that each applicant is a legitimate woman-owned and operated business. I am incredibly proud of both our WBENC and WOSB certifications.”
Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Certification Renewal
Founded in 1997, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council has since become a leader in women’s business development and the nation’s largest third-party certifier of businesses owned by women. Fueled by their mission to foster global and economic growth by identifying, certifying, and facilitating the development of women-owned businesses, WBENC has partnered with 14 Regional Partner Organizations (RPOs) and certified more than 18,000 WBEs across the United States.
To qualify for the WBENC Certification, a business must be at least 51% owned, operated, controlled, and managed by a woman or women. Put simply, this means a woman or women:
- Must have unrestricted control of the business
- Manage day-to-day operations
- Have a proportionate investment of capital or expertise
Because of the extensive qualification process, WBENC Certification is considered to be the gold standard and most widely respected certification for WBEs in the United States. The certification is recognized and accepted by numerous states, cities, government entities, and more than 1,000 corporations representing America’s most reputable brands.
JKS Incorporated was first awarded its WBENC Certification by the Greater Women’s Business Council (North Carolina’s WBENC RPO) in August of 2021. 2024 marks JKS Incorporated’s third year as WBENC-Certified business.
Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Certification
As an approved third-party certifier for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council has also certified JKS Incorporated as a Women-Owned Small Business (WSOB).
To determine the eligibility of a business, WBENC uses a two part process to ensure that the applicant company meets the WBENC WOSB Standards. This process includes a thorough review of the documentation presented as well as a site visit interview with the company’s owner.
In order to qualify as a WOSB, a business must:
- Be “small” in its primary industry in accordance with the SBA’s size standards for its specific industry
- Be at least 51% unconditionally and directly owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens
- Have a woman or women managing day-to-day operations and making long-term decisions
The primary goal of the SBA’s WOSB Program is to help provide a level playing field for women business owners in industries where WBEs are underrepresented. The federal government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses that participate in the WOSB Program. By joining the WOSB Program, JKS Incorporated may now be eligible to compete for federal contracts reserved for the program’s certified participants.
JKS Incorporated is proud to be woman-owned and we’re honored to know that our WBENC and WOSB Certifications place us amongst such a prestigious group of businesses.
To view our WOSB Certificate, click here.
To view our WBENC Certificate, click here.
