Melissa Cook, Southern Workforce Board
REI Oklahoma hosted a Southern Oklahoma Women in Business Networking Luncheon today at Poteau’s Donald W Reynolds Center. Presenters at today’s event included James Harrington from REI Oklahoma, Melissa Cook from Southern Workforce Board, and Laura Williams of Oklahoma Rehabilitation Services. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s Small Business Development division sponsored the event including the lunch of mixed meat fajitas and all the toppings.
Following the lunch, presenters put the attendees into small groups to discuss several business-related questions designed to help each group member highlight her business and network with other group members. Following the small group work, participants were invited to complete an online survey about the meeting.
REI Oklahoma has a three-fold purpose to help business owners. Through the Business Lending division, REI Oklahoma’s various funding partners, including the U.S. Small Business Administration, USDA Rural Development, and the Economic Development Administration among others, make it easier for businesses to get the financing they need to grow. Through the Business Resources division, REI Oklahoma helps business owners with many aspects of starting or growing a business–developing a business plan, training, and even can provide space for the business in several southeast Oklahoma cities. The REI Home100 Program helps the homebuyer looking to purchase a home or a lender guiding clients through the process with the tools and resources to move forward with confidence.
Southern Workforce Board’s primary purpose is to serve as the community leader and catalyst for alignment of workforce with economic development. The Southern Workforce Board is a community based not-for-profit entity operated by a volunteer Board that is business-led by members representing the community and who have an interest in workforce and economic development issues.
Oklahoma Rehabilitation Services helps provide services to Oklahomans who have one or more disability. These services bring employers and potential employees together. The focus is on what employees can do, not on what they can not do. Employers are encouraged to focus on the employee’s strengths.
REI Oklahoma Southern Workforce Board Oklahoma Rehabilitation Services Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
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