Happy New Year. Friends!

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Happy New Year. Friends! 

I hope this newsletter finds you enjoying 2022, and being well. Our team has kicked off the New Year in full speed. There are many exciting happenings on the horizon for ONABEN. Our goal is to make 2022 the best year ever!


In many ways, 2021 was a banner year for our organization. Thanks to the use of social media and Zoom, ONABEN met the needs of more entrepreneurs than ever before. If you have not branched out and embraced social media as a way to engage and support your audience, I encourage you to do so. Like all of you, our team took the opportunity to evaluate the way in which we deliver our services in the past year, and I can say with sincerity, it has created a world of possibilities for ONABEN.


This month, our team traveled to Portland, Oregon to implement one of five all woman cohort events. It is always inspiring to see connections occur naturally among our cohort members. Due to the ongoing world health crisis, our team limits in-person events to ten. However, I believe the smaller number in the group makes for a more profound learning experience. Special thanks to our presenters, who truly create the most amazing content. I look forward to seeing how our women cohort grows over time. Look for monthly webcasts, specific to women in business. And, if you are interested in learning more about the cohort, please do not hesitate to reach out.


Are you wondering what is new and exciting with our team? I hope so. I am thrilled to share that our team will step outside of the footprint of the United States, and work in coordination with a partner in Guatemala to establish a program that promotes women empowerment and woman-owned businesses. Many of you may know that crossing borders has been a long-time goal of ONABEN. Our team could not be more excited. Some dreams are worth the wait.


ONABENs Bridge to Success program is currently recruiting new cohort members. If you are a small business owner, and would like to grow your capacity to provide contractual services to the federal government, send an email to Chase Vanover at chase@onaben.org. Bridge to Success is a great way to build knowledge and grow your network.


If you haven’t stopped by our Facebook page in a while you should. Weekly opportunities for training events are posted. Our team actively plans and implements online training programs to support the needs of the small business community from coast to coast, and beyond.


There is so much occurring within our organization that I could go on and on. However, for now, I will simply close by inviting you to engage with our team. If there is a service that you are interested in, a program that you would like to know more about, let us know!


Cheers,

V.

Michael Bridges

Michael Bridges

Michael is a proud U.S. Army Veteran and a member of the Cherokee Nation. With 10 years of service as an Infantryman, Michael implements the core values of integrity, honor, and selfless service into his leadership of the company. With over 20 years of experience, Michael began working with building websites and graphic design in 1998. A family-oriented man, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife Kristina and their three children. He is a proud and active member of Jenks Lodge #497 A.F. & A.M. and an advisor for the Order of DeMolay.