Introducing the DOBE® Host Committee
We are proud to introduce the USBLN®’s 2014 Conference inaugural Disability-Owned Business
Enterprise (DOBE) Host Committee comprised of capable, forward- thinking and innovative
certified disability suppliers who are helping achieve our organization’s vision of driving greater
disability inclusion in all areas of business. Since its inception in early April, the Committee has
been hard at work on ways to increase the visibility of DOBEs, their integration into the supply
chain and elevating the interest of corporations and government agencies in doing business
with USBLN certified DOBEs and service-disabled veterans-owned businesses (SDVOBs). Several
of the members also utilize other certified suppliers for their business needs.
The Host Committee, chaired by Joyce Bender, Bender Consulting Services, will be actively
involved on-site during the conference and invite you to look for them at conference sessions,
Business Exchange Matchmaker meetings and other events. Visit their booth at the Biz2Biz
Expo. But don’t wait until September! Find out how these certified suppliers, and other
disability-owned businesses can bring added value and competitiveness to your supply chain.
DOBE Host Committee Chair
Joyce A. Bender is the founder and CEO of Bender Consulting
Services, Inc., a firm that recruits and hires people with disabilities in
the public and private sectors, who are trained in the information
technology, engineering, finance/accounting, human resources, and
general business areas. In 2001, Joyce also incorporated Bender
Consulting Services of Canada, Inc., a Canadian company that
focuses on creating competitive employment opportunities for
Canadians with disabilities. Bender Consulting is headquartered in
Pittsburgh, PA and operates in 19 states in the U.S. and two
provinces in Canada. A USBLN certified DOBE since 2010, and
successful business owner for more than 20 years, Joyce believes
that disability-owned and operated firms are business-savvy with strong capabilities and are
ready to compete in the business marketplace.
jbender@benderconsult.com; www.benderconsult.com
© 2014 US Business Leadership Network (USBLN). All rights reserved. www.usblnannualconference.org
Cindy Ulven is the President and CEO of Accelerated Engraving &
Signage, LLC is a highly professional company specializing in delivering
custom and quality signage to meet the needs of our clients. They are
a licensed ADA compliant company and provide Braille and all types of
signage for commercial and public buildings. Cindy’s company also
sells wholesale and retail personalized engraved gifts and corporate
awards to stores and businesses throughout the U.S. AES is located in
western Minnesota and ship products national and international. The
firm manufactures Braille signs for Government projects and the
National Institute of the Blind.
AES@arvig.net; www.aengraving.com
Patricia K. Graves is president and founder of Caption First, Inc., a
company that provides real time and offline media captioning for
people with hearing loss as well as for people whose Native language is
not English. With a history of business ownership that spans 25
successful years, Patricia is a perfect example of how hard work and
business acumen allow small businesses to successfully compete in the
marketplace, regardless of disability. Certified as a DOBE® by the
USBLN® in 2012, headquartered in Colorado, and with employees and
independent contractors throughout the United States, Caption First
serves people, corporations, and organizations nationally and
internationally.
Pat.graves@captionfirst.com; www.captionfirst.com
© 2014 US Business Leadership Network (USBLN). All rights reserved. www.usblnannualconference.org
Charlotte International Partners Inc. was established in 2003 by Jack
D. Smith, President. Charlotte International Partners is the exclusive
US partner for six of Europe's most respected commercial lighting
manufacturers and is responsible for the sales, marketing, logistics
and distribution of their products. With more than fourteen years'
experience with LED and driver technology, Charlotte International
Partners represents the world's largest commercial LED
lighting manufacturer: I-LED, one of the Linea Light Group companies
from Italy. Combined with their other lighting factories, Charlotte
International Partners offers the largest selection of LED lighting in
the USA with more than 26,000 unique products. Their products are offered to the professional
lighting industry by a network of the nation's leading manufacturers reps covering all the major
metropolitan areas. As the preferred lighting vendor of some of the largest retail chains,
CIP offers a vast selection of specialty lighting in all styles at factory direct prices.
jdsmith@usa.com; www.ciplighting.com
Integrated Global Strategies (IGS) was launched in 2012 by Andy
Houghton, Principal and CEO. Our company specializes in disability
awareness training and strategic communications, including the
production of visual media. This focus makes Integrated Global
Strategies a leading diversity supplier source for clients seeking
communications and marketing expertise and high quality media
products and services including: motion/video production; special
effects and open and closed captioning services at competitive
prices. Specifically IGS helps clients establish quality
benchmarks/standards based on best practices and industry
standards; create a replicable model that can be applied enterprise
wide; and link essential capabilities of nonprofit organizations to corporate strategic sourcing
initiatives.
Andrewdh@bellsouth.net; www.integratedglobalstrategies.com
© 2014 US Business Leadership Network (USBLN). All rights reserved. www.usblnannualconference.org