SBA Hails QEDC For Women-Owned Business Successes

(L. to r.): QEDC Executive Director Spencer Ferdinand, Elaine Ward, owner of Isis Plumbing, Inc., Long Island City, SBA Region II Administrator William Mangre Jr., SBA Administrator Steven C. Preston and Queens Director of Economic Development Seth Bornstein.

The Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC) and two of its women

business clients were honored by the Small Business Administration (SBA)

Administrator Steven C. Preston at a luncheon November 9 sponsored by Citibank and held at its corporate offices in Long Island City for Queens entrepreneurs who credit their business success to SBA funded programs. The QEDC Women's Business Center is partially funded by the SBA.

Ladisla Perez, owner of Cake Mio Bakery in Corona, praised the services she received from the QEDC Women's Business Center, which helped her launch her successful Dominican cake shop.

Elaine Ward, owner of Isis Plumbing, Inc. in Long Island City, was one of the first women in New York City to attain a Master Plumber's license. She thanked the QEDC Women's Business Center for helping her grow her plumbing business by enrolling her in the organization's mentor-protégé program.

"Ladisla Perez and Elaine Ward are the embodiment of why QEDC staff gets up in the morning and works so hard to help people become independent business owners," QEDC Executive Director Spencer Ferdinand commented. "Having them put into words and witnessing the emotional impact it has had on their lives was a blessing

to all of us at QEDC. I thank the SBA for making our work possible, and I applaud the SBA for orchestrating this award luncheon and for honoring our clients."

The QEDC business services team also received an award for its significant contribution to the success of "The SBA Comes to Town" event that featured a surprise visit from Preston.

The QEDC is a private, nonprofit entity established in 1979 to stimulate the Queens economy and create job opportunities for the borough and its residents. QEDC has evolved into a multiservice organization offering community enrichment, entrepreneurial training, business consulting, marketing and tourism direction for more than 2,000 clients annually. More information is available at www.queensny.org. The QEDC Women's Business Center is a program partially funded by the SBA. SBA funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions, or services. All SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.