Carla
Cobb Davis
“Things are
better, but there's still a ways to go.
”
That’s
according to Carla Cobb Davis, this year’s Woman Business Advocate of the
Year.
“There’s
still certain occupations for women that are not as open. President of the United States, for starters, but CEOs in commercial real
estate, building, printing and manufacturing as well”
, according to Davis.
"Those businesses are very male, but that doesn’t mean a woman can’t
run the company,” she
said.
As a board
member of the Silicon Valley chapter of the National Association of Women
Business Owners (NAWBO) since 1997, Davis has been actively promoting Bay Area
women-owned businesses. As membership director, she initiated a small
business grant fund for an emerging member business. Last year’s beneficiary
received $5,000. She is currently the chapter’s program director, arranging
education programs and speakers on leadership, marketing, finance and
management.
“It’s
the best job of all of them to make a difference,” said Davis. “NAWBO
gives (women-owned businesses) a leg up.
The
biggest challenge facing women-owned businesses is the same for any business
owner — building
a successful enterprise, said Cobb. “(Women) will have more equal footing if
we are financially successful. Until a woman-owned business is financially
fit, it has
no clout.”
Davis is CEO
of DBCcommercial Group in Sunnyvale, a commercial real estate firm. She
also serves on the Industry Council for Small Business
SBA
Award Criteria
 | Small Business Administration, SBA Women In Business Advocate of the Year – 2002 |
An
individual that has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of women
business ownership
Evaluation
Criteria:
|
Efforts
to increase business and financial opportunities for women. |
|
Legal,
financial or managerial assistance provided to enhance women’s business
ownership |
|
Volunteer
efforts to strengthen the role of women business owners within the
community. |
|
Advocacy
of the women-owned business community as a whole, not solely for
individual personal advancement. |
|
Other
accomplishments demonstrating effectiveness in improving the environment
for the creation and expansion of businesses owned and operated by women. |
| Active support for legislative or regulatory action designed to help small businesses. |
|
|
