MarketPoint Receives MBE and DBE Certifications
Baltimore-based consulting firm MarketPoint LLC announced, today, that it has received both Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Certification from the State of Maryland, and the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification (DBE).
The firm’s joint MBE/DBE certification allows MarketPoint to conduct business throughout the State of Maryland and on federally funded USDOT contracts, and covers several broad service categories, including (but not limited to) Management Consulting, Strategic Branding, Marketing Consulting, Market Research and Public Opinion Polling.
“Organizations consider many factors when choosing a branding or marketing partner – chief among them are the quality of work performed and the expertise of the individual consultants,” said Laura Pasternak, MarketPoint’s founder and president. “We take great pride in our track record as effective communicators and change agents, and we fully expect that clients will continue to choose MarketPoint for the quality of our work, primarily, and not merely for our status as a certified MBE.”
“Still, we are very pleased to receive MBE/DBE certification from the state and federal governments,” she continued, “and we take very seriously our responsibility to serve those organizations who participate in the MD/MBE and US/DBE programs.”
Virtually all of the firm’s service offerings are covered by the new MBE/DBE certification, including: market research, developing marketing plans, market segmentation, message mapping, communications management, product launches, internal (employee and member) communications, branding and rebranding, brand management, and organizational development.
Maryland’s Minority Business Enterprise Program and the US Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program are managed through Maryland’s Department of Transportation (MDOT). Maryland’s MBE/DBE certification is the only authoritative certification process for Minority Business Enterprises in the State of Maryland.
A woman-owned business since 2001, MarketPoint is also certified WBE by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
MarketPoint provides strategic branding and marketing services for clients in the business-to-business, education and non-profit sectors. Founded in 2001, the firm focuses on organizations in transition. Examples of transition may include changes in organizational leadership, introduction of new products and services, penetration of new markets, rebranding, or temporary vacancies inside the marketing organization.
Prior to establishing MarketPoint, Pasternak held senior marketing and strategic planning positions with such companies as Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc. and Thomson Corporation. In addition to her work at MarketPoint, she serves on the board of the Baltimore Regional Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), and speaks publicly on various brand and marketing topics.
