Angela
Barber,
Marketing Research Specialist/SWaM Coordinator
The City of Chesapeake

How long have you been a NAWBO SEVA Corporate
Partner? 6 years
Thank you for being an active partner and advocate
for NAWBO SEVA. Can you tell our readers why you are
so passionate about the organization? NAWBO
is a great way to network and build relationships with
new and existing business partners who are looking for
a variety of business services.
Based on your experience, what do you see as
the most important thing a member or corporate partner
can do to grow with NAWBO SEVA? Keep the lines
of communication open, so that members know who you
are and are aware of the services you provide.
Can you describe the key business services and
solutions you provide? Local Government - Economic
Development. Business development and retention, research
and statistical data. Providing resources for Small
Women and Minority Business.
In a few sentences, what makes your services
unique? Although we provide services as a city
government, every service we provide is tailored to
our target audience, the business community. From our
Economic Development Investment Program, to our Fast
Track Permitting process, no business is too big or
too small for us to work with.
Which city in Hampton Roads do you call home?
Virginia Beach, VA
What do you like to do when you're not working?
I enjoy spending time with my daughters (ages 7 and
12). Their different personalities keep me busy. I also
enjoy bike riding, gardening and cooking.
The last really great book you read that you'd
like to recommend to NAWBO SEVA members and partners?
It's been a while since I've had time to read a good
book... the reason... see answer to previous question!
Someone you admire and why? My Mother....
who always believed first in her faith. She taught my
sisters and I that being successful is a choice and
that the choices we make in life determine how successful
we were to become.
The City of Chesapeake is part of Virginia's Hampton
Roads, America's First Region, located at the midpoint
of the US Atlantic Coast, 3.5 hours south of Washington,
DC. Two-thirds of the US population and industrial production
are within 750 miles (1,200 km) of Chesapeake, one of
the 100 largest cities in America, and one of its best
locations for business investment and quality of life.
Hampton Roads is the 31st largest Metropolitan Statistical
Area (MSA) in the United States. Salaries are below
the U.S. average Local labor force is augmented annually
by 17,000 exiting military personnel, 40,000 military
spouses and more than 8,500 graduating college students
Labor costs in Chesapeake are historically competitive
nationally, particularly because of Virginia state laws
that contain employer costs in the areas of workers'
compensation and unemployment insurance. Chesapeake
embraces the global village concept, blending the best
of America with the cosmopolitan influences of over
80 foreign-based companies from 19 different countries
. Consistently ranked by the FBI as one of the five
safest U.S. cities with populations over 200,000, Chesapeake
is a family-oriented city with a pace that's in keeping
with dynamic global business community. For more information
on Chesapeake Economic Development, please visit
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