OLYMPIA -- The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Office of Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (OMWBE) will host a free one-day summit in Olympia on November 15.

"Bridging the Gap" focuses on recruiting minority and women owned small businesses, groups especially sought as contractors by DSHS.

"This summit is one of many ways we seek to bridge the gap for minority and women owned businesses in our agency," said Norman Moorer, DSHS, minority business program manager.

The summit is designed to work with the OMWBE to eliminate barriers and improve contracting opportunities to for woman and minority owned businesses. "Bridging the Gap" will include:

• Comments by DSHS Secretary Robin Arnold-Williams and Deputy Secretary Blake Chard.
• Opportunities to network with the business community and representative of one of the largest agencies in the state.
• Workshops to educate DSHS' business managers and contracting staff about how to be more proactive in conducting business with Women and Minority Business Enterprises.
• A class outlining the benefits for becoming certificated as a woman or minority owned business enterprise.
• On-site certification to qualified businesses.
• Free box lunch to all participants.

The summit will be held 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., DSHS, Office Building 2, 1115 Washington Street, Olympia, WA 98501. It will be held on the 4th floor, Lookout Conference Room.

Registration is available on-line at www.dshs.wa.gov/dao. For additional information please call (360) 902-7626 or e-mail at

dsssummit@dshs.wa.gov. Members of the media are also invited to attend the event.