NYS-certified MBE & WBE · Buffalo, New York · Since 2010
Training & development
Certification, procurement and business-readiness training for diverse firms, and programs for the agencies and partners who want them in their supply chain.
Signature program
A proprietary eight-week intensive that takes a business from "where do I stand?" to a 90-day readiness roadmap, with a scored baseline at the start and the finish.
Delivered in 2026 with the Women's Business Center at Canisius University
Our curriculum
Every class we teach is our own curriculum, delivered for clients such as the Women's Business Center at Canisius University and the Construction Exchange of Buffalo & WNY.
Certification, procurement and compliance education for firms that want to sell to public agencies, institutions and primes.
Classes and one-on-one guidance on New York State MWBE and SDVOB certification and how public procurement works once a firm is certified.
Guidance on eligibility, documentation and the application for federal and transportation-program certifications, which have their own rules separate from New York State MWBE certification.
How public buying works, where opportunities are posted, and what a business needs in place before it bids.
A session for contractors on how MWBE participation goals work and what owners and primes expect.
For businesses that are already certified and not yet winning work. Participants leave with a 90-day activation plan and a bid/no-bid framework.
An introductory series on New York State MWBE certification and what it takes to become contract-ready.
Business strategy, project management, marketing and leadership training for growing firms.
Taught entrepreneurs government contracting, procurement and MWBE/WBE certification.
A conference session on project management for small and diverse firms.
A conference session on building a business brand and marketing it on social media.
Strategy and structure for businesses that need to grow beyond their founder.
Leadership development and employee engagement for growing organizations.
Multi-month programs and annual events founded by Talia Johnson-Huff. Programs of The RARE Place, Inc., a separate nonprofit, are labeled as such.
A nine-month readiness cohort for diverse businesses. All 12 members of Cohort 1 graduated in October 2026; 10 completed capability statements and 3 won contracts.
The January meet-and-greet that introduces prospective businesses to the Capacity Building Program and launches the next cohort.
A day of certification training, buyer panels and bootcamps that connects diverse businesses with the agencies and primes that buy from them.
From participants
“I learned so much and the overall engagement was something I don't often get to see in our classes.”
“Thank you for taking the time to guide us through this process of certification.”
“Thank you for the awesome, informative classes you offer.”
We design and deliver training for agencies, institutions, primes and business support organizations. Tell us who you want to reach.