Unlock Opportunities: MWBE Certification Workshop for PM Consultants

Navigating Washington State's Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprise Registration

Are you a PM professional launching or growing consulting practices?  A woman or person of color entrepreneur in project management?  Anyone interested in state government contracting opportunities?  An ally who supports consultant services diversity initiatives? Someone interested in identifying as a disadvantaged business (irrespective of ethnic, racial, gender identity) and associated opportunities?

PMI Puget Sound Professional Development and Programs Portfolio will offer a workshop on accessing economic opportunities through MWBE certification.

MWBE Certification is a pathway to economic opportunity for project management consultants. Washington State MWBE spending alone is $2.1 billion annually

Workshop Details

📅 Saturday, January 31, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific Time
💻 Virtual Workshop (Zoom)
💰 FREE - No Cost for Puget Sound PMI Members/ $30 for non-members
🎓 Earn 3 PDUs (Business Acumen)
👥 Limited to 50 Participants

What You Will Learn

✅ Complete OMWBE Registration Process

• Eligibility requirements and business structure considerations
• Step-by-step application walkthrough
• Documentation requirements and organization strategies

✅ Federal, State & Local Certifications

• Washington State OMWBE
• Federal SBA programs (8(a), WOSB, EDWOSB)
• National certifications (NMSDC, WBENC)
• City and county programs

✅ Accessing Procurement Opportunities

• Washington's Electronic Business Solution (WEBS)
• System for Award Management (SAM.gov)
• Port of Seattle
• King County
• Set-aside contracts and MWBE goals
• Corporate supplier diversity programs

✅ Business Development Strategies

• Marketing your certification effectively
• Building relationships with prime contractors
• Creating winning project and program management focused capability statements
• Maintaining compliance and annual renewals

✅ Avoiding Common Pitfalls

• Application mistakes that cause delays
• Documentation gaps that sink applications
• Loss of certification triggers
• Record-keeping best practices

Who Should Attend

• PM professionals (project, program and portfolio management as well as agile consultants) launching or growing consulting practices
• Current business owners seeking certification
• Veterans seeking certification
• Women and people of color entrepreneurs in project management
• Anyone interested in government contracting opportunities
• Allies supporting supplier diversity initiatives
• YOU

Your instructor

Tricia Diamond, PhD, PMP, PMI-ACP, PMO-CP

Dr. Diamond brings unique expertise from both sides of the procurement table:

As Business Owner:

• Principal, Diamond PMO Consultants (Certified MWBE)
• Successfully navigated OMWBE certification process
• Built consulting practice leveraging certification

As Government Program Director:

• Former ARPA Implementation Director
• Managed $386M in contracts with 100% regulatory compliance
• Reviewed hundreds of MWBE applications and participation plans
• Evaluated capability statements and certification compliance

Additional Credentials:

• Vice President of Professional Development & Programs, PMI Puget Sound Chapter
• Former Co-Chair Seattle Human Rights Commission
• Former Chapter President, Evergreen Chapter of American Society for Public Administrators
• Seattle Parks & Recreation Commissioner
• 27+ years project management experience
• PhD in Aerospace Engineering
• Multilingual: English, Dutch

Dr. Diamond understands what certifying agencies look for and what mistakes sink applications. She knows the system from both sides.

 Workshop Materials Included

All participants receive:

📋 OMWBE Application Checklist - Every document you need
📁 Documentation Requirements Template - Organized by category
🔢 NAICS Code Reference Guide - Find your industry codes
🗺️ Procurement Portal Access Guide - Navigate WEBS, SAM.gov
📄 Sample Capability Statement Template - Professional format
📅 Compliance Calendar - Never miss renewal deadlines
📚 Resource Directory - Contacts, agencies, support organizations
🎓 3 PDUs

Workshop Schedule

9:00-9:45 AM: Understanding MWBE Certification

• What is MWBE and why it matters
• Eligibility requirements and business structures
• Federal versus state versus local certifications
• Benefits, limitations, and realistic expectations
• Statistical overview of MWBE procurement in Washington

9:45-10:35 AM: The Application Process

• Documentation requirements (personal, business, financial)
• OMWBE application step-by-step walkthrough
• Common errors and how to avoid them
• Veteran Owned Business Certifications
• 10-minute break included

10:35-11:15 AM: Accessing Opportunities

• Government procurement portals navigation
• Set-asides, preferences, and MWBE goals
• Are you ready for prime time?
• Subcontracting opportunities
• Corporate supplier diversity programs

11:15-11:50 AM: Business Development & Compliance

• Marketing your certification effectively
• Annual renewal and compliance requirements
• Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
• Building relationships with prime contractors

11:50 AM-12:00 PM: Q&A and Next Steps

• Your questions answered
• Action planning and immediate next steps
• Additional resources and support

Investment: FREE

This workshop is offered at no cost during Black History Month as part of PMI Puget Sound Chapter's commitment to professional development and economic equity.

Value if purchased separately:

• 3-hour expert-led workshop: $300
• Comprehensive template library: $150
• 3 Business Acumen PDUs: $90
• Total value: $540

Your investment: $0

Registration closes: Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM Pacific

Space is limited to 50 participants to ensure interactive Q&A and personalized attention

Questions?

Contact: [email protected] or [email protected]