The road to earning a WBE certification evolved quickly after the ownership change. As Kelley states, it was an exciting designation to pursue.
The WBE certification is administered by the State of Indiana. To become a WBE, a firm’s ownership must be at least 51% female. The leaders must possess expertise in the field, control the business enterprise, and be U.S. citizens.
There are several benefits to becoming a WBE, including subcontracting opportunities, the attainment of diversity goals, and additional opportunities to do business with government agencies, networking, and inclusion in the directory of certified firms.
WBEs are rare in the advertising industry – less than 1 percent of 14,000 agencies are owned by women. It’s yet another example of the ways in which Asher is unique and always focused on opportunities for growth. Kelley attributes this perspective to the agency’s legacy and its people.