Elevating Enterprise with Jazzy T

Ep. 10 Learn how to do business with Monroe County as a M/WBE or Veteran-owned business from Supplier Diversity Manager Matthew Burrell, Supplier Diversity Manager. Under his leadership, the county has certified 855 MWBE firms and set a concrete goal to award 21% of contract dollars to minority, women, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. You’ll learn: ✅ Why relationship-building matters just as much as paperwork ✅ Why you should focus on what you do best ✅ How Apex Accelerator helps match your business with RFP's ✅ Government contracts are more than just construction. Mental health providers, cleaning companies, consultants, tech, logistics, event services — the county needs you too. If you’re an MWBE ready to go from “certified” to “contracted,” this episode gives you the blueprint. 📌 Resources mentioned: Search “Monroe County MWBE” to apply or check status Apex Accelerator for bid match + proposal support Small Business Development Centers for startup help Ep. 9 Bank on It: How M&T Bank Fuels Business Growth Ep. 8 Business Operations with Albert Rivera, Paychex Chapters: 0:00 What are Supplier Diversity Programs 6:15 Effective Strategies for Winning Government Contracts 8:14 Streamlining MWBE Certification and Ensuring Diversity goals 13:13 Building Government Contracting Relationships 21:19 Crafting Winning Proposals and Avoiding Common Mistakes 26:06 Strategic Insights for Business Growth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep. 8 You’ve got the MWBE or DBE. Now what? This week on Elevating Enterprise, we’re cutting through the confusion. Join me, Jazzy T, as I sit down with someone I trust both in business and in life — my husband and co-host, RJ Williams, a seasoned expert in government contracting and procurement. While I bring the solopreneur POV, RJ breaks down what it really takes to scale into enterprise-level opportunities. 💡 Whether you're trying to land your first government contract or tired of bidding and losing, this episode is your playbook. We cover: ✔️ The difference between being certified and being prepared ✔️ Why most small businesses never graduate past “freelancer” mode ✔️ The power of reverse engineering your growth strategy ✔️ What it means to “look the part” when approaching decision-makers ✔️ Why we give you a 100,000-foot view — not just 30,000 — so you can see the whole picture, not just the next step 🎯 From Rochester Housing Authority to federal projects in California, RJ’s experience can help you navigate procurement and position your business to win. This is the why behind Elevating Enterprise — real conversations, real strategy, and a roadmap from solopreneur to CEO. ⏱️ Chapter Markers 00:00 – Why We Started: Helping Small Businesses Think Bigger05:11 – RJ’s Origin Story: From Telecom to Enterprise-Level Strategy08:42 – Game-Changing Business Lessons from the Inside10:58 – Government Contracting 101: What No One Tells You19:43 – Reverse Engineer Your Way to Better Project Management21:09 – Show Up Like a CEO: First Impressions & Leadership27:42 – Mentors Matter: How Leadership is Passed Down30:34 – Why We Give You a 100,000-Foot View — Not Just 30,000 #GovernmentContracts #SmallBusinessGrowth #MWBE #ElevatingEnterprise #RJWilliams #JazzyT #ProcurementStrategy #Entrepreneurship #BusinessPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep. 6 In a time when diversity programs are under fire and economic equity feels out of reach, Maurice Barrett is doing the work where it matters most — in housing policy and human resources. Named the Top Diversity Officer in America (2025), Maurice is the Chief Diversity Officer at New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR). In this episode, he shares how inclusive hiring practices, strategic HR systems, and equitable housing developments are powerful drivers of business growth across New York. Whether you're a small business owner, MWBE, or veteran entrepreneur trying to get certified, win contracts, or build a team — this conversation offers real-world insight on how to move forward, even when the system feels stacked against you. 🎯 In this episode, you’ll learn: Why DEI isn’t dead — it’s just evolving How affordable housing is a foundation for entrepreneurship What career mapping and the employee lifetime value scale can do for your retention strategy How NYS HCR’s DECO division is helping MWBEs and SDVOBs get certified and secure contracts Let this episode remind you that the system may shift — but your opportunity is still out there. And now, you know where to find it. 🔔 Follow Elevating Enterprise podcast so you never miss an episode. New episodes every other Thursday. 🔗 Helpful Links 🏛️ Explore HCR Contracting & DECO Divisionhttps://hcr.ny.gov/opportunity-deco 📑 Get Certified as a NYS MWBE (Empire State Development)https://esd.ny.gov/ 🎖️ Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) Programhttps://ogs.ny.gov/veterans 💼 Connect with Maurice on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mauricekbarrett Chapters: 00:00 – Topic Teaser 01:30 – Meet Maurice Barrett: Housing Leader, HR Veteran, Inclusion Expert 05:15 – What “Top Diversity Officer in America” Really Means in 2025 09:00 – Why DEI Work Was Diluted 13:10 – Affordable Housing as Economic Strategy for Entrepreneurs 16:00 – Programs & Pathways: MWBE & SDVOB Certification at HCR 20:00 – Maurice’s Journey: From Intern to Chief HR Officer Before Age 26 23:45 – Why Payroll and HR Are Not DIY Jobs for Small Business Owners 25:30 – Employee Lifetime Value Scale: Grow Your People, Grow Your Business 27:30 – No Ceilings Leadership: Managing With Equity and Intention 30:00 – The Coach’s Perspective: Building Grit, Agility, and Communication 33:30 – Final Advice for Entrepreneurs and Emerging Leaders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep. 4 Are you unknowingly setting your business up for costly mistakes?From missing tax deadlines to compliance failures, many small business owners don’t realize what they don’t know until it’s too late. In this episode of Elevating Enterprise, Jazzy T + RJ WIlliams sit down with Albert Rivera, a seasoned Business Consultant at Paychex, to uncover how entrepreneurs can build a strong, compliant, and scalable foundation from day one. With over 15 years of experience in business consulting and small business lending, Albert shares actionable strategies to help you: ✅ Set up payroll and HR systems that grow with your business 🧾 Avoid penalties with proper quarterly tax filings 🤖 Use AI-powered tools to recruit smarter and onboard faster 📚 Tap into free resources like updated employee handbooks, training modules, and live webinars. Resources: Paychex: Paychex Business Soultions WebsitePaychex Recruiting Co-Pilot Paychex Flex Overview English Paychex Flex Overview Spanish Albert Rivera Email: Arivera6@paychex.com Small Business Development Center: SBDC Website SCORE Greater Rochester: Score Website Enterprise Center at Pathstone: Pathstone Website Access $300k in Small Business Funding Whether you're a solopreneur or scaling to a small team, this episode will help you protect your business and focus on what you do best — not paperwork. 📍 About the Guest: Albert Rivera is a Business Consultant at Paychex, specializing in human capital management for small businesses. With deep roots in business lending and consulting at Pathstone, Albert helps founders build sustainable operations through personalized support and practical solutions. Originally from New York City, and with professional experience driven by diverse cultural insights from having lived in Puerto Rico, Albert offers a formidable blend of professional acumen and personal commitment to aiding enterprises in their growth trajectories. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro + The Hidden Cost of DIY HR 01:38 – Albert Rivera: Business Startup Expert at Paychex. 03:15 – From New York to Puerto Rico: A Personal Business Journey 06:45 – Coming to Rochester & Making the Leap to Paychex 10:30 – The First Step for Every Startup: market research, business plan. 14:55 – Free Business Planning Resources in Rochester 16:40 – Paychex: More Than Just Payroll 19:22 – What Happens in a Business Consultation? 21:25 – Serving Spanish-Speaking Entrepreneurs 22:40 – Why businesses get fined — and how Paychex prevents it 26:15 – I-9 audits, employee handbooks, and OSHA safety manuals — 29:00 – Why outsourcing HR is a growth strategy, not an expense. 30:45 – Officer-Only Payroll for LLCs Filing as S-Corps 33:10 – HR Pro & Real-Time Handbook Updates 35:05 – AI Recruiting with Paychex Co-Pilot 36:37 – Key Takeaways with Jazzy T Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep. 2 🍕Create A Pizza is the last fast-casual pizza shop still standing in Rochester. So what did they do right that others didn’t—and how can you follow their lead? This episode of Elevating Enterprise is your behind-the-counter blueprint for navigating the real world of food service entrepreneurship. We sat down on location with owners Katelyn and John to unpack how they launched their pizza shop without startup capital, survived a pandemic, and built loyal customer trust while others shut their doors. 🎯 You’ll learn: 🔹 Why sweat equity can open more doors than startup capital 🔹 The hidden cost of delivery apps like Grubhub 🔹 How zoning laws can make or break your restaurant dreams 🔹 How consistency and an owner-operator model can outlast competition 🔹 What most first-time business owners wish they knew about leases and location Whether you're still tossing dough in the back or sketching out your dream restaurant, this episode gives you the real talk and proven strategies to help you build smarter—and stay in business. Create A Pizza's Social Media and Website: Instagram: @createapizza585 Facebook: Create A Pizza Website Create A Pizza - Rochester, NY - 766 Monroe Ave Chapters: 0:00 Starting and Sustaining a Successful Pizza Business 7:21 Resilience and Networking in Building a Business 12:19 Negotiating Commercial Leases and Location Importance 16:00 Consistency and Local Sourcing Define Create a Pizza's Success 21:26 Adapting a Pizza Business During Covid Challenges 26:12 Building Community Connections Through Pizza and Business Innovation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you a Small to Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) ready to level up? Elevating Enterprise is here to equip you with the strategies you need to stay ahead in today’s rapidly changing tech and policy landscape. In our trailer, we’re giving you a sneak peek of what’s to come—including actionable insights from the founders of ROC AI on navigating these shifts. This podcast is your go-to resource for growth, with real advice on leveraging your M/WBE status, securing bigger contracts, and scaling up smarter and faster. 🎧 Listen now, subscribe, and get ready to scale! #ElevatingEnterprise #WBE #ScaleSmarter #TechSavvy #PolicyReady #AI #DEI #SME #MWBE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices