GWA, Inc.'s purpose is to increase performance and effectiveness of organizations and individuals of corporate, non-profit organizations and government agencies to manage more effectively in today's dynamic work environment. Devona Williams, CEO GWA, publishes a "must read" for small businesses Devona Williams, President/CEO of Goeins-Williams Associates, Inc. of Clayton, DE released a new book she authored, The Intentional Consultant: How to grow a sustainable consulting practice. The book draws upon the author’s 22 years of experience as a successful business consultant and entrepreneur. Williams not only shares her story but the process for growing and sustaining a small business as well as useful strategies and tips for any small business owner. Although Williams had the seed of idea for this book for nearly ten years, she was inspired to finally write the book after her business continued to flourish through the current economic recession. “I realized that what I could share with other entrepreneurs, consultants and would-be consultants and small business owners the process to help a business prevail, even in tough economic times.” Williams candidly shares successes and mistakes to avoid. The book is described as a “must read” by one small business development expert. Seasoned consultant and business owner Lozelle DeLuz who read the book said, “I read it cover to cover and stayed up all night until finished. I found the book engaging, informative and instructive”. She has since used its instruction and successfully applied it to her practice. Williams is a professional keynote speaker on business leadership, team building, and success and is available to speak for organizations. Williams is also the contributing author to the inspirational book, Remarkable Women and creator of the Spice of Life® Diversity card tool. To purchase The Intentional Consultant and to learn more about Dr. Devona Williams please visit www.goeinswilliams.com. Williams recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year Devona Williams, President/CEO of Goeins-Williams Associates, Inc. of Clayton, DE was recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc, Psi Iota & Psi Epislon Chapter at their Centennial Celebration and Achievement Awards on November 12 at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover, Delaware. The award was presented in recognition of Williams’ achievement as an entrepreneur and to inspire future small business owners in the community. Dr. Williams, President/CEO of Goeins-Williams Associates, Inc. is one of six business women profiled in the June Edition of the Dover Women's Journal. Got a Plan? If you are working from a strategic plan and you are part of a government, non profit or business organization in the region, chances are that Dr. Devona has had a hand in facilitating that planning process.  This year marks 22 years in business for Dr. Devona Williams who founded Goeins-Williams Associates, Inc., (GWA) in 1986 to “help organizations achieve greater productivity in strategic work environments”.  Headquartered in Clayton, Delaware, GWA has grown into a nationally recognized successful performance consulting firm with a team of associates and a host of other services in addition to strategic planning including: assessment, focus groups, facilitation, organizational and individual development. GWA has helped nearly 40,000 individuals in hundreds of organizations increase their effectiveness.  What do Nokia and Coca Cola have in common? Nokia, Finland and Coca Cola purchased the Spice of Life®,” Card Deck training tool for trainers and leaders of workplace diversity and inclusion.  Introduced in 2003 and now in its second printing, the SOL Diversity Card Tool with 48 cards in the deck fosters interactive dialog on work place diversity topics.  Most cards pose questions or prompt group activities in content areas: Knowledge, Understanding, Acceptance and Behavior.  The 24 page Expanded Facilitator's Guide, introduced in 2006, offers suggested answers to each of the cards. Users will be pleased to see numbered cards in the deck that correspond to the Expanded Facilitator's Guide for quick and easy reference.  The popular Ouch! card is now available in packs of 10. The Spice of Life card deck and Expanded Facilitator’s Guide can be ordered as a Trainer’s Kit and other products can be ordered on the new product website for only $59.95 from Goeins-Williams Associates, Inc., at: www.spiceoflife cards.com.  Sold separately, the Card Deck is $49.95 and Expanded Facilitator Guide is only $19.95.  Shipping and handling costs are free for all on line orders.  All major credit cards are accepted. Designed for adults of all ages and occupations, the Spice of Life diversity training products are easy to use in a group setting. Delaware River & Bay Authority Makes Diversity a Priority: Training Underscores Financial Benefits Using a diverse pool of suppliers saves money and promotes small businesses. That was the message Delaware River & Bay Authority employees heard during a recent training session conducted by regional consultants Goeins-Williams Associates. (Dr. Williams with DRBA Cape May Ferry employees in photo). Nearly twenty percent of the 23 million small businesses in the United States are owned by minorities, according to U.S. Census data. “Despite economic challenges, minority- and women-business enterprises are growing.  Minority businesses, for example, represent a quarter of all firms yet receive only 1% of corporate procurement,” says Devona Williams, Ph.D., “Supplier diversity policies are good strategies that yield bottom line benefits to businesses and provide added opportunities to diverse suppliers.”  The Delaware River & Bay Authority (DRBA) owns and operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge and Cape May-Lewes Ferry and manages five regional airport facilities, including ones in New Castle County, Delaware and Millville, New Jersey. One of only two national recipients of the 2008 Federal Aviation Administration’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Advocate and Partner Award, the DRBA has made supplier diversity a priority throughout the organization.    One component of their supplier diversity strategy was to raise awareness among front-line employees. The DRBA reached out to Goeins-Williams Associates, which specializes in strategic planning, organizational development and performance improvement.   “It was very important for us to get this right the first time,” said Michael Schirmer, a DRBA engineer and training participant.(Mike Shirmer in photo, far right with Dr. Williams, Center and Victor Ferzetti, DRBA). “Goeins-Williams Associates helped us to make our unique supplier diversity training initiative successful.” Goeins-Williams Associates Goes Green GWA adopted its Green Policy June 2008 in recognition of the need to preserve resources and to be kinder to the environment.  Here is our 5 point plan: GWA emails all invoices to its customers and pay all bills electronically whenever possible GWA delivers all proposals and customer reports including summaries, studies electronically in PDF format unless desired otherwise GWA schedules teleconference call meetings for selected project work and team meetings in lieu of face to face meetings when it makes sense and does not impact the quality of communication GWA stores customer files electronically GWA recycles and reuses paper and other consumable supplies and equipment GWA Named TOP 100 MBE in the Region Goeins-Williams Associates, Inc., (GWA) is proud to announce that Dr. Devona Williams and GWA was selected to receive the prestigious Top 100 Minority Business® Enterprise Award November 2009 which was presented in a special ceremony at the University of Maryland.  In its fourth year, this program is designed to acknowledge and pay tribute to outstanding women and minority business owners in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia.  A panel of distinguished judges chose GWA from fourteen hundred nominations.  Selection was based on entrepreneurs who demonstrated outstanding achievement in four key areas:  entrepreneurship, client satisfaction, professional and community contributions. 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