Columbus, Ohio – Pearl Interactive Network (Pearl), a social enterprise specializing in virtual call center services, received national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). In addition to the WBENC certification, Pearl Interactive was awarded the Employer of the Year Award by the Ohio Governors Council on People with Disabilities.
Merry Korn, founder and CEO of Pearl, said the company’s goal is to empower individuals with employment challenges; while at the same time provide clients with cost-effective business solutions that accomplishes corporate objectives that minimize costs associated with turnover, recruitment, and training. Mike Testa, IT partner for Pearl provides the IT resources that replicate work functions that can be rendered from a home-site setting.
WBENC’s national standard of certification implemented by the Women’s Business Enterprise Council – Southeast (WBEC-SE) is a meticulous process that includes an in-depth review of the business and site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a woman or women.
By including women-owned businesses among their vendors, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier/vendor diversity programs.