Over the past 30 years, Heather Rafferty, one of four New York State certified Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (“MWBEs”) recognized for entrepreneurial spirit and achievement at the Seventh Annual MWBE Forum, has gone from employee to owner of her Albany area staffing company and grown the business from one to three locations.
Today Rafferty remembers bidding on her first New York State contract, one that “got my foot in the door” en route to gaining her certification and establishing and growing her company. State contracts “absolutely give you the opportunity to build your business,” she says.
Rafferty was “incredibly honored” that AccuStaff was among the recipients of the Second Annual Carey Gabay Excellence and Innovation Awards for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises, honoring successful MWBEs committed to innovation and strengthening their communities.
The award, announced last October, is named for the former Assistant Counsel to Governor Cuomo and First Deputy Counsel for Empire State Development, who was an innocent victim of gun violence in 2015. He also was a key member of the Governor’s MBWE team that worked to grow the program’s participation numbers and goals.
