Success Story Spotlight on “Whirlwind” MWBE Certification: Tspeaksnyc, LLC

Tiyanna Washington MWBE business owner

Tspeaksnyc, LLC, a New York City-based mental health consulting services firm, applied for the NYS MWBE Certification in December 2024, during Empire State Development's Whirlwind Winter Certification Initiative. Owner Tiyanna Washington was delighted that she received her MWBE certification in 15 days.

How did she get certified so quickly?   
Doing some homework and getting assistance from a free advisory service center was Washington’s winning strategy!  Before seeking MWBE certification, she was apprehensive; she’d  heard  the process required lots of paperwork and was  time-consuming.  Then she spotted Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement about the Whirlwind Winter Certification Initiative, with the promise of an answer to applicants in as little as 90 days, provided they worked with a free business advisory service center to guide them. Washington chose the LaGuardia Community College APEX Accelerator  for assistance because they answered her call on the third ring! 

headshot of Dylen Somwar

Who answered the call? 
Dylen Somwar answered the call. He’s a Procurement Counselor at the free business service center that provides government contracting assistance to all businesses including certification support, and where he and his colleagues help small businesses seek contracting opportunities with local, state and federal government agencies. The APEX Accelerator team guides their clients through the entire process, from certification through contracting.

How did he help? 
While Washington had  organized her documents and outlined the steps for the application process, Somwar made sure that Tspeaksnyc met the eligibility criteria for the NYS MWBE certification. The pair met virtually and shared their computer screens as needed, while Somwar carefully walked Washington through the online application, making sure that all required documents were uploaded and every field was filled in. Washington says those meetings made the entire application process feel seamless.   

What’s next for Tspeaksnyc? 
With her MWBE certification now in hand, Washington is focused on scaling Tspeaksnyc to secure contracts that support the mental health and wellness of youth and families across New York State. Her mission is to bring culturally responsive, trauma-informed programming to schools, agencies, and communities — ensuring that mental health services are accessible, affirming, and action-driven. 

Advice for other MWBEs 
Now that Washington has completed the journey of getting certified, she's appreciative that she didn’t have to go through the application process alone., thanks to the guidance and support from Somwar and the LaGuardia APEX Accelerator. When asked what advice she would share with MWBEs looking to get certified, Washington says, “If I can do it, they can do it too!”

 

Learn more about ESD's Division of Minority and Women's Business Development