I'll go first

[RebMel]

All right. I'll post the first one.

Just as recently as last year, I had a bid in on a sub-contract. I was told that they were going to take another sub-contracter because, and I quote, "He's not as likely to decide to have a baby in a year or two and leave us stuck."

Nevermind that I was 42 and had my tubes tied after my last child who was born in 95. I didn't feel it was any of there business what my reproductive status was (so instead I post it on the internet for ALL to see. . . )

I wasn't surprised that this was part of theiir reasoning, I've been in business long enough to know that women do have babies and decide to bail out of their careerrs, and management thinks about these things. I WAS surprised to have someone bold-faced tell me that was the reason in this day and age, however.

[RebMel]

And I got PLENTY more. . .

[CarlaL48]

Originally Posted by RebMel

All right. I'll post the first one.

Just as recently as last year, I had a bid in on a sub-contract. I was told that they were going to take another sub-contracter because, and I quote, "He's not as likely to decide to have a baby in a year or two and leave us stuck."

Nevermind that I was 42 and had my tubes tied after my last child who was born in 95. I didn't feel it was any of there business what my reproductive status was (so instead I post it on the internet for ALL to see. . . )

I wasn't surprised that this was part of theiir reasoning, I've been in business long enough to know that women do have babies and decide to bail out of their careerrs, and management thinks about these things. I WAS surprised to have someone bold-faced tell me that was the reason in this day and age, however.

With that pronouncement, you may have just INCREASED your future opportunities to anyone who might have had the same concern. Of course, those folks probably aren't trolling Sarah Palin boards!

Bless you, RebMel.

Carla

[warncon]

Guess it wasn't a government job of some sort... otherwise you'd OWN him.

What a dolt.

So, how do you feel about men making their wives president of their company just so they can bid on "women and minority preferred" bids?

Just, curious.... not stiring it up...

Warncon

[RebMel]

Originally Posted by warncon

Guess it wasn't a government job of some sort... otherwise you'd OWN him.

What a dolt.

So, how do you feel about men making their wives president of their company just so they can bid on "women and minority preferred" bids?

Just, curious.... not stiring it up...

Warncon

Hmm...Never gave it any thought.

I guess that if they are dealing primarily with the government it may be an advantage. Otherwise, as my own little episode shows, I don't think there's much to gain from it. Probably would lose more contracts than you would get.

Maybe I should put my business in my husband's name and work it the other way

[Sarah Fan]

Originally Posted by warncon

Guess it wasn't a government job of some sort... otherwise you'd OWN him.

What a dolt.

So, how do you feel about men making their wives president of their company just so they can bid on "women and minority preferred" bids?

Just, curious.... not stiring it up...

Warncon

I am a female and I used to own a construction company: dump trucking and excavation. I had a fleet of 18 dump trucks and numerous pieces of heavy equipment, i.e. track loaders, skidsteers, scraper, backhoe. I ran this business for 12 years.

I was certified as a WBE (woman owned business enterprise).

I knew several women who "owned" the business but their husband actually ran the business. They were not legitimate.

I was legitimate. I was certified by MO-DOT and KS-DOT as a hauler AND material handler. I worked very hard to get this certification.

I broke a glass ceiling in my state. Dump trucking and excavation was controlled by "the good ol' boys". They tried to blackball me at first. But when I got my certification, things started to change and the "good ol' boys" wanted to lease their trucks to me.

I can relate to Sarah Palin. She ran her own fishing business. She broke the glass ceiling in Alaska politics. She went up against members of her own party.

I applaud Sarah Palin.

[warncon]

Originally Posted by Sarah Fan

I am a female and I used to own a construction company: dump trucking and excavation. I had a fleet of 18 dump trucks and numerous pieces of heavy equipment, i.e. track loaders, skidsteers, scraper, backhoe. I ran this business for 12 years.

I was certified as a WBE (woman owned business enterprise).

I knew several women who "owned" the business but their husband actually ran the business. They were not legitimate.

Congrats to you!!! That's a tough way to go, and in a man's field. But, you did it and evidently are doing well.

Did you have to deal with any "personal" rumors that were not only untrue, but offensive as well? Character assisination is always where this seems to lead.

And finally, did it win you any business over other, more qualified, contractors that you beat out simply because of your WBE status???

Warncon

[Sarah Fan]

Originally Posted by warncon

Congrats to you!!! That's a tough way to go, and in a man's field. But, you did it and evidently are doing well.

Did you have to deal with any "personal" rumors that were not only untrue, but offensive as well? Character assisination is always where this seems to lead.

And finally, did it win you any business over other, more qualified, contractors that you beat out simply because of your WBE status???

Warncon

Thank you.

Yes, some of my competitors spread ugly rumors about me. Usually, they'd tell my bankers that I was on the verge of bankruptcy. It made it difficult to get loans. But, in the end, I proved them wrong.

And, yes, my WBE certification helped me beat out my competitors. However, my competitors were not better qualified than myself. On the contrary, I was better qualified because I didn't cheat and scam like they did.

General contractors sought me out because of my WBE certification. Getting the certification was not an easy feat. I had to submit mountains of paperwork, sit through numerous interviews, and jump through a lot of hoops. It doesn't happen overnight. But in the end, it was worth it.

I had several major contractors tell me that they liked using my trucks because I was always dependable. My word was good. And I didn't use the "F" word in every sentence.

[Maxwell Smart]

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