Each year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) honors a woman-owned small business that is using their business platform to make a difference.
This year, the 2024 Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year award has been given to IBEX IT Business Experts, LLC (IBEX) and its founder, president and CEO Tracey Grace.
The Atlanta, Georgia-based IBEX is an award-winning software, training, professional services and consulting firm serving the needs of both the public and private sectors.
Founded in 2012, IBEX’s portfolio includes partnerships with such prestigious clients as the Department of Transportation, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and NASA, offering bespoke technology and training solutions that drive success and innovation. Among other things, IBEX is best known for creating Certifiably Diverse, a supplier diversity software that helps schools and businesses increase their supplier diversity spending by providing tools for networking and collaboration with diversely owned small businesses.
IBEX is recognized as a certified 8(a), woman-owned, and minority-owned small business and has garnered accolades for its rapid growth and exceptional service delivery, being named to the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately-owned companies in America four times from 2018-2021.
IBEX’s mission is also reflected in its founder, who has expertise and passion for the technology industry and utilizes her free time in giving back to diverse communities. Grace serves on numerous boards of nonprofit organizations like the Jane Addams Peace Association, and is the chair of the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council’s Minority Business Input Committee.
This prestigious accolade recognizes Grace and IBEX for their significant contributions and achievements within the federal contracting community and their outstanding performance and valuable support across critical public health initiatives, including significant efforts with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Responses (ASPR).
Along with the recognition, IBEX’s award is to be accompanied with funding from 5% of funds set aside for women-owned businesses, training, workshops and opportunities for contracts. These are all benefits that have been offered in some form by the HHS and the OSDBU since the latter’s establishment in 1979.
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