Welcome to the Impact Report!
30 years ago, inspired by female entrepreneur Deb Watring, I investigated a company name, filed paperwork, and birthed my first child - Impact Consulting Enterprises. Fresh out of undergrad and determined to succeed on my own, I did. I launched my own business. I had no idea then that what had started in my living room via subcontracting opportunities, would continue to sustain and propel my family and me.
Now, with two offices in New Jersey and presence in the San Francisco Bay and Washington D.C. areas, Impact is growing up to be the big sister to my teenage daughter that I had always hoped for. We still manage through the growing pains of failed bids, frustrated team members and unpaid client invoices. Now however, those lows are dwarfed by the overwhelming highs and joys of local and global projects, a team of remarkably talented employees and consultants, and the unrelenting trust of our partners, clients and customers. Thank you for traveling with us on this journey. Here’s to the next 30.
Remember, it’s not just business. It’s personal!
– Cheryl McCants, president & CEO
Impact Updates
New Offices
Impact is expanding. We recently opened new offices in Newark, New Jersey and the Washington D.C. area. Our Newark office enhances the team’s ability to provide excellent counsel and services to our growing number of metro New York clients and D.C. places us closer to federal agencies. We are here to serve you!
New Family Members
We are delighted to welcome Dominique Bryant and Gary Orlando to Team Impact. An exuberant and driven professional, Dominique is our operations manager and executive assistant. A former biomedical researcher and healthcare provider, Dominique works with Holly to expand Impact’s healthcare expertise while keeping Team Impact and associates on track.
Gary, currently a vice president at Media Brokers International – one the nation’s leading media research, strategy, planning and execution agencies that places 100 million dollars in media annually, will head up Impact’s D.C area office and serve as VP, Government Relations. A former legislative director, Gary bring decades of DC savvy and MBI’s remarkable bench of experts to the family.
Impact is proud to welcome The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), Essex County College (ECC), and LOUi Consulting to Team Impact.
Impact is working with NMSDC to market and promote its 2019 Leadership Week. Tickets for the Leadership Awards Gala, to be held in New York City on May 16, are on sale now. Leadership Week includes a series of events focused on the State of Minority Business.
Impact, in partnership with Essex County College, is launching a student-led, social media project. Impact and the students are working to increase awareness of ECC’s value and offerings – its curriculum, clubs, organizations, athletic teams and ultimately its students.
Impact provides public relations support for LOUi Consulting Group, a Georgia-based, Latino-owned business with U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force contracts. Impact secured media coverage for LOUi’s announcement around the $7 million Defense Health Agency award they received to maintain electronic health records for 36 U.S. Department of Defense hospitals around the globe.
Watch Us Work
Impact President and CEO Cheryl McCants was named to the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council. NSBA is the nation’s oldest small-business advocacy organization and operates on a staunchly nonpartisan basis. Cheryl’s participation on the NSBA Leadership Council advances her efforts to tackle tax reform, regulatory restraint, health care costs, and how the Affordable Care Act will impact small business.
Team Impact supported fellow women-owned business enterprises at the Women Presidents’ Educational Organization® Annual Awards Breakfast, Congratulations to Joy Wong, Corporate Vice President, New York Life; Ranjini Poddar, Co-founder, Artech; Loren Breslow, President, Command Marketing & Innovations, Liz Whitehead, CEO, 12PointFive, LLC; Staci Redmon, President & CEO, Strategy Management Services, Inc.; and Ann Ramakumaran, CEO, Ampcus.
In February, Dominique and Justine represented Impact at Newark Regional Business Partnership’s(NRBP) Newark Insiders Forum: Mainstays of Newark. Influencers discussed economic impacts, scope of operations, priorities, history, opportunities, and plans for the future of their organizations and New Jersey’s largest city - Newark.
This March, Cheryl represented Impact at the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council’s (WBENC) Summit & Salute in Houston. This year’s theme was Liftoff: Launch. Rise. Succeed. During the conference, Cheryl participated in the first ever WBENCPitch Tournament, designed to expose the best women entrepreneurs to America’s top corporations.
Also in March, Cheryl led 2019’s second installment of Rutgers-Newark SBDC’s Perfect Your Digital Campaign workshop. Business owners learned how to create integrated marketing campaigns/programs across multiple digital platforms. These campaigns focus on ways to acquire, engage, and retain customers- eventually converting them to loyal advocates.
On the Impact Horizon
April 11- Impact is sponsoring NRBP’s Inaugural Intercultural Lunch: Exploring Islam. This lunch is the first of a series aiming to promote a greater understanding of different cultures. There will be informal networking and a 45-minute program introducing attendees to Islamic traditions and practices.
April 18- Cheryl will be speaking at Montclair State University’s Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship where she will talk with students about her entrepreneurial journey, challenges faced, and failures overcome
April 24 - Impact is co-sponsoring NRBP’s Eye Opener Featuring Mainstays of Newark. Leaders who are making a substantive impact on the greater Newark community will share their organizations’ economic impact, scope of operations, priorities, and plans for the future.
June 6 - Cheryl is slated to conduct another installment of the “360 Digital Marketing DNA Webinar” from 4 to 5:30 p.m. During this 90-minute session, business owners will learn best practices and digital tactics for establishing and retaining ideal customer relationships.
Client News
Happy Birthday Essex County College
2019 marks the 50th anniversary year for Essex County College (ECC). ECC has been recognized as one of New Jersey’s best two-year colleges — delivering a gamut of degrees, certificates and job training programs for recent high school graduates and adult learners. Under the direction of Anthony Munroe, Ph.D., ECC is a ‘student first’ educational institution that everyone believes in. Happy Birthday!
Networking for Scholarships
Golf Outing
It’s time for networking, fun, and fundraising. The NY & NJ Minority Supplier Development Council’s 23rd Annual Networking for Scholarships golf event is just two months away. On June 3rd, minority business owners, corporate members, Team Impact and guests will converge on the Montclair Golf Club, nestled in the lush rolling hills of northern New Jersey, to provide critical financial support to The Council’s scholarship program, and advance business development and networking opportunities. Reserve your spot today.
The Impact Blog
Our SHEroes!
Not always seen publicly, but always leaving an indelible imprint. Join us in saluting these awe-inspiring women of the Civil Rights Movement. Read our blog
Phenomenal Woman
From entertainment to STEAM, from education to politics, phenomenal Black and Brown women have made an impact on America. We salute the phenomenal woman in all of us! Watch
Impact in the News
Cheryl will be a featured speaker at the 5th Annual Global Women in Leadership Summit in Midtown Manhattan on April 11, 2019. This summit features inspirational speakers, self-discovery and skill-building opportunities, group discussions and action planning. Female leaders will come together to learn, grow and explore.
Interested in booking Cheryl to speak at your next event? Let us know.
Click here to send a request
Why Clients Choose Impact
Learn what our clients already know! See past projects for a sampling of our work.