Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro P.C. forms SDO division

Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro P.C., a dynamic full-service law firm with a team of attorneys advising individuals, businesses and families throughout Quincy, Braintree, the South Shore and metro Boston areas, recently formalized a special division for clients interested in attaining certification status through the Massachusetts’ Supplier Diversity Office (SDO). Firm attorneys and legal staff working in this division have experience and understanding of the SDO marketplace.

SDO, formerly known as the State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance, is an agency within the Massachusetts state government that helps promote the development of business enterprises and non-profit organizations owned and operated by minorities or women. A key component of SDO’s mandate is to certify companies that meet SDO’s criteria for women and minority-owned businesses and to enable such businesses to participate in affirmative business opportunities with government agencies.

“SDO certification provides an important competitive advantage for companies bidding to do business with state and local government agencies. For example, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts spends more than $4 billion each year doing business with private companies. More than $240 million of this amount is targeted specifically to SDO certified businesses,” said Theresa Barbadoro, Esq., an attorney with Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, P.C. “So although we have been working with SDO businesses for the past decade, the new division will enable us to better serve these clients as our employees working in the division will have specific experience and training in SDO certification.”

Companies that receive SDO certification are listed in a directory of certified minority and women business enterprises and non-profit organizations. In effect, the certification makes SDO companies the preferred vendors for public and private companies have pledged to seek out women and minority owned business vendors.

Suffolk County Constable’s Office, Inc. (“SCCO”) recently gained SDO certification with the assistance of the Firm’s new division. SCCO provides warrant apprehension, civil process serving, evictions and judgment recovery services.

“We have already seen an increase in our business with the SDO certification,” said Suzanne Morrison, the owner and president of SCCO, “we are excited as we know that the SDO certification will continue to open up new opportunities for us as we grow our business.”

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