Designation enables Hirons to better serve large companies with a supplier diversity focus
INDIANAPOLIS – Hirons, an advertising, public relations and digital firm headquartered in Indianapolis, is proud to announce its national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council, a certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). WBENC Certification is the gold standard for women-owned business certification in the United States.
“It’s a cause for celebration and a natural progression for a company with a history of providing opportunities, mentorship and enthusiastic support for women in business since 1978,” said Hirons CEO Deana Haworth. “Hirons shines as a place with a long-standing supplier diversity program, which embraces diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, that extends outside our own walls.”
This announcement comes less than a year after celebrating 45 years of business with clients across local, regional and national markets and after appointing the agency’s first female CEO. Haworth started her career at Hirons as a public relations specialist more than two decades ago. She now leads the employee-owned firm, where two-thirds of the leadership team and employees are women.
Female leadership within Hirons’ board of directors includes retired Hirons CFO Ann Kneifel, who acts as board chair, and controller, Kim Short, who serves as treasurer and ESOP trustee. Haworth is board secretary.
“For us, this certification is more than a badge of honor,” said Kneifel. “It represents our commitment to cultivating a healthy, diverse workforce that inspires growth for clients and for women in our industry.”
The WBENC standard of certification implemented by the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council is a meticulous process, including an in-depth review of the business and a site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women, and that the business has appropriate structure and strategic business planning and implementation in place.
By including women-owned businesses among their suppliers, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier diversity programs, which in turn empowers women as leaders and brings about a more diverse, balanced and sustainable economy.
Since its founding, Hirons has been known for several specialty areas of focus, including business-to-business marketing and advertising, corporate communications and PR, digital, and its proprietary Rural Reach program. For more information about our WBENC Certification or services, please visit hirons.com.