Page 58 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2025

presented by South Mississippi Living magazine
WOMEN IN
BUSINESS RESOURCES
Geneva Dummer
VBOC at MSU Gulf Coast Lead Business Counselor & B2B Instructor
On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, entrepreneurship isn’t a solo journey, it’s a community effort. Whether you’re dreaming up your first business or giving an existing one a fresh start, there’s a team of local experts ready to help you succeed.
At The Meeting Place, you’ll find more than desks and
Wi-Fi — you’ll discover a supportive hub where ideas take shape. Owned and operated by Geneva Dummer, this business incubator and shared office space helps entrepreneurs focus on what matters most: their team, their customers, and their vision.
Geneva is also the Veteran Business Outreach Center at MSU Gulf Coast lead business counselor and Boosts to Business instructor. The SBA VBOC program ensures veterans and military spouses have the tools, training, and confidence to start and grow their business.
The Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDCN) offers free, confidential coaching on planning, finance, marketing, and more. Mississippi SBDC Network’s Gulf Coast center, led by LaShaundra McCarty, also features RISE Center Cybersecurity Lead April Williams and offers programming such as the Coastal Business Growth Accelerator.
Learn More
LaShaundra McCarty
Mississippi SBDC Network Gulf Coast Center Lead
April Williams
Mississippi SBDC Network RISE Center Cybersecurity Lead
Quick Business Tips from the Experts
1. Start with a plan. Even a simple outline gives you direction and focus. 2. Know your numbers. Understanding your finances is key to
making smart decisions.
3. Build your network. Relationships open doors that ads and emails can’t.
The Meeting Place
www.tmp-ms.com (Privately owned & operated)
VBOC
www.vboc.msstate.edu
MS SBDC
www.mississippisbdc.org
58 | September 2025 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living