ALICIA FIELDS
(Public Relations/Personal & Youth Development)
is president of Vernell Communications, a marketing and advocacy firm serving small and minority businesses in the DC Metropolitan region. Alicia introduces small business owners to contracting opportunities with corporations and local, state and federal government agencies. Through this process, Fields has developed a niche, serving agencies and corporations with their diversity and minority business outreach goals; while meeting the business development needs of small business owners.
Fields hosts a nine-month business series: The Procurement Lunch Hour of Power. Sponsoring partners have included STAPLES, and Radio One. Vernell Communications most recently won a prime contract with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission to coordinate their first Small Business and Prime Contractor Procurement Expo. The company is in current negotiations with the NAI Michael Companies to coordinate a Regional Developers Reception Series.
In addition to outreach forums, she is the co-publisher of the Minority Business Guide, a marketing and procurement resource for businesses in the National Capital region and will soon have a regular business editorial in the Washington Informer Newspaper. Fields is well known for her ability to bring hundreds of businesses together. Her 2003-2004 partnership with Radio One, Inc., significantly increased her outreach to the business community at large.