Friends of Myra,

On behalf of the GCA family, Richard Brooks, Pamela Harris, Kim Yang, Herman Kitt and myself, Abraham Xiong, we are saddened and heartbroken to let you know that Myra Cisse passed away this week on Monday morning. Myra was our friend, business partner, and a champion for small businesses.

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR MYRA IN ATLANTA:

GCA is planning to host an online Memorial Service for friends and the business community to celebrate Myra’s life. It will be on Tuesday August 11^th at 5pm to 6:30pm.  If you have a few words to share, let us know so we can consider it.

Here is the link to RVSP: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4248735439771108879

VIDEO MONTAGE TRIBUTE TO MYRA:

We're putting together a tribute video for Myra, so if you have any Myra moments, Myra’isms, funny stories, pictures, songs, or poems. You can also record a short video of you sharing a few words.

• Keep your video short, ideally, 30 seconds
• Send video in MP4 file format to: info@govcontractors.org
• Due asap no later than Wedneday evening

Myra was a champion for the small business community and for so many of us. Her life and professional career leave a legacy of impact, hope and promises for entrepreneurs throughout the world. She empowered thousands of companies through her passion to support entrepreneurs in their journey of learning about government contracting, certifications for small businesses, and accessing the opportunities with supplier diversity programs.

Myra started her business Certification Consultants, LLC as a way to help small businesses obtain certifications. In 2015, she became partners at Government Contractors Association to further the vision of enabling even more companies to access the billions of dollars of government contracts. Through Myra’s work, many of the companies which she helped to get certified into the 8a Program, WOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone, MBE, WBE, and other certification programs are now thriving and growing businesses. Some of them are winning millions in government contracts.

Through Myra’s collective work at GCA, over 10,000 entrepreneurs have been trained and most importantly, businesses have won more than $900 million in government contracts.  She traveled around the globe leading trade mission trips from the US to South Korea. She supported international companies in their expansions. More notably, she was a voice for the small business community and a bridge between government agencies and small businesses.

Myra left us too soon, but she left a legacy of impact. In her final words, she said to tell everyone that "She loves us very much."

GOFUNDME

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up. As you contribute to this GoFundme campaign, it is your way of saying “Thank you” to Myra and how she has touched you. All funds from this GoFundMe will go to support Myra’s daughter, Bianca, settling her estate and medical expenses. Thank you in advance for your donation and support.

https://gf.me/u/yma5t4

CORONA VIRUS UPDATES:

To Our Valued Members, Partners, Vendors, Clients, Panelists, and Valued Community,

In this time of uncertainty, Government Contractors Association is here to help where we can. You and your business are valuable contributors within the government contracting ecosystem.  We will do our best to keep you informed from a contracting perspective.

Also, in an abundance of caution, we are making some hard decisions to address how GCA operates during this time and going into the near future.

Here are some important things to consider:

1)     Weblink of Contracting Resources related to Corona Virus:

• www.govassociation.org/coronavirus
• We have aggregated business resources, grants, opportunities, etc
• CDC and other agencies resources
  

2)     GCA Events:

• No in person events for the foreseeable future
• All of our events will be done via online streaming
• Women Who Win event is postponed. We will provide a new date as soon as we’re able.
• Association Meetings will be streamed the 2^nd Tuesday of each month
• Streaming links will be provided with each event after registration

3)     Capture Management Classes & CCM Program:

• These classes will be done remotely with the links provided to each participant
  

4)     GCA Office Hours:

• GCA’s staff have been asked to not come to work if they are not feeling well.
•  Our office is closed during the pandemic and everything will be done virtually.
•  All other questions, concerns, or needs, please reach out to us directly.
  

5)     Client Sessions/Training/Meetings:

• All client sessions will be done remotely/streaming
• Meetings will be based on you and the person you're meeting with
• Training and other such events will be done via streaming