Women's Business Development Center - Chicago, Illinois

Dr. K. N. F.

Kelly Gumbiner is knowledgeable, caring and has strong attention to details. Over the years I have spoken with various organizations who have been helpful, and I am grateful for everyone's time. When you meet Kelly for consultation though, it is easy to see that her expertise is one of a kind! One person knowing so much across different disciplines is not common to see; she has so much experience across banking, business capital, and marketing. If you are an established business looking to organize capital for a purchase of a new practice, making an appointment with Kelly will provide you with a lot of necessary information to take your business in the direction you envision. She extended our scheduled one-hour appointment to nearly 2 hours (given my deadlines and urgency) to help me secure funding. And this dedication is not seen often in people. I appreciate her expertise and dedication as we continue to work together to complete my project.

Lena M.

I don’t often come across people in life who leave me speechless, but Kelly Gumbiner is one of those rare individuals who made me stop in my tracks. Her work, her heart, and her relentless dedication to helping others are nothing short of extraordinary.

When I first connected with Kelly at the Women’s Business Development Center, I was overwhelmed, struggling to navigate the next steps for my business, and feeling unsure if anyone really cared. But then came Kelly—like a light in the dark. She didn’t just offer help; she listened. She heard the fears I hadn’t spoken aloud, the doubts I carried, and the dreams I was almost too afraid to admit. And then, she did what only a true champion does: she lifted me up.

Kelly poured her time, energy, and soul into guiding me through my Kiva application process. She didn’t just check a box or follow a protocol—she invested herself fully in my success. She followed up when I hadn’t asked, she shared insights I didn’t know I needed, and she gave me hope when I thought I’d run out.

But it wasn’t just her actions; it was the way she did it—with compassion, grace, and a fire that lit a spark in me. She treated my dreams as if they were her own. Kelly’s belief in me gave me strength I didn’t know I had, and her guidance gave me a path I thought was out of reach.

People like Kelly aren’t common. Her impact goes beyond business—it changes lives. She made me believe again, not just in my business but in myself. She is the kind of person who doesn’t just deserve a raise or an award—she deserves to have the world shouting her praises. The Women’s Business Development Center has a rare gem in Kelly, and I can only hope they recognize just how blessed they are to have someone so dedicated, so selfless, and so profoundly gifted on their team.

Kelly, you are a force of nature, and I am endlessly grateful for you. You’ve changed my life, and I will never forget it.

Maria S.

WBDC's scale-up program for small businesses exceeded my expectations! The instructors were incredibly knowledgeable and supportive throughout the entire program. Their guidance and expertise were instrumental in helping me create a business growth plan. Thank you, Francisco, Cheyanne, and the rest of the instructors for your invaluable support!". Thank you for empowering small businesses like mine to thrive!

Carla M.

Awesome program! Exactly what I needed to take my business where I know it can go! They helped me to get better organized and to focus more on whats necessary to reach the business goals I had in mind. The subject matter experts gave excellent insight and direction on how to access tools to execute real change in your business plan. Angela and Lindsay were superb as facillitators in the summer cohort as they helped us to navigate through the cirriculum with ease. THANK YOU WBDC!!!

Jane K.

The WBDC has been an integral component of my small business development. I've met with Abby and Maura already, and they've provided me with invaluable advice and tips already. I will be participating in the business plan course starting in October, and the resources I've received already has been tremendously helpful!

Love C.

You want some of what the WBDC is serving. This organization is killing it with hiring the most amazing business coaches who know their ish!

Lindsay, Regina, Aisha, Minerva, Mekeda, Francisco work to understand what your business is about and are on point with tools and ideas to help you level up. I am looking forward to the next opportunity to work with the WBDC.

Veah L. T. S. C.

I completed the Belmont/Cragin ScaleUp Cohort with the WBDC on Tuesday. 06/18/19 and it was one of the best business decisions I have ever made. This course enable me to look at my business in areas that I had not considered and some that I was totally unaware of. During this course I was able to make small tweaks that increased my businesses visibility. I truly appreciate each guest speaker and our cohort advisor/mentor Angela Stewart, her assistance with certain things has proven invaluable. I recommend anyone with a business to contact the WBDC and see how they can become a resource for their business and what classes they might benefit from taking.

April R.

I had an excellent experience with the Women’s Business Development Center. This organization offers programming, education, and resources for any stages of business development. I’m a successful business owner with 15 plus years experience in my industry. As an international professional, a scholar, and business owner, I can say I was extremely impressed and satisfied with the level of professionalism, knowledge, and compassion shown by the teachers and leaders in this organization. My experiences with Angela, S., Makeba B., Emilia D., Lindsay M., Abigail, S. & Cynthia J. at WBDC have been extraordinary. This organization has my highest recommendation .

Note: In my experience often organizations that assist minority communities and underserved populations are often times in shambles, disorganized, and ran from a deficit model. That is NOT the case with the Women’s Business Development Center. The information is high quality and high value. In all encounters I observed that the staff treat the business clients/community consumers as well as their fellow colleagues with respect and consideration. WBDC is one of Chicago’s greatest hidden gems!