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A Women’s Business Enterprise
Carstens is proud to be a woman-owned company
Working with Carstens is smart business
With a 130-year heritage of manufacturing and selling premium products for healthcare, education, and business environments, Carstens continues to operate as a family-owned business. Barbara Vanderkloot, daughter of founder George Block, is the company’s sole owner and serves as Carstens’ president and CEO.
“I'm honored to continue the pioneering legacy of my parents, George and June Block, who made Carstens an industry innovator, and I’m particularly proud to lead Carstens today as a WBENC-certified business.” — Barbara Vanderkloot, President and CEO
Founded in 1997, the Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBENC) is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled, and operated by women in the United States and a leading advocate for women-owned businesses in corporate and government supply chains. The organization only issues its world-class certification after a stringent screening process that ensures a firm is legitimately owned, managed, and controlled by women.
In 2016, Carstens was recognized for meeting WBENC’s standards as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE). As a WBENC-certified business, Carstens can help you fulfill your supplier diversity needs, while also offering other distinct benefits and advantages.
Barbara Vanderkloot
President and CEOSATISFY REQUIREMENTS
Companies that receive some share of federal, state, and/or municipal funding (via contracts, grants, and loans) are often required to work with minority-owned businesses, a category that includes women-owned companies. Additionally, purchasing from qualified firms like Carstens can help fulfill the second-tier sourcing procurement policies found at many Fortune 500 companies.
CLAIM TAX INCENTIVES
The federal government, as well as some state governments, offers tax incentives to those who do business with women-owned companies, like Carstens. These can include a reduction in tax liabilities or additional tax benefits. With Carstens as your partner, we’ll provide you with the WBENC-certification information necessary for tax purposes and other reporting requirements.
SUPPORT DIVERSITY
By working with a WBENC-certified business, you demonstrate your company’s commitment to supplier diversity and fostering positive change in the world of commerce. Further, establishing these partner relationships can open the door to new opportunities, including corporations seeking second-tier sourcing suppliers that work with women-owned businesses like Carstens.
BENEFIT FROM INNOVATION
As a smaller, family-owned company that designs, manufactures, and assembles products at our headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, Carstens is both innovative and nimble in our approach. We’re ready to partner closely with you to address any challenges and deliver tailored solutions that meet specific needs.