Carolina Encouragement Center
‘Supporting Entrepreneurs through training and encouragement’
Proven Methods To Secure Procurement Contracts
- 214 W. Mill Street
Kingstree, SC 29556
- Office: (803) 238-4542
- gwashington@cecsc.org
- gawcpi1962@gmail.com








CEC’s ability to make a positive difference in young people’s lives is to demonstrate “how to” execute principles of success. Social media is our arm of business that captures young people’s attention in order to provide opportunities. These opportunities are in jobs, education enrollment, counseling, encouragement, advocacy, direction, self-defense training, and prevention thinking. Oftentimes a youth’s greatest need is for someone who is esteemed by them to believe in them. Social media platforms permit us to have “overcomers” share their victories. These shared victories are a pivoting point for youth to identify and seek help.
Fear is a serious and paralyzing condition that can trap and hold even the strongest. Our Programs have positive progress for many youth and their families to free themselves Collaboration and volunteer partnering also bring positive results for youth. A recent shared FBLA competition provides evidence of our experience and great business relationships to help youth. See here below:
Appreciation Letter


Meet the Queen

Established in 2011 as a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization to provide much-needed business training to increase procurement opportunities for small, women, minority-owned, and disadvantaged businesses
Secured more than $47 million in contracts, grants, and loans for CEC class participants since its inception.
Mission Statement
To assist young adults and at-risk youth to develop work ethics, avoid becoming a victim to crime and rather become community leaders.
We have come to understand and accept, through 15 years of learned experience, what matters to YOUNG PEOPLE. That is: Respect, Belonging, Honorable Leaders, Money, Status, and Protection.
The major element of all of the above to young people is trust and confidence that we, the leaders, have and maintain their best interest. It is our written and unwritten fiduciary responsibility. Moreover, Through interaction, training and encouragement foster compliance to rules, zeal toward accomplishments and learn long-term principles for success.
Mr. Washington is a Junior Achievement Instructor, 4H Club Mentor, Future Business Leader of America (FBLA) Consultant, Instructor and Judge. We have taught through CEC training principles: valedictorians, owners of companies, engineers, military members, corporate managers, medical technicians and many other industries.
Our greatest asset is meeting and accepting the youth where they are. We do this through an assessment, then measuring success through time, their talents and opportunities provided to grow toward their goal. The other factor we give gravity is learning their background i.e. environment. Another major factor that helps them accomplish goals is providing access to tangible experiences through trips, internships, and teaching acceptable culture norms.





Contracts Awarded to CEC Seminar Participants
- Allstate – $7,468
- Choice Connections – $8,400
- CH Williams – $225,000
- GC Dreher – $5,400
- Hamilton Electrical – $48,685
- Jackson and Associates – $1,400
- JMAC Construction – $500,000
- McGee Trucking – $40,000
- Pollard Painting – $12,572
- Professional Grading – $52,000
- Random Drug Screen – $1,887
- The Deciding Factor – $1,775
- First Class Construction – $24,000
- Brown Chapel Baptist Church – $550,000
- Authoritative Building Care, LLC – $10,600


Just Business
“Principles Based Strategies to Achieve Business Success.”
Anyone looking for inside information on how to establish and maintain a successful business will surely enjoy the keen, witty, entrepreneurial spirit of Gary and Michele Washington.
Dear Gary
On behalf of South Carolina Future Business Leaders of America, I want to sincerely thank you for serving as a judge in the following event(s) at our recent State Leadership Conference.
Career Research
Electronic Career Portfolio
Graphic Design
Impromptu Speaking
Job Interview
Website Coding & Development
Website Design
Sports & Entertainment Management
Your time, expertise, and thoughtful evaluations were invaluable in providing meaningful feedback to our students.
Your support helped create an enriching experience that will inspire and guide these young leaders in their preparation for the FBLA National Leadership Conference being held this summer in Anaheim, CA. We truly appreciate your generosity and commitment to fostering the next generation of professionals.
Please be on the lookout for an email from Amazon with a small token of our appreciation. Thank you again for your contribution—we hope to collaborate with you again in the future!
Tracy Wilbur‑Hemphill
District II Director
South Carolina Future Business Leaders of America, Inc.
PO Box 90329
Columbia, SC 29290
803‑463‑6059
twilbur‑hemphill@scfbla.org
www.scfbla.org

- CEC Award Gala
What Seminar Participants Say…
“I was encouraged to focus and redouble my efforts on bidding welding projects, guided by [CEC’s] half-day business training class on how to do just that [and was awarded a $522,000 contract from SCDOT].“
— Lee Davis, Owner, Davis Welding Services
“Thank you Carolina Encouragement Center for the technical expertise provided in assisting us with putting of our proposal together. This [$22,800 with College of Charleston] contract will help sustain our company’s growth.”
— Henry Gee & Leroy Gee, Owners, Gee & Gee Upholstery & Furniture LLC
After meeting Mr. Washington indirectly, I was able to change my profession from housekeeping at the Hampton Inn Hotel to an Administrative Assistant at Capital Diabetic Supply, Inc.”.
–Higgins Bobcat & Concrete
“After meeting Mr. Washington indirectly, I was able to change my profession from housekeeping at the Hampton Inn Hotel to an Administrative Assistant at Capital Diabetic Supply, Inc.”.
— Vivian Brown – Happy Employee

CEC Class Photo
CEC Collaborators & Supporters

- Honorable Joseph H. Neal, past member of the SC House of Representatives
- The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce
- SC Capitol Commission
- U. S. Dept. of Commerce
- SC State Budget & Control Board
- U. S. Small Business Administration
- Columbia Metropolitan Airport
- Stephen Benjamin, Past Mayor of the City of Columbia
- Allen University
- MBD Media, LLC
- Sistercare
- Benedict College
- Babcock Center Svc
- Prudential
- AT&T
- Carolina Panorama Newspaper
- Clemmons Law Firm
- Eau Claire Cooperative Health



CEC Supporters (Con’t.)

- Precepts Staffing
- SC Jobs Economic Development Authority
- Workforce Investment Act
- Allstate/The Bowman Agency LLC
- SC Dept. of Education
- Allen University
- Fort Jackson
- First Class Construction
- Central City Reality
- Sharper Development Solutions
Ways YOU Can Help…


- Become a Collaborator (A Win-Win)
- Attend and Send Staff to CEC Training Seminars
- Advertise and Promote CEC Training Seminars
- Notify CEC of Procurement Contract Opportunities
- Provide Intern Training to CEC’s University & College Students (Free Labor to You)
- Provide In-Kind Company Services
- Provide any Job Opportunities for Employment from your Company
Collaborator Benefits

- Display of your company logo on a CEC Professional Banner visible to over 27,600 travelers daily;
-Public recognition at CEC workshops, on marketing materials, website, and at special events;
-Your marketing staff can provide an overview of your services to CEC seminar participants;
- A List of our CEC seminar participants.
- A representative from your company to serve as an advisor to the CEC;
- The CEC’s Annual Report containing the number of business owners trained, contracts and contract amounts awarded, business industry, and longevity of contracts;
- Placement of college interns from local Universities to work at your business (i.e. free labor). By providing on the job training you help to prepare young people for real world jobs and help them to fulfill their intern credit-hour requirement in order to graduate. Thus, you help to create a win-win for all parties;

Up-Coming Event





Schedule of CEC Sessions
February
How to Prepare a Capability Statement Grant Writing and You—Part I
March
Contracts through Internet Sources -Grant Writing and You Part II
April
Contracts for Construction Companies-How to write a Business Plan to get the money
May
Young Entrepreneurs Business Training Advertising and Sales Promotion
June
Bankruptcy, Cash Flow, and Funding Sources Creating Manager Leaders
July
Contract Sourcing for Service Providers and Retail Secrets for Success
August
How to Put Together a Professional Bid Proposal Generational Wealth for Winners
September
Business Essentials for Start-Ups The Will of Success and Collaboration
October
How to Land a Job in this Economy Selling to the Government with Success
November
Strategy Incentives for Small Business to Land Contracts
Sponsorship Levels




