01
Revenue Generation
Identifying and pursuing grant funding and government contracting opportunities that fit your business — so you spend less time searching and more time winning.
Mark Hands & Associates, LLC
President & CEO · 25 Years in Procurement & Supplier Diversity Experience
Built on The KEY Framework™ — Unlocking Equity, Access, and Opportunity on Purpose.
Fifteen years leading Supplier Diversity at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Creator of Business Smart Week
Certified SCORE Business Mentor
“I want to give special thanks to Mark Hands, the Chicago Fed's director of supplier diversity, for his many years of deep engagement and leadership.”
Identifying grants and government contracting opportunities that fit your business.
Learn moreGetting certified — MBE, WBE, VBE, or DBE — positioned, and ready to compete for the opportunities you find.
Learn moreStructured, one-on-one strategic guidance for business owners ready to move with intention.
Learn moreAbout & Services
I help small businesses identify business opportunities through grants and government contracts so they can grow their business.
Since retiring from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in January 2026, I have continued my commitment to helping entrepreneurs, small businesses, and communities grow.
Today, I serve as a certified SCORE Business Mentor, drawing on my experience in supplier diversity, business development, and community engagement to help business owners turn ideas into action.
During my tenure as Knowledge Leader and Director of Supplier Diversity at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, I worked to expand opportunities for small and diverse businesses through equitable sourcing practices, technical assistance, and initiatives such as Business Smart Week, which I developed with partners in Chicago and Detroit to help businesses strengthen planning, marketing, networking, innovation, and financial management.
I am proud to announce that I am the President and CEO of Mark Hands & Associates, LLC, where I am pursuing my lifelong dream of entrepreneurship through work focused on innovation, collaboration, and meaningful community impact.
In addition, I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors for the Milwaukee Fresh Coast Jazz Festival, supporting its mission to celebrate jazz while investing in education, music, healthcare, and youth-focused programs. I served on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council in progressive leadership roles, first as Co-Chair from January 2018 to January 2019 and then as Chair from January 2019 to June 2021, in affiliation with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
This work is a natural next chapter, building on my previous experience and lifelong commitment to helping people and businesses grow. I look forward to making this chapter an impactful one that creates meaningful difference in the communities I serve.
2011 — President's Award for Excellence, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
2013 — Illinois Minority Small Business Champion of the Year Award, U.S. Small Business Administration
2019 — Corporate Veteran Champion of the Year, National Veteran Business Development Council
2020 — District Director Award, U.S. Small Business Administration, Michigan District
Unlocking Equity, Access, and Opportunity on Purpose
K
K — Know it. Find where the gaps actually are.
E
E — Engineer it. Build real access deliberately, on purpose.
Y
Y — Yield it. That intentional work is what produces the opportunity.
Mid-sized small businesses that have outgrown startup but haven't yet reached enterprise scale — plus nonprofits pursuing procurement or grant funding, professional service firms building supplier diversity capacity, and government-adjacent organizations navigating contracting requirements.
I lead every engagement personally. When a client's needs call for it, I bring in a network of experienced partners — specialists in grant writing, government contracting, certification, procurement law, artificial intelligence, and other areas as needed.
01
Identifying and pursuing grant funding and government contracting opportunities that fit your business — so you spend less time searching and more time winning.
02
Getting your business certified — MBE, WBE, VBE, or DBE — positioned, and ready to compete — the groundwork that makes you a credible bidder when opportunity comes.
03
Structured, one-on-one strategic guidance, drawing on fifteen years inside the Federal Reserve System, for business owners who want an experienced partner in the room.
Tell me about your business and what you're working toward. I'll follow up personally.
Direct contact: mark@markhandsassociates.com