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Bizzell Receives HUBZone Certification from SBA

Bizzell Receives HUBZone Certification from SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (SBA)

December 10, 2021 (New Carrollton, MD) – The Bizzell Group (Bizzell), a minority-owned small business specializing in strategy, consulting, and technology, is pleased to announce the company’s certification as a Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) business by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The HUBZone program fuels small business growth in historically underutilized business zones with a goal of awarding at least 3% of federal contract dollars to HUBZone-certified companies each year.

“The HUBZone certification will allow our firm to expand and provide employment opportunities to those in traditionally underserved areas,” said Anton C. Bizzell, M.D., President & CEO of Bizzell. “We are committed to identifying, cultivating, and connecting talent to federal projects that allow our teams to continue delivering data-driven, research-informed, innovative solutions to the world’s most complex health, economic, security, and sustainability challenges.”

To achieve HUBZone Certification, Bizzell had to meet specific criteria defined by SBA that included its principal office being located within a Federally Designated HUBZone area and 35% or more of its employees residing within HUBZone regions. As a certified HUBZone small business, Bizzell may receive program benefits, including eligibility for HUBZone set-aside awards, HUBZone sole source awards, the HUBZone Price Evaluation Preference in full and open competition, and HUBZone reserves. The HUBZone Certification also creates opportunities for Bizzell to generate additional jobs and stimulate economic development in urban and rural communities that have been designated as HUBZone areas.

About Bizzell

Established in 2010, Bizzell is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) strategy, consulting, and technology firm with a passion to improve lives and accelerate change. Bizzell develops data-driven, research-informed, innovative solutions to some of the most critical issues of our time, including the opioid, Ebola, and COVID-19 epidemics. Under the leadership and vision of founder, Anton C. Bizzell, MD, the company has grown to a thriving firm with offices in New Carrollton, Lanham, and Rockville, Maryland; Atlanta, Georgia; Nigeria; and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Do Not Wait for a Holiday to Express Gratitude

Do Not Wait for a Holiday to Express Gratitude

Gratitude is a “trending notion” right now, but do people really know what it means to show, express, feel and embrace gratitude. Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation, gratefulness, or thankfulness for someone or something.  Whether it is trending or not, data shows that expressing gratitude or living a life in a grateful way has social, physical, and psychological benefits.  Believe it or not, gratitude helps you feel better, sleep better, and can even strengthen your relationships.  And it is a skill that can be developed with practice. Learning how to express gratitude can be as simple as saying please and thank you, writing thank you notes, listing your blessings, and sharing what you are thankful for with others.

Holiday seasons, anniversaries, and other momentous occasions, can stir up a lot of emotions including joy and sorrow, togetherness, and isolation. Choosing a grateful spirit and approaching life with a feeling of appreciation can lead to feelings of joy and togetherness instead of sorrow and isolation.  Now is a great time to start creating a gratitude practice so you can experience the benefits such as an improved outlook on life, reduced depression and anxiety, better physical health, and the ability to weather the storms of life such as this COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more about gratitude and its positive impact on health in: Do Not Wait for a Holiday to Express Gratitude.

Mental Health Should Be Everyone’s Priority

Mental Health Should Be Everyone’s Priority

Every year, one in 5 adults experience a mental illness in the United States1. Mental illnesses can have a wide range of effects on physical heath, relationships and school or job performance. Yet as a country we still struggle to acknowledge and address the importance of mental wellness. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) launch in 2019 of its Special Initiative for Mental Healtlh2019-2023): Universal Health Coverage for Mental Health is an important step to call attention to and provide support for mental health issues and work to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health globally.

In this Psychology Today article, Dr. Anton C. Bizzell, CEO of The Bizzell Group, offers suggestions on how businesses can support their employees’ mental health and strategies individuals can use for mental wellness, including taking a mental health day when you’re feeling mentally under the weather.

READ MORE: Every Day Should Be Mental Health Day

1Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP20-07-01-001, NSDUH Series H-55). Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/

3 Xanax Addiction Signs to Lookout For

3 Xanax Addiction Signs to Lookout For

Nearly 52 million Americans 18 and older are living with a mental illness and/or substance use disorder.  In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports of people suffering from panic disorders and anxiety are increasing. A common medication for treating panic disorders and anxiety is a prescription drug called Xanax. While Xanax can help relieve anxiety and panic symptoms, it is highly addictive. It is important that individuals taking Xanax become aware of the signs of an addiction to Xanax, which can include withdrawing from relationships and preoccupation with your Xanax use.  As individuals become preoccupied with maintaining a steady supply of Xanax, financial troubles and concerning behaviors may increase. In a recent WebMD Connect to Care article on signs of Xanax addiction, Dr. Anton C. Bizzell, CEO of The Bizzell Group and a substance abuse expert, highlighted some additional telltale signs: “Maintaining a supply of the drug on hand, mixing with alcohol or other drugs, and developing dangerous behaviors to obtain the prescription, including stealing or getting it from the streets.”

Recognizing the signs of an addiction is an important step towards getting help to treat an addiction—for yourself or others you love.

READ MORE: 3 Xanax Addiction Signs to Lookout For