DOTHAN - Companies owned by women are the fastest growing segment of the small business population. To find out about help starting a business, women are invited to attend the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) meeting Monday, November 14. The meeting, which will be held at Crystal River Seafood Restaurant on Ross Clark Circle in Dothan, begins with networking at 11:30 a.m., followed by a luncheon at noon.

Sandra Lucas, interim director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Troy University, will be the guest speaker. A TROY graduate, Lucas holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and an MBA. Since 1987, she has been a consultant with the SBDC, which is located in Troy.

The mission of the SBDC is to enhance economic growth by making Alabama’s small businesses more competitive through entrepreneurial education and assistance. The Center offers one-to-one consulting, training, information and government bidding opportunities to small businesses in a ten-county area of southeast Alabama.

There is no fee to attend the ABWA meeting, but participants must pay for their lunch. For more information, contact Dr. Barbara Minsky at (334) 983-6556, ext. 1306.