Maat Reed empowerment is the story of a woman who turned obstacles into opportunity. Rising from foster care to the executive level, Reed built On The Move Contracting Services through faith, discipline, and grit—proving that real empowerment is earned, not handed out.
America says wait your turn. We say, "Take it".
Peter Vazquez sits with Maát Reed, a woman who fought from foster care to the corner office and built On The Move Contracting Services the old way: service, discipline, and results. She turns MWBE certification into contracts, not talking points; uses APEX to cut through red tape; and proves that mentorship beats slogans because slogans do not build payrolls.
A caller throws heat: Do Black entrepreneurs truly network? Can women lead women without the drama? Maát answers with evidence—active directories, real partnerships, high standards, and a leader’s spine. She refuses the victim script and chooses motion over grievance. Where a door will not open, she finds another.
We go inside her Social & Economic Equity cannabis license, far from pop-culture haze: compliance, lending hurdles, medical relief for pain and sleep, and the hard math of running a lawful business. We confront the tired debate over “institutional” barriers with a sharper truth: jerks exist, but they do not get the last word. Tenacity, competence, and community do.
The verdict is blunt. Government can nudge. Freedom builds. Build anyway. Then reach back and lift the next builder.
Promote your brand on the Next Steps Show, airing on WYSL1040.com's AM 1040, FM 92.1, and FM 95.5 West stations. Discover more at nextstepsroc.com/advertise-with-us or dial (585) 346-3000 to get in touch with the WYSL team.
Have you ever dreamt of sharing your unique voice, stories, or expertise with the world through a podcast? Perhaps you're bubbling with ideas but uncertain about where to begin? The journey from idea to launch can be daunting, but that's where we come in. Dive Into the World of Podcasting with Next Steps Radio PODCAST Network! Visit NextStepsRoc.com or call Peter at (585) 880-7580.
This podcast is brought to you by Open Door Mission — restoring hope and changing lives. OpenDoorMission.com.
Mira la izquierda, mira la derecha. ¿Qué ves? ¿Dónde estás? In a world that seems to change daily, what will you do next? Welcome to The Next Steps Show with Peter Vazquez — a starting point for discussion y un poco de dirección.
You know what, join me, papa. Come on, you gotta sing poquito. You’ve done it before — you did a whole intro in Spanish.
You know what, I got a special day for you since dancing or singing is not your thing. Groundhog Day? Close — it’s “Love Your Lawyer Day.” So Bob, we love you.
Bob:
Thank you so much. I’m not representing you, I just want you to know that.
Peter Vazquez:
Well, listen, I’ll tell you what — there’s somebody in studio who represented me at one point very well. This individual was able to tell a story about me, about my wife, and about so many others — with so much faith and confidence that I thought, is she really talking about me?
Ladies and gentlemen, meet in studio C, the Honorable Maát Reed, President and Founder of On The Move Contracting Services, where she leads a multifaceted business.
Maát Reed:
Yes, absolutely.
Peter Vazquez:
And you’re a woman — and you’re kind of brown-skinned. You know, the state seems to say that if you’re brown-skinned, you need extra help. I want to talk about that today.
Maát Reed:
It’s a true fact. There are many brown-skinned presidents who own companies and can walk in and earn business like anyone else.
Peter Vazquez:
It’s amazing, because people tend to say, “Mira, there’s an hispano.” I said this before — in a job I have in Yates County, about 99.7 or 99.8% white. People knew my nationality before they knew my name.
Bob:
Were you speaking Spanish like you do on the air?
Maát Reed:
Interestingly, our daughter is the CMO of an online mortgage company — the first African American CMO in America in that space.
Bob:
That’s fantastic. I do have to ask about your name — Maát?
Maát Reed:
Yes. It’s Egyptian. My father was Nigerian, a bass player in Sun Ra, a jazz band from the 60s that embraced Egyptian heritage. That’s where the name came from.
Peter Vazquez:
I always wondered that. That’s fascinating.
Today is “Love Your Lawyer Day,” and I imagine as a woman in business, lawyers are a big part of your world.
Maát Reed:
Absolutely. My lawyer is Matt Ryan from Lacy Katzen — he’s fantastic.
Peter Vazquez:
They represented me once too. Great people.
Bob:
You going to send him a bill for that plug?
Maát Reed:
Yes!
Peter Vazquez:
Tell our listeners about your background. Where’d you come from?
Maát Reed:
I had 20 years in broadcast sales. One day my husband said, “Why don’t you apply for MWBE status?” I did, got certified, left corporate America, and started my own business.
At first, I planned to be a reseller — janitorial and restaurant supplies, equipment, digitization — but my long-time clients wanted me to keep doing marketing for them. So I kept both.
We are a full-service advertising agency and a certified reseller for large organizations that need MWBE partnerships.
Peter Vazquez:
That’s powerful. You know, women-owned businesses are generating $1 million in revenue, contributing $2.2 trillion to the U.S. economy. That’s huge.
Maát Reed:
It is.
Peter Vazquez:
You helped promote people, not products — myself included. Why are you so effective with people?
Maát Reed:
Because I love people. Their stories, their drive, their struggles — helping them grow builds generational wealth.
Peter Vazquez:
Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” Do you agree?
Maát Reed:
I do.
Bob:
So do I. I grew up surrounded by strong women — my mother and aunts — who broke barriers before it was fashionable.
Peter Vazquez:
Back then, women couldn’t even open a bank account. That wasn’t long ago.
Maát Reed:
Exactly. And just a few years earlier, being Black meant reading was discouraged.
Peter Vazquez:
Right. Racism isn’t dead, but DEI isn’t the fix. What we need are women like you — grounded, faithful, and determined. You raised kids, built a business, supported your husband — all while running companies. That’s strength.
Caller (Keith):
I’m really surprised to hear how far non-white females have advanced in business. Why isn’t there more networking among Black entrepreneurs? And second, how do you handle women who prefer working for male bosses?
Maát Reed:
There is strong networking in the Black business community, especially through MWBE and state programs. New York offers webinars, seminars, and free mentoring.
On the second point — women carry a lot. They manage homes, kids, meals, and jobs. Sometimes that stress shows up wrong. But that’s pressure, not gender. Leadership is about character.
Peter Vazquez:
Beautifully said.
Condoleezza Rice once said, “The essence of America is the idea that you can come from humble circumstances and do great things.” That’s what this show is about.
Maát Reed:
My upbringing was unique. I grew up in foster care. My mother had schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. My father, the bassist from Sun Ra, I never met.
I had two incredible foster mothers. One was among the first to create daycare programs while studying at MCC. The second, who became my legal mother, worked at Xerox in a male-dominated environment and still wore a suit every day. She taught me discipline.
Peter Vazquez:
That’s incredible. Dr. Ben Carson once told me his mother, who was illiterate, made him and his brother write book reports — and pretended to grade them. That kind of grit shapes greatness.
When government defines “equity,” does it empower entrepreneurs, or give the state too much control?
Maát Reed:
It empowers — if you use it wisely. Programs like APEX (formerly P-TECH) are free and help businesses navigate complex certification processes. My attorney even learned with me at the SBA office, at no cost. There’s help if you ask.
Peter Vazquez:
Exactly. Someone’s going to use those dollars — might as well be you.
Bob:
Let’s talk about obstacles. Do you still face discrimination?
Maát Reed:
Not directly. Maybe snarky comments, but I move around barriers. Different doors, different people. I won’t stop because someone doesn’t like me.
Peter Vazquez:
That’s the attitude.
Bob:
I remember segregation signs as a kid — “colored only” fountains. Racism is taught, not born. Kids don’t hate until someone teaches them.
Peter Vazquez:
Exactly. Most of what’s left of racism today is weaponized by politicians and activists who profit from division.
Maát Reed:
Right. Understanding community demographics in marketing isn’t racism — it’s smart strategy. You speak to people where they are.
Peter Vazquez:
Which brings us to MWBE certification. Governor David Paterson started it after a disparity study proved minority and women business owners weren’t getting equal opportunity. If you use state funds, you must include certified partners.
Bob:
So it’s not about handouts, it’s about access.
Maát Reed:
Correct. It ensures large companies don’t monopolize government-funded projects.
Peter Vazquez:
Exactly. In rural areas, though, it can be tough when few certified firms exist. But entrepreneurship itself — especially for women — is a way out. It allows family balance and independence.
Maát Reed:
Absolutely. New York even provides searchable directories to connect contractors with certified businesses statewide.
Peter Vazquez:
You’re also a licensed cannabis business owner now. That industry isn’t about “getting high” — it’s about medical and economic opportunity.
Maát Reed:
Exactly. Cannabis has medicinal benefits — helping cancer patients, easing pain, improving sleep, even calming anxiety and ADHD. It’s a real industry with serious compliance and community standards.
Peter Vazquez:
And it’s booming. Women now own a growing share of these businesses.
Maát Reed:
Yes, about 42% of social and economic equity licenses belong to women.
Peter Vazquez:
That’s incredible progress. Any advice for young women listening?
Maát Reed:
Find a mentor. Stay focused and firm. Ask for help. And mentor others when you can.
Peter Vazquez:
How can people reach you?
Maát Reed:
Website: OnTheMoveContractingServices.com or OnTheMoveCS.com. Phone: 585-861-9500.
Peter Vazquez:
Ladies and gentlemen, that is Maát Reed, President and Founder of On The Move Contracting Services. Real empowerment is not granted by government — not even un poquito. It is built by those willing to pay the price of perseverance.
Be a leader. God bless the United States of America. And never let a second go by where you are not a voice for libertad.
Maát A. Reed
CEO | President
Maát Reed is the President and Founder of On The Move Contracting Services, LLC, and a licensed Cannabis Retail Owner in New York State. A graduate of SUNY Empire State University, Maát began her career in broadcast media in 1995, working in television sales before launching On The Move Contracting Services in 2009.
Since earning certification as a New York State Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE), she has successfully led On The Move Contracting Services through more than a decade of growth and diversification. Under her leadership, the company has expanded beyond marketing and communications to include resale and distribution of janitorial supplies and equipment, digitization services, and UV light system solutions, providing both public and private sector clients with reliable, high-quality products and services.
Her expertise spans every facet of marketing, procurement, and communications, from negotiating and placing advertising to full-service production, including scriptwriting, event marketing, and digital content creation.
On The Move Contracting Services has developed and executed campaigns that unite the business and retail communities, driving measurable growth for clients across industries. The firm’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer success remains second to none.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Maát Reed and her team actively support community development and outreach initiatives, donating time and talent to causes that foster opportunity and inclusion. Clients trust On The Move Contract… Read More
