Gladys’ Cleaning Service receives Rising Star Award at Competitive Edge Conference

We’re proud to share that Gladys Vonghlan, owner of Gladys’ Cleaning Service, has been honored with the Rising Star Award at the 2025 Competitive Edge Conference in New York.

Nominated by the Port Authority of NY & NJ, this award celebrates small businesses that lead with integrity, deliver consistent quality, and show meaningful growth. For Gladys, this recognition is one of many milestones in a journey marked by resilience, leadership, and purpose.

Her story with UCEDC began in 2018, when she came to our APEX Accelerator looking to break into government contracting. With few industry connections and limited access to guidance, it was a challenging space to enter. But with the support of our team and her unwavering determination, Gladys secured contracts with Essex County, Westfield Downtown, and eventually the Port Authority, where she now manages post-construction cleanup for 13 restaurants and retailers in Newark Airport’s new Terminal A.

Gladys is also a graduate of our Virtual Incubator Program, where she refined her business strategy and learned how to scale her services beyond residential cleaning. That growth helped her reposition Gladys’ Cleaning Service as a B2B and government vendor, opening the door to new opportunities.

Today, she’s doing more than building a business. She’s building a legacy. Gladys continues to give back by mentoring other women, especially Portuguese, Brazilian, and Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs who are working to grow their own cleaning businesses.

To read more about Gladys’ path, check out her client spotlight here.

To learn more about the award and event, visit the Competitive Edge Conference website.