‘Lauren Chmielowiec’s mother ran Upstate Steel alongside her father for decades. The Hamburg business was certified as a Woman Owned Business Enterprise through New York State for nearly 20 years. But that changed in 2017 just as Chmielowiec took over the reigns. Empire State Development, which oversees the state’s Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise program, denied the company’s recertification as a WBE.