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Applause Award

Applause Award

The Mission

WBENC's Applause Award recognizes exceptional accomplishments that expand opportunities for women's business enterprises on a national level while furthering WBENC's mission of breaking down the barriers that impede the progress and growth of businesses owned and operated by women.

Awards Categories

There are no specific categories for the Applause Award, which previously has been awarded to individuals in the public and private sectors as well as corporations and organizations.

Awards Selection Process

An internal screening and research process is conducted that will select all Award recipients. Although a formal application process is no longer used, an email receommendation (50 word maximum) may be sent to
at by February 1st.
A panel of judges is led by WBENC's President, with support from the Vice President of Programs and Business Development and the Director of Programs. Selected WBE and corporate representatives, who participate anonymously in the judging process, may assist in deciding the Applause Award recipients.
Candidates are reviewed and selected for awards to be presented at the Women In Business conference each June.

Awards Criteria

Unlike other awards, this is not a "corporation of the year" or "supplier of the year" award. Nor are individuals or organizations considered if their contribution is regional in nature. Each candidate will be assessed in the following areas:

  1. Significant and measurable impact on the growth of women's business enterprises.
  2. Creation of policies, procedures or programmatic initiatives that increased opportunities for women's business enterprises.
  3. Innovative and inspirational leadership on behalf of women business owners and their companies.

Past Applause Award Recipients

2007 Applause Award Recipients

  • Rebecca Boenigk, CEO & Chairman of the Board, Neutral Posture, Inc.
  • Joan Kerr, Executive Director, Supplier Diversity Programs, AT&T
  • Heather Herndon Wright, Women's Business Enterprise National Council

2006 Applause Award Recipients

  • Kate Chrisman, Executive Director, Women's Business Council Gulf Coast
  • Sandra Rand, Manager, Supplier Diversity, United Airlines
  • Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), Terry Neese and Barbara Kasoff

2005 Applause Award Recipients

  • William J. Alcorn, Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Procurement Officer, JCPenney
  • Sharon Avent, President and Chief Executive Officer, Smead Manufacturing
  • Ginger Conrad, Founder and Publisher, Minority Business Entrepreneur, MBE Magazine
  • William Kirk, Partner, Preston, Gates, Ellis and Rouvelas Meeds, LLP

2004 Applause Award Recipients

  • The Honorable Elaine L. Chao, Secretary of Labor, U.S. Department of Labor
  • Alta Baker, President and CEO, Safe Haven Enterprises, Inc.
  • Dr. Renaldo Jensen, Director, Supplier Diversity Development, Ford Motor Company
  • Lillie R. Knox, Vice President of Field Operations, Women's Business Enterprise National Council, (presented posthumously)

2003 Applause Award Recipients

  • Donna Fujimoto Cole, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cole Chemical and Distribution
  • Dr. Sharon Hadary, Executive Director, Center for Women's Business Research
  • Bruce Nelson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Office Depot
  • IBM Corporation
  • U.S. Small Business Administration

2002 Applause Award Recipients

  • Susan Phillips Bari, President, Women's Business Enterprise National Council
  • Marsha Firestone, Ph.D., President of the Women Presidents' Educational Organization (WPEO) and the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO)
  • Jerry Martin, Senior Vice President, Global Purchasing, Frito Lay, Inc.
  • Don McKneely, founder, and WE Women's Enterprise Magazine
  • Ms. Durie N. White, Operations Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), U.S. Department of State

2001 Applause Award Recipients

  • Ms. Billie Bryant, President and CEO, CESCO, Inc.
  • Ms. Mirinda Jackson, Former Associate Deputy Administrator of the Office of Enterprise Development, General Services Administration
  • Mr. Fred Kahl, Manager, Diversified Supplier Program, American Airlines
  • Mr. Glen Mayer, Corporate Supplier Diversity Coordinator, United Parcel Service
  • Mr. Hugh L. McColl, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Bank of America
  • Ms. Cheryl Stevens, Supplier Diversity Manager/Contracts Manager, TXU Corp.
  • The Honorable Nydia M. Velázquez, US Representative from the 12th District, New York City, New York

2000 Applause Award Recipients

  • Carol Dougal and Hedy Ratner, co-presidents of the Women's Business Development Center (WBDC)
  • Elizabeth Lisboa-Farrow, President and CEO of LISBOA, Inc., and Chair of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • Carol Martin, Director of Vendor Diversity, Sears, Roebuck and Co.
  • Anthony J. DeLuca, Director of the Air Force Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
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