WOMEN'S BUSINESS ENTERPRISE NATIONAL COUNCIL HONORS 14 SHINING STARS
Microsoft Corporations to Chair Annual Event
Washington, DC – November 19, 2007 – Today, the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the leading advocate for women's businesses as suppliers to the nation's leading corporations, released its annual list of the 2008 Women’s Business Enterprise Stars:fourteen outstanding women's business enterprises (WBEs) who will be honored throughout the year for their excellence, innovation, and growth.
“Each year,” says Linda Denny, President and CEO of WBENC, “this program pays tribute to fourteen outstanding certified women business owners and their passion, talent, and creativity. We believe putting the spotlight on their professional journey can inspire women’s business enterprises worldwide.”
This elite cadre of women's business enterprises (WBEs) will be recognized on March 20, 2008 before 1,200 at WBENC’s annual black tie Salute to Women's Business Enterprises: The Power of Progress, which will be chaired by Microsoft. “[Microsoft is] delighted to join WBENC in honoring the accomplishments of this year’s Salute to Women's Business Enterprises honorees. These business owners are a shining example for business owners and an inspiration to women everywhere,” said Tim McBride, Chief Procurement Officer at Microsoft. “We are committed to working with WBENC to help woman-owned businesses start, grow, and thrive.”
The Salute will also kick off a year-long term for the honorees as WBENC’s 2008 Women’s Business Enterprise Stars.
The women business owners, all certified women’s business enterprises (WBEs), will be recognized for their leadership in their respective local business communities, their inspiration to other women business owners, and their active roles at the helm of all successful certified businesses. WBENC’s 2008 Women’s Business Enterprise Stars are:
« Michelle Boggs, Chief Executive Officer, McKinley Marketing Partners, Representing Women Presidents’ Educational Organization – Washington, DC
« Julie Copeland, President and CEO, Arbill Safety Products, Representing Women’s Business Enterprise Council – PA-DE-sNJ
« Lori Davis, President, RIG-CHEM, Inc., Representing Women’s Business Council Gulf Coast – New Orleans, LA
« Lynne Marie Finn, President, Superior Staff Resources, Inc., Representing Women Presidents’ Educational Organization – New York City, NY
« Carolyn Gable, President, New Age Transportation, Distribution & Warehousing Inc., Representing Women’s Business Development Center – Chicago, IL
« Margarita Gonzalez, CEO, AccuBANKER, Representing Women’s Business Development Center – Miami, FL
« Michele Finn Johnson, President, Artemis Consulting Group, Inc., Representing Women’s Business Enterprise Council – West – Phoenix, AR
« Sandy Lish, Principal/Founder, The Castle Group, Inc., Representing the Center for Women & Enterprise – Boston, MA
« Olsa Martini, President, Olsa Resources, Inc., Representing Astra Women’s
Business Alliance – Portland, OR
« Pamela O’Rourke, President, ICON Information Consultants, LP, Representing the Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance – Houston, TX
« Roxann Patrick, President, Designed Solutions Group, Inc., Representing Women’s Business Enterprise Council – Southeast – Columbus, OH
« Andra Rush, Owner, Rush Trucking, Representing Michigan Women’s Business Council – Ann Arbor, MI
« Nancy Williams, Principle, ASAP, Representing Georgia Women’s Business Council – Atlanta, GA
« Kathy White, CEO, Facilitech Inc., Representing Women’s Business Council –Southwest
Early corporate sponsors of the 2008 Salute to Women’s Business Enterprises: The Power of Progress (as of November 14, 2007) are Microsoft Corporation (Salute Chair); Artech Information Systems LLC; Avis Budget Group, Inc.; ICON Information Consultants, LP; J&J Exhibitors Service, Inc.; New Technology Steel, LLC.; Raytheon Company; Rose International Inc.; TelTech Communications, LLC; Smead Manufacturing Company; The Warrior Group, Inc.; Oncor; United Airlines, Inc.; Pitney Bowes Inc.; Pfizer Inc; Ford Motor Company; Women’s Business Enterprise Council - Southeast; and W.W. Grainger, Inc.
FACT SHEET
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Director of Marketing and Communications,
Women's Business Enterprise National Council
www.wbenc.org
Ticket INFORMATION
Location
The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
2660 Woodley Road, NW
Washington, DC 20008
About the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), founded in 1997, is the nation's leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America's corporations. It also is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States. WBENC works to foster diversity in the world of commerce with programs and policies designed to expand opportunities and eliminate barriers in the marketplace for women business owners. WBENC also works with representatives of corporations to encourage the utilization and expansion of supplier/vendor diversity programs.
Dedicated to enhancing opportunities for women's business enterprises, WBENC works in partnership with women's business organizations located throughout the country to provide a national standard of certification for women-owned businesses.
Through its benchmarking surveys and ongoing interaction with certified women's business enterprises, WBENC has become the nation's leading source of information on trends in supplier diversity programs for WBEs at US companies and government agencies. WBENC also promotes best practices in supplier diversity through the annual selection of "America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises."
About the SALUTE TO Women’s Business EnterpriseS
WBENC’s annual Salute to Women’s Business Enterprises: The Power of Progress highlights the contributions of WBEs to the United States economy and will pay tribute to the Women’s Business Enterprise Stars of 2008. It also recognizes the corporations and government agencies that provide WBEs with growth opportunities in today’s competitive marketplace. The Salute includes an open reception followed by dinner, the Salute program, plus a dessert buffet reception and Petite Soiree. We expect to attract more than 1,200 guests to the Salute at The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC on Thursday, March 20, 2008.
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