GEORGIA WOMEN’S BUSINESS COUNCIL NAMED PARTNER OF THE YEAR AT WOMEN’S BUSINESS ENTERPRISE NATIONAL COUNCIL’S ANNUAL “TRIBUTE TO PARTNERS” EVENT

Event Capped Women in Business 2007 Conference and Business Fair

Washington, DC – July 18 – The Georgia Women’s Business Council (GWBC) was named national Partner Organization of the Year by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) at the gala “Tribute to Partners” event at its 2007 Women in Business Conference and Business Fair held in Los Angeles, California.

“In just seven years, the Georgia Women’s Business Council has become the premier third-party certification agency for women-owned business enterprises (WBEs) in the state of Georgia. Through an exemplary combination of innovation and determination, GWBC now has 475 certified women’s businesses and engages over 20 other major corporate and non-profit members,” said WBENC President Linda Denny.

WBENC's Partner Organization of the Year is recognized for exceptional accomplishments that expand opportunities for women's business enterprises on a national level while furthering WBENC's work in expanding opportunities and eliminating barriers in the marketplace for women business owners. The Partner Organization of the Year must meet numerous criteria, including its collaboration with the WBENC network (the national organization, corporate members, WBEs and WBENC's 13 other Women Business Operating Partners providing certification and education), and the dedication of its staff, corporate members and WBE volunteers.

“Our Board of Directors is the model of a working volunteer board,” said Roz Lewis, GWBC executive director. “The dynamic growth of our organization is a result of the tremendous commitment, strategic vision, and energy of our board members and committees.” Ms. Lewis is no stranger to this level of volunteerism. She was a founding member of the GWBC Board of Directors, and served on behalf of Delta where she was Supplier Diversity Manager. She became a certified purchasing manager prior to assuming her current position one year ago.

“We intend to redefine the meaning of women-owned businesses,” she declared. “WBEs are not only suppliers to corporations and government agencies, but they are also forward-looking partners that create value for shareholders or taxpayers. We can’t forget that women business owners are a powerful consumer force, as well.”

Today Roz Lewis, the efficient GWBC staff, and the Board continue to fuel GWBC’s growth by forging partnerships with organizations such as the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) and its business development incubator, Hispanic American Center for Economic Development (HACED). GWBC is providing national certification for all HACED’s women-owned businesses, including those who have “green card” status, and are translating informational and certification materials into Spanish.

“We plan to develop seminars which will become a regular part of the curriculum that is offered by HACED,” added Parri Womack, certification manager of the GWBC. Georgia-based women's businesses that become certified benefit from GWBC's innovative W.A.V.E. program, (Women Adding Value Every Day), a series of educational programs and networking opportunities to prepare WBEs with the skills they need to compete successfully for procurement opportunities. GWBC provides the opportunity of certification, and ensuing access to corporations and government associations, to a broad population of qualified women-owned businesses.

In addition, GWBC connects WBEs to the benefits of the national WBENC organization through corporate MatchMaker Meetings, executive scholarships, and the Women in Business Conference and Business Fair. Drawing 2,500 women-owned businesses, senior corporate executives, supplier diversity and procurement professionals and government representatives, the four day event covers an ambitious agenda of visionary presentations, cutting-edge workshops and contract-producing networking.

For the past two years, Georgia-based WBEs have co-chaired the Women In Business Conference and Business Fair, or the Salute to Women’s Business Enterprises, the two largest national WBENC programs. In 2008, this leadership commitment will continue when the WBENC national conference comes to Atlanta. Georgia-based ASAP Staffing will be WBE co-chairs and The Home Depot and UPS will be corporate co-chairs.

• Founded in 1997, WBENC is the nation’s leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, and the leading advocate of women’s business enterprises (WBEs) as suppliers to corporate America.
• The average WBENC certified company has revenues of $7.7M, 45 employees and 14 years of experience.
• Approximately 50 WBE firms have revenues in excess of $100M, and six certified WBE companies have revenues in excess of $1 billion.
• 240 U.S. corporations are active members of WBENC and representatives of 36 corporations sit on the WBENC Board of Directors, along with nine representatives of its partner organizations and nine WBEs.
• WBENC certification is accepted by more than 1,000 corporations, representing America’s most prestigious brands, as well as government entities at the state, local and Federal levels.
• WBENC also has developed several highly regarded initiatives for recognizing excellence in corporate supplier diversity targeting WBEs (America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises, The WBENC Applause Awards) and women’s business enterprises (WBENC’s Woman-Owned Business Stars).
• WEBuy is an online marketplace tool that corporations and government agencies, as well as WBEs, can use to post RFPs, sources sought, and RFIs.
• WBENC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks and accepts donations from corporations, foundations and individuals that support its mission and programs
• WBENCLink is an Internet database, accessed by WBENC corporate members and certified women's business enterprises (WBEs), which contains information on certified women's businesses for purchasing managers nationwide.