Women's Business Enterprise National Council Announces 2006 Dorothy B. Brothers Scholarship Recipients

Washington, DC August 28, 2006 – The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation's leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America's corporations, has announced its 2006 Dorothy B. Brothers Scholarship Award recipients. Supported by Bank of America and its suppliers, The Dorothy B. Brothers Executive Scholarship Program provides a framework to enable women-owned businesses to formulate and implement business strategies to achieve competitive advantages. These scholarships will provide 14 WBEs (women’s business enterprises) access to continuing executive management education. 

Scholarships are awarded annually to 14 women business owners, one per Women's Business Organizational Partner (WBOP). The WBEs selected for 2006 are:

• Sarian Bouma, Capitol Hill Building Maintenance, www.chbm-md.com, representing the Women’s Presidents’ Educational Organization - DC
• Sandra Britt, New World Transportation Services, www.newworldtrans.com, representing the Georgia Women’s Business Council
• Melody Christensen, Filter LLC, www.filtertalent.com, representing Astra Women’s Business Alliance
• Julie Copeland, Arbill Safety Products, www.arbill.com, representing the Women’s Business Development Center/PA
• Jean M. Gianfagna, Gianfagna Marketing & Communications, Inc., www.gianfaganmarketing.com, representing the Women’s Business Enterprise Council – Southeast
• Debra Gould, Debra Gould & Associates, www.gouldassoc.com, representing the Women’s Business Council Gulf Coast
• Noreen Guanci, Long Term Solutions, www.longtermsol.com, representing the Center for Women & Enterprise
• Kaarla McKenzie, Source Executive Search, www.sourceexecutive.com, representing the Women’s Business Development Center/FL
• JoAnne Ross Mina, J.M. Neil & Associates, www.jmneil.com, representing the Women’s Business Development Center/Chicago
• Cheryl Osborne, CASCO Contractors, Inc., www.cascocontractors.com, representing the Women’s Business Enterprise Council – West
• Cynthia Robison, Blue Fusion, www.fusionworks.com, representing the Michigan Women’s Business Council
• Lisa Torcasio, Torcasio Sales & Marketing, www.torcasiosales.com, representing the Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance
• Johnette van Eeden, van Eeden LLC, www.lsscreening.com, representing the Women’s Business Council – Southwest
• Marilyn Volpe, The Madison Consulting Group, www.tmcginc.com, representing the Women’s Presidents’ Educational Organization – NY

  About the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC):

• 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 $7.5M, 49 employees and 14 years of experience.
• More than 60 WBE firms have revenues in excess of $100M, and seven certified WBE companies have revenues in excess of $1 billion.
• Nearly 200 US 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 Women’s Business Enterprises.
• WBENC certification is accepted by more than 700 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@wbenc.org is an online marketplace where corporations and government agencies, as well as WBEs, post RFPs, sources sought, and RFIs.

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