News Release

Women's Business Enterprise National Council to Salute Women's Business Enterprises: The Enterprising Economy
and Celebrate its 10th Anniversary

Shell Oil Company is the 2007 Chair of WBENC's Annual Salute

Washington, DC – January 5, 2007 – The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) will celebrate its 10 th anniversary and present its annual Salute to Women’s Business Enterprises: The Enterprising Economy on Thursday, March 29, 2007 at The Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Texas. With Mr. John Hofmeister, President, Shell Oil Company, serving as Salute Chair, the black-tie event is expected to attract over 1000 guests to this special Tenth Anniversary celebration of women’s business enterprises.

Designed to recognize the contributions of women’s business enterprises (WBEs) to the U.S. economy, the Salute also recognizes 14 women’s business enterprises as the 2007 Women-Owned Business Stars. These women business owners, all certified women’s business enterprises (WBEs), are being honored 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. The 2007 Women-Owned Business Stars are:

  • Tara Abraham, CEO, Accel, Inc., Representing Women’s Business Enterprise Council – Southeast – ( Columbus, Ohio)
  • Sarah Bates, President and CEO, New Technology Steel Representing Women’s Business Council – (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
  • Phyllis Godwin, Chairman & CEO, Granite City Electric Supply Company Representing the Center for Women & Enterprise – ( Boston, Massachusetts)
  • Lynn J. Griffith, President, Welcome Florida, Representing Women’s Business Development Center – ( Miami, Florida)
  • Janice Hamilton, President, and CEO, JMH Education Marketing, Inc. Representing Women’s Presidents’ Educational Organization – ( New York City, New York)
  • Lisa Hanlon, Managing Partner, TelTech Communications, LLC, Representing Women’s Business Enterprise Council – West – ( Phoenix, Arizona)
  • Dawn Magnan, President, n8 Solutions Representing the Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance – ( Houston, Texas)
  • Sheri Orlowitz, President, Shan Industries, LLC, Representing Women’s Presidents’ Educational Organization – (Washington, DC)
  • Kanchana Raman, President, Avion Systems, Inc Representing Georgia Women’s Business Council – (Atlanta, Georgia)
  • Julia Rhodes, President, Kleenslate Concepts Representing Astra Women’s Business Alliance – ( Portland, Oregon)
  • Judy Ritter, President, Ritter Contracting Representing Women’s Business Enterprise Council – PA-DE-sNJ – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Deborah M. Sawyer, CEO and President, Environmental Design International, Inc. Representing Women’s Business Development Center – Chicago, Illinois
  • Karin Stevens, President, Edelweiss Enterprises, Inc Representing Women’s Business Council Gulf Coast – Lafayette, Louisiana
  • Gail Warrior Lawrence, President, The Warrior Group Representing Women’s Business Council – Southwest – (Arlington, Texas)

Corporate Sponsors - The benefactor sponsors are Shell Oil Company and Raytheon Company. Other corporate sponsors include JCPenney Company, Microsoft Corporation, UPS, AT&T, Bank of America, Chevron Corporation, Motorola, Inc., Pfizer Inc, United Airlines, Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC; Federated Department Stores, Johnson & Johnson, KPMG, Kraft Foods\Philip Morris USA, Limited Brands, The Coca-Cola Company, Time Warner Inc.; TXU Corp. and Verizon.

Women's Business Enterprise Sponsors - The diamond WBE sponsors are C FJ Manufacturing and ICON Information Consultants, LP. Other WBE sponsors include ASAP, Avion Systems, Inc., KMM Telecommunications, Management Decisions, Inc., Matrix Information Consulting, Inc., MBE magazine, MDI, Meadowlands Consumer Center, Inc., Neutral Posture, Inc., Rose International, Smead Manufacturing Company, TCIM, TelTech Communications, LLC and The Warrior Group, Inc.

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.
  • 238 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 WBEs.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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For press inquiries, please contact E. Denise Stovell at Stovell Marketing and Public Relations, WBENC's press consultant at denise@stovellmarketingpr.com or 202-588-9875.