In order to be selected to participate in the Multi-Tier Dialogue session and scheduled into the Meet and Greet, WBEs must register to attend the Summit & Salute by January 31, 2011. Space is limited so register early! I hope you will be as excited as I am about this new opportunity to make connections of real value. See our website at www.wbenc.org/summit-salute for complete details and for registration information. Mark your calendars and plan to attend the Summit & Salute: The Opportunity Connection, March 22-24 at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, MD, just outside Washington, DC. This is just the first of many new opportunities you can expect from WBENC in 2011 as we seek to be your Opportunity Connection. Many blessings and much success to each of you! Linda |  |
Click on the image at left to view the President's Message from Linda Denny: Business Growth, Tax Incentives, and Opportunity Connections.
| | Dorothy B. Brothers Executive Scholarship Program
WBENC announces its 2010 Dorothy B. Brothers Executive Scholarship recipients who were selected in December. Each awardee will receive up to $11,000 in tuition to an executive education program of her choice. Visit the Opportunities section of our website for more information about this scholarship program.
Kathy D. Bailey
Managing Shareholder, Bailey|Gary
Rebecca E. Boenigk
CEO and Chairman of the Board, Neutral Posture
Barbara Bosha
President, Bosha Design
Jennifer Brown
CEO and Founder, Jennifer Brown Consulting
Susan J. Fischer
President, Premier Manufacturing Corporation
Sandra E. Hansen
Owner & President, AgVenture Feed & Seed Inc.
Melissa A. Harrison
Owner/Managing Attorney, Harrison Law Office PLLC
Sharon Krohn
Principal, Real Estate Executive Search
Deborah M. Lee
President, BL Technology, Inc
Michele R. McGough
Founder and CEO, solutions4networks
Elise S. Mitchell
President and CEO, Mitchell Communications Group, Inc.
Amy Baumhower
President of Operations, One Source Mobile
Regina A. Murnoe
President, Inproma, LLC
Sarada Atchuta Priya Padathula
President, Ken Systems, Inc
Royalyn B. Reid
President & CEO, Consumer & Market Insights, LLC
Leslie A. Saunders
President, Leslie Saunders Insurance Agency, Inc.
Sharon M. Skilliter
Managing Partner, 2 Scale Inc.
Jamila Stanford
President, NuGate Group, LLC
Pauline Tan
Principal, Human Engineering International
Lucie H. Voves
President, Church Hill Classics
Doris I. Willmer, PE
President, Willmer Engineering Inc
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WBENC Inducted into Women's Business Enterprise Second Annual Hall of Fame
WBENC was inducted into the Women's Business Enterprise Second Annual Hall of Fame honoring outstanding women entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and mentors, last month at The Women's Museum: An Institute for the Future in Dallas, Texas.
Pamela Eason, WBENC Chairman of the Board of Directors and Pfizer, Inc. Vice President of Worldwide Procurement, accepted the induction on behalf of WBENC.
Above: Dennis Miller, Senior Vice President and Comptroller, JCPenney Company presents
the 2010 WBE Hall of Fame award to Pamela Eason, who accepted the award on behalf of WBENC. Photo courtesy of Women's Enterprise Publications and WE Magazine.
WBENC and its fellow honorees were recognized for their years of commitment to fair and ethical business practices, passion for creating opportunities for women to excel in business, and for making outstanding contributions to their community, city, state or nation.
Corporate inductees included: American Airlines, Bank of America, Energy Future Holdings, and Texas Instruments. All are companies and institutions that have pioneered advancements in women business inclusion and diversity. The final three inductees were women extraordinaire : Valerie Freeman, CEO Imprimis Group, and women business advocate; Debra Jennings-Johnson, Director Supplier Diversity, BP America, and long-time minority and women-business advocate; and the last honoree for the evening was Dr. Terry Neese, Co-Founder and President of the Institute for The Economic Empowerment of Women.
"WBENC was a pioneer in the foundational years when women were fighting to be considered legitimate business owners, were challenging the status quo to have an equal opportunity to bid on contracts with corporations, and were working to document the successes and contributions of women in the marketplace," said Don McKneely, Selection Committee Chairman. "WBENC has advanced diversity and inclusion, and fostered the many excellent opportunities both corporations and WBEs now enjoy."
The WBE Hall of Fame (www.wbehf.org) is a nonprofit organization recognizing exemplary achievement and leadership in business, government, volunteerism and citizenship. Individuals recognized will have clearly demonstrated a passion for excellence and are true role models for other women and aspiring leaders to emulate. | | Registration for WBENC's Summit & Salute to Women's Business Enterprises is now open at www.wbenc.org/summit-salute
Summit & Salute Presenting Sponsors Accenture LLP and Ernst & Young LLP
Be sure to take advantage of Early Bird Registration which ends on January 31, 2011, to receive a $50 discount on the individual ticket price. WBEs who wish to participate as sponsors also receive an early bird discount of $500 on a President's Circle sponsorship and a discount of $250 on the WBE Special Option level.
Now is the time to take advantage of Early Bird Registration which ends on January 31, 2011, to be eligible to receive a $50 discount on the individual ticket price of WBENC's National Conference & Business Fair. WBEs who want to participate in the new Multi-Tier Dialogue & Opportunity Connection and be scheduled into the Meet and Greet must register to attend the Summit & Salute by January 31, 2011. Space is limited so register early!
For details about these promotions, and registration, visit www.wbenc.org/summit-salute.
Registration for WBENC's 2011 National Conference & Business Fair: The Opportunity Connection, is now open at www.wbenc.org/wbencconf.
WBENC Conference Co-Chairs are Amgen, The Act-1 Group, and Zorch.
In 2011, WBENC will focus on topics such as WBE capacity development and the evolution of corporate supply chains in the new economy, and the US Small Business Administration's Women Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program (8M Recovery Act).
Keynote speakers include Soledad O'Brien, anchor and special correspondent for CNN, and Annie Duke, entrepreneur, World Series Poker professional, and Celebrity Apprentice star.
This year's event promises to be better than ever as WBENC continues its Opportunity Connection theme to deliver:
- The largest Business Fair in the nation for women's business enterprises
- WBENC's signature MatchMaker Meetings
- WBENC's annual Live and Silent Auctions featuring Power Lunches with key corporate executives.
With nearly 3,200 registered attendees in 2010, the business fair boasted more than 350 exhibitors including 120 WBE exhibitors, fueling the largest WBENC National Conference & Business Fair in the organization's history.
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WBENC Hosts Summit & Salute to Drive Women's Business GrowthPresenting Sponsors: Corporations and Women's Businesses Explore
1st, 2nd and 3rd Tier Supplier Opportunities
The Women's Business Enterprise National Council will present the 2011 Summit & Salute to Women's Business Enterprises convening over 1,000 corporations and women's businesses enterprises for two days of thought leadership and business development opportunities on March 22-24 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. Accenture LLP and Ernst & Young LLP are the 2011 Presenting Sponsors for this extraordinary event.
"Our 2011 Summit & Salute is designed to help build the capabilities and capacity of women's business enterprises to meet the increasingly complex needs of our Corporate Members," said Linda Denny, WBENC President and CEO, the leading advocate for and authority on women's business enterprises (WBEs) as suppliers to the nation's top corporations. "As The Opportunity Connection, WBENC provides vital access among women's business enterprises and the corporations they serve."
Headlining is Alice Schroeder, Bloomberg columnist and author of The Snowball: Warren Buffet and the Business of Life on Navigating, a #1 New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller. She will speak on Profiting in a World of Changing Business Models.
In delivering business trend forums and senior-level networking opportunities, WBENC enables the long-term success of women's businesses and the corporations they serve.
This year, WBENC will propel women's business growth by introducing the Multi-Tier Dialogue & Opportunity Connection in which WBENC-certified WBEs can discuss potential relationships with corporations as Prime, or First Tier Suppliers. Corporate Members and prime suppliers will interview WBENC Certified WBEs that can fill a sub-contracting role on a current or upcoming project.
The 2011 Summit & Salute also celebrates exemplary Corporate Members and WBEs with its annual Salute to WBEs honoring 14 WBENC WBE Stars selected by WBENC's 14 Regional Partner Organizations (RPOs). The RPOs administer WBENC's world-class certification of WBEs, in addition to providing skill-building educational programs and business development opportunities with major corporations.
During the Summit & Salute, WBENC will also recognize America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises. The Top Corporations award is a prestigious national award honoring corporations with world-class programs that create level playing fields for WBEs, which compete for corporate contracts. In addition to offering equal access to business opportunities, Top Corporations generate and conduct a high volume of business with WBEs. The honorees will be announced in the coming weeks. Click here to view past winners.
In delivering its three core values: Certification, Opportunity, and Resources, WBENC's 2011 focus includes WBE capacity development and the evolution of corporate supply chains in the new economy; as well as addresses the Small Business Administration's Women Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program.
About Alice Schroeder: Named by Risk and Insurance magazine as "One of the most respected--and fearless--thinkers on Wall Street," Bloomberg columnist and journalist Alice Schroeder began her career by spending more than a decade as a CPA and auditor at Ernst & Young. Subsequently she worked as a regulator at the Financial Accounting Standards Board. At FASB, Schroeder oversaw the issuance of some of the most significant rule changes to curb abusive accounting by reinsurers, including SFAS 113, Accounting and Reporting for Reinsurance of Short-Duration and Long-Duration Contracts and EITF Issues 93-6 and 93-14.
In 1993, she become one of Wall Street's most notable insurance research analysts, first as a Managing Director at Oppenheimer & Company, then at PaineWebber, and finally at Morgan Stanley. During this period, Wall Street clients voted her the highest-ranked property-and-casualty insurance analyst on Institutional Investor's All-America Research team two years in a row. She also was named one of "40 People to Watch" by A.M. Best, and one of "35 Rising Stars" by Business Insurance magazine.
In 2003, Schroeder took a leave from Morgan Stanley to begin five years of research and writing for what would become the ultimate analysis of Warren Buffett's life - The Snowball. Schroeder gained unprecedented access to Buffett's personal papers and files, friends and Time Magazine and People named Snowball one of the ten best books of the year. Snowball also appeared on best of the year lists issued by The Financial Times, BusinessWeek, USA Today, and The Washington Post. Snowball was also named a Top 100 Editor's Pick, the #1 Business and Investing Book of the year, and one of the Five Best Biographies of the Year by Amazon.com.
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NEW Multi-Tier Dialogue & Opportunity Connection
Sponsored by 
Corporate Members and Certified Women's Business Enterprises should plan to participate in a new addition to the 2011 Summit & Salute: The Multi-Tier Dialogue & Opportunity Connection, sponsored by AT&T. Through this program, WBEs will be given the opportunity to present their services to Corporate Members in two simultaneous sessions:
- A brief Meet and Greet session designed to offer Certified Women's Business Enterprises the opportunity to introduce their products and/or services to participating Corporate Members without the need for a formal appointment. In this session, each participating Corporate Member will be assigned a station where WBEs can make their presentations in timed increments before rotating to speak with the next Corporate Member. This session gives Corporate Members the opportunity to meet new potential suppliers with the choice to share current or upcoming opportunities with Certified WBEs or just to get acquainted with the scope of WBE capabilities.
- The Multi-Tier Dialogue session offers an opportunity for Corporate Members and their prime suppliers/key business partners to meet with Certified Women's Business Enterprises for short pre-scheduled meetings to explore 1st, 2nd, and 3rd level sourcing opportunities. Corporate Members and prime suppliers will interview WBENC Certified WBEs that can fill a sub-contracting role on a current or upcoming project.
Visit www.wbenc.org/summit-salute for registration and details.
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Promote Your Company as a Summit & Salute Sponsor!
Prior sponsors of the Summit & Salute to Women's Business Enterprises are aware of the many benefits derived from participating at this unique event. However, those who have not taken advantage of the visibility afforded through sponsorship should consider incorporating sponsorship into their 2011 marketing strategy.
WBEs: As a sponsor, WBEs receive national recognition in front of peers and current, as well as prospective clients. Sponsor participation is a great way for a WBE to demonstrate business capacity to a wide audience. In addition, sponsorship provides access to VIP-only events.
Summit & Salute sponsorship begins at $1,500, and there are packages designed just for WBEs. Go to www.wbenc.org/summit-salute and click on Sponsorship to learn more. Act fast! Some sponsorships increase in cost after January 31, 2011, and the advertising deadline is February 1, 2011.
Corporations: Sponsorship affords national recognition among corporate peers; demonstrates commitment to the growth of women-owned businesses; and is a terrific way to promote your company to prospective suppliers and potential clients.
At the Summit & Salute, sponsorship begins at $1,500 and there are packages designed just for corporations. Go to www.wbenc.org/summit-salute and click on Sponsorship to learn more. Act fast! Some sponsorships include advertising, and the advertising deadline is February 1, 2011.
Contact Paige Adams, Director of Development at 202-872-5515, ext. 8020 or padams@wbenc.org for more information. | |
The Women Presidents' Organization Launches Search for the 50 Fastest-growing Women-owned or Women-led Companies in North America!
This year marks the 4th Annual WPO search for the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Women-Led Companies in North America™ sponsored by American Express OPEN. Companies will be ranked according to revenue growth from 2005 to 2009. The Top 50 fastest-growing companies have the chance of being published online and in print!
You do not have to be a WPO member to apply, nor is there a fee. To be eligible, companies must be… - privately-owned
- women-owned/led
- must have generated $500,000 in annual revenue by year end 2005
- must have reached revenues of $2 million by year-end 2010
Questions should be directed to fastgrowth@womenpresidentsorg.com.
Complete the application at www.surveymonkey.com/s/FastGrowth by February 1, 2011. | | |
CERTIFICATION CORNER
Capabilities Equal Opportunities!
Do you know that the Capabilities section of your online profile in WBENCLink is critical to your success as a WBE? Every key word, NAICS or UNSPSC search done using WBENCLink compares the search criteria to every WBE's profile. Failure to properly present your company's end products and/or services adequately could mean a lost bid opportunity.
On September 1, 2010, WBENC released an enhanced version of WBENCLink (V3). The enhancements resulted in improved functionality, more specificity of WBEs capabilities in their profile, as well as better reporting mechanisms. In an effort to provide all currently certified WBEs (and expired WBEs) the opportunity to update their company's information, the normally blocked sections of your online profile can be edited.
Now through February 18, 2011, WBEs will have the ability to update fields located under the General Tab, Capabilities Tab and Additional Info tab of their profile on www.wbenclink.org.
Reminders will be sent from wbenclink@cvmsolutions.com as well as your Regional Partner Organization to ensure that everyone has been properly notified of this opportunity. WBEs who have already updated their file should disregard the reminder. However, WBEs who have not yet updated their file, should act quickly.
These reminders will contain the necessary instructions you will need to complete your company's updates. WBEs who do not update their profile during the specified time frame will only have the opportunity to do so during their normal recertification period.
If you have questions regarding this announcement, please contact support@wbenc.org.
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Misuse of WBENCLink Database!
While the WBENCLink database is an excellent strategic marketing tool to identify the supplier diversity contact of a Corporate Member, to find WBEs for partnerships, to purchase products and services; unfortunately, many WBEs are using it for the purpose of email blasts. Please note contact information obtained from WBENCLink is not permitted for use in any e-mail blasts. Examples of misuse include sending an email blast for the purpose of advertising or promoting:
- A company, executive/employee from your company, or an event.
- A product or service that is on sale or offered at a discount to WBENC Certified WBEs or Corporate Members.
- A product or service offered by your company that would make a great gift for a boss or administrative assistant.
As of June 1, 2010, any WBE who continues to send out this type of email will receive a "cease and desist" letter from WBENC. If the WBE continues to contact WBEs for this purpose, their level of access to WBENCLink will be restricted to their profile only.
Questions about this policy should be directed to Susan Cates at 202-872-5515 ext. 8100.
WBENCLink Database Training for Certified WBEs
WBENCLink Database Training for Certified WBEs will be the second and last Wednesday of each month in 2011. Exception: December has just one training date, on the 14th.
The remaining class this month will be held on January 26th.
Each class is limited to the first 50 people who log in to the internet. Therefore, it is not necessary to register for this training. Note: if you choose to log in early to reserve your spot, you may do so. However, please do not phone in to the session until the class is due to begin as WBENC will be charged for this time. (Session time is 1 hour)
2:00 p.m. Eastern
1:00 p.m. Central
12:00 p.m. Mountain
11:00 a.m. Pacific
Topics include:
- Updating your company's profile
- Adding users to your profile
- Changing your password
- Searching for certified WBEs
- Searching for Corporate members
- Downloading your certificate
- WBENC Seal/Logo
- Recertification Process
- Appropriate use of database data
To access the training, go to: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/wbenc/join?id=WBETrain2011&role=attend&pw=WBEAttend2011
Meeting ID: WBETrain2011
Attendee Entry Code: WBEAttend2011
Call Number: 877-923-6297
Passcode: 9222170#
It is not necessary to install Microsoft Live Meeting, you may just click "Accept & Join" to enter the meeting.
For information regarding training, please contact Susan Cates at 202-872-5515 X 8100.
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2011 Calendar of Events
This calendar includes events hosted by WBENC's Regional Partner Organizations and strategic partners. Visit WBENC's online calendar for more events.
Save the Dates for 2011 WBENC Events:
Summit & Salute to Women's Business Enterprises to be held in National Harbour, MD (15 minutes outside of D.C.), March 22-24, 2011.
WBENC National Conference & Business Fair to be held in Las Vegas, NV, June 21-23, 2011.
RPO Events:
WBENC's 14 RPOs administer WBENC's world-class certification of WBEs, in addition to providing skill-building educational programs and business development opportunities with major corporations. Click here for an expanded list of RPO events.
Women's Business Council Southwest
Parade of Stars Annual Gala
January 27, 2011
The Ritz-Carlton,
Dallas, TX
Visit www.wbcsouthwest.org for more information.
Ohio River Valley Women's Business Council
Catch the Wave of Success "Navigating the Ups & Downs of Your Business"
Two Day Conference and Trade Show
Save the Date: April 6 -7, 2011
Corporate College East, OH
Visit www.orvwbc.org/programs/catchthewave for more information.
| | | EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor in Chief
Cristy McCullough
AVP Marketing, Communications, and Brand Management
Managing Editor / Production
Allison Gibson
Special Projects Mgr - West Coast
Editorial Assistants
Paige Adams
Director, Corporate Relations and Development
Ashley Cole
Editorial Assistant/Intern
Betty Cole
Sr. Director, Programs
Writers
Paige Adams
Director, Corporate Relations and Development
Susan Cates
WBENCLink Technical Issues & Certification Support Manager
Betty Cole
Sr. Director, Programs
Linda Denny
President & CEO
Lynthia Romney
Romenycom
Design
Limb Design
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