As the nation’s largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is a leading advocate for women-owned businesses.   Founded in 1997, WBENC successfully positions women-owned businesses as suppliers to America's corporations and government entities.   Success is achieved as WBENC partners with representatives of corporations and government agencies to encourage the utilization and expansion of supplier and vendor diversity programs and facilitates business connections.
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What is the WBENC 2012 National Conference & Business Fair?  
Dedicated to expanding opportunities for women’s business enterprises (WBEs) and the corporations and government entities they serve, the annual event is the largest of its kind in the U.S. For two and one-half days, thousands of conference attendees generate business opportunities through participation in an ambitious agenda that includes workshops, general sessions, WBENC’s Business Fair, MatchMaker Meetings, and networking events.

What is the Conference Theme for 2012?
Celebrating 15 Years: Vision, Opportunities, Success! is the theme of the 2012 conference. During the event, WBENC will commemorate the successes of the past and – guided by the Roadmap to 2020 – chart the course for an even brighter future. This includes the delivery of increased value to corporate and government entities. It also includes promoting WBENC’s world-class certification as a critical element of meeting the procurement requirements of corporate and government entities that want to do business with WBEs. The theme reinforces WBENC’s core values: certification, opportunities, and resources. And it underscores WBENC’s longstanding goal of providing WBEs with access to corporate and government procurement opportunities.

Who Can Attend? Everyone!  
More than 3,000 attendees and 300 plus exhibitors are expected to attend. These include senior corporate executives, supplier diversity and procurement decision makers from Fortune 500 WBENC Member Corporations; WBENC-Certified and non-certified women business owners and their staffs; Regional Partner Organizations (RPOs); government representatives; and international guests.

Conference Co-Chairs
Avis-Budget Group, Office Depot, Accel, inc. and ICON Information Consultants, LP.

When and Where will the 2012 WBENC Conference be Held?  
The 2012 WBENC Conference will be held June 19- 21, 2012 at the The Peabody Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

What is the History of WBENC’s National Conference?  

Created in 2000 as WBENC’s Women in Business National Conference and Business Fair, and renamed in 2010, the gathering has – since its inception – filled the need for a national event where women business owners, supplier diversity and procurement professionals, and government representatives could meet to share industry knowledge, best practices and generate new business opportunities. The first conference was held in Dallas. Successive conferences have been held in: Chicago – 2001; Houston – 2002; New York –2003; New Orleans – 2004; Las Vegas – 2005; Miami – 2006; Los Angeles – 2007; Atlanta – 2008, San Francisco – 2009; Baltimore – 2010; and Las Vegas – 2011.

The event has grown from approximately 150 booths and 750 attendees in 2000 to more than 300 booths 3,200 attendees in 2011.

How Do I Register?
Online registration is open now.

Whom Do I Contact to Become a Sponsor or to Get Additional Information?
Paige Adams, director of development, at padams@wbenc.org or 202-872-5515 ext: 1-8020. Companies interested in exhibiting or sponsoring must be a regional or national WBENC Corporate Member, or a WBENC-Certified or WEConnect-Certified WBE. Nonprofits and government agencies are eligible to exhibit. Exhibitors must meet all eligibility criteria.