A Sterling Salute
The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) celebrated the 10th Anniversary of its founding by holding the largest and most successful fund-raiser in its history. The WBENC Salute to Women's Business Enterprises: The Enterprising Economy honored 14 "2007 Business Stars" who are outstanding women's business enterprises (WBEs) from across the country.
As the crowning event in a week-long gathering of the WBENC corporate members, certified women's businesses and partner organizations that support and participate in the WBENC mission, the Salute raised a record $1.125-million. This will help fund WBENC's educational programs, corporate "matchmaker" meetings, and other initiatives enabling WBEs to succeed as vendors and suppliers to the nation's top corporations.
In welcoming over 1,000 leaders from the government, corporate and entrepreneurial arenas who gathered at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Texas, the city where WBENC (www.wbenc.org) was founded 10 years ago, WBENC Interim President Linda Denny declared, "We have leveled the playing field and thrown open the doors of opportunity for women's business enterprises, a feat for which we can all be proud."
Shell Oil Company President and Event Chair John Hofmeister; Principal of A.S.A.P. and WBE Chair of the President's Circle Nancy Williams, and President of the Women's Business Council Southwest Debbie Hurst provided powerful perspectives on WBENC's role as the leading advocate of WBEs. The three represented, respectively, the corporations that are WBENC's members, the WBEs that are certified by WBENC and the partner organizations across that country that provide vital certification and educational support.
WBENC President Emeritus Susan Philips Bari and her husband Dick Bari received a standing ovation from the room when they received special recognition for Bari's vision and energy in building and growing WBENC in its first decade.
In recognition of the contributions that WBEs make to the US economy, the Salute presented awards to the 2007 Business Stars, all certified women's business enterprises (WBEs), for the leadership they provide to the business community and the inspiration they offer to other women business owners.
Corporate Sponsors included: Shell Oil Company; Raytheon Company; UPS; AT&T; CVM Solutions; Macy's/Bloomingdale's; Pfizer Inc; General Motors; Office Depot; The Coca-Cola Company; Time Warner Inc.; TXU Corp.; Verizon, and AllianceBernstein.
CFJ Manufacturing and ICON Information Consultants, LP were the diamond Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) sponsors. Other WBE sponsors included: Adco Electrical Corp.; Dakkota Integrated Systems, LLC; Design2Train; Lone Star Web; LWD Consulting, Inc.; Meadows Office Furniture Company; New Technology Steel, LLC; SB Services, Inc.; SillyMonkey; VIVA USA INC.;The Warrior Group, Inc., Women Presidents' Educational Organization/New York & Washington, DC; Women's Business Enterprise National Council PA-DE-NJ; Women's Business Council-Southwest; Women's Business Enterprise Council-Southeast; Center for Women & Enterprise; Wynne Sedan Limousine Group; ASAP, Avion Systems, Inc., EMCO Technologies; KMM Telecommunications; Matrix Information Consulting, Inc.; MBE magazine; MDI; Meadowlands Consumer Center, Inc.; Neutral Posture, Inc.; Rose International; Smead Manufacturing Company; Superior Staff Resources, Inc.; TCIM; and TelTech Communications, LLC.
