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Women's Business Enterprise National Council Honors 14 Women-Owned
"Business Stars" at Annual Salute to Women's Business Enterprises
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) will honor 14 women business owners, WBENC’s very own “Business Stars,” during its seventh annual Salute to Women’s Business Enterprises: The Enterprising Economy. The Salute is WBENC’s annual black-tie fundraiser held this year on Wednesday, March 24 in Washington, D.C. at the National Building Museum. WBENC is the nation’s largest and most-widely recognized third-party certifier of woman-owned businesses and has more than tripled in size since its inception in March 1997.
Each year WBENC and its women’s business organizational partners (WBOPs) select 14 Women-Owned Business Stars, one representing each WBOP, for recognition at the annual Salute traditionally held during Women’s History Month. The “Business Stars” are selected based on their leadership in their local business community, their unique ability to inspire other women business owners and their consistency in directing a successful WBENC-certified business.
“Women business owners make outstanding contributions to the US economy each and every day,” said Susan Bari, President of WBENC. “Our Salute recognizes a handful of the WBEs who are instrumental to America’s economic recovery, job creation and future. WBENC is proud to spotlight these WBEs who demonstrate their commitment to the US economy by operating successful businesses while serving as leaders in their communities.”
More than 1,000 guests are expected to attend the black-tie Salute and anniversary celebration at the prestigious National Building Museum. The women’s business enterprises selected by WBENC for 2004 are:
• Heidi Berenson, President, Berenson Communications, Inc., www.berensonproductions.com, representing the Women Presidents’ Educational Organization/DC
• Sharon Burton, President/CEO, The Robart Companies, www.robartcompanies.com, representing the Georgia Women’s Business Council
• June Coldren, President, Cenergy Corporation, www.cenergycorp.com, representing the Women’s Business Council Gulf Coast
• Mona Eliassen, CEO, Eliassen Group, Inc., www.eliassen.com, representing the Center for Women and Enterprise/Boston
• Lynne Marie Finn, President, Superior Staffing Services, Inc., www.superiorstaffingservices.com, representing the Women’s Business Development Center/Philadelphia
• Carol Howlin, President, Paragon Promotional Marketing, Inc., www.paragonpm.com, representing the Women’s Business Enterprise Council - West
• E. Jean Johnson, President/CEO, Legal WATCH, Inc., www.legalwatch.com, representing The Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance
• Joan Lasselle, President/Owner, Lasselle-Ramsay Information Development Services, www.lr.com, representing the Astra Women’s Business Alliance
• Terri McNally, President, Global Capital Ltd., www.globalcapitalltd.com, representing the Women’s Business Development Center/Chicago
• Patricia Monteforte, President/CEO, Pharmaceutical Resource Corporation, www.pharmresource.com, representing The Women’s Business Development Center/Pennsylvania
• Frances Queen, President/CEO, Queen Associates Inc, www.qai3.com, representing the Women’s Business Enterprise Council Southeast
• Leslie Saunders, President, Leslie Saunders Insurance and Marketing International, www.lsimi.com, representing the Women’s Business Development Center/Florida
• Tina Stover, President, Direct Effect Productions, Inc., www.directeffectevents.com, representing The Michigan Women’s Business Council
• Nina Vaca, President, Pinnacle Technical Resources, Inc., www.pinnacle1.com, representing the Women’s Business Council - Southwest
In celebration of its seventh annual Salute to Women’s Business Enterprises, WBENC will feature the 14 Women-Owned Business Stars on its website, www.wbenc.org and in WBENC news releases throughout 2004. The dinner and awards program will pay tribute to the women in a video presentation and feature them in the Salute commemorative program book. WBENC will also announce its 2004 Applause Awards recipients during this exclusive event.
UPS is the Salute’s VIP Reception Underwriter. Bank of America is a Platinum Benefactor, sponsoring the evening’s Dinner and Program. Kenneth D. Lewis, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, Bank of America Corporation, is serving as this year’s Salute Chair. Diamond Benefactors include Microsoft, Office Depot, Raytheon Company, and United Airlines. The Tribute Patrons are Cendant Car Rental Group, Inc., Ford Motor Company, Lucent Technologies, and Sears, Roebuck and Co. Gold sponsors include AT&T, Austin-Tetra,
Inc., Bizjournals, ChevronTexaco, DaimlerChrysler, Federated Department Stores, Inc., IBM, Johnson&Johnson, KPMG, LLP, Motorola, PepsiCo, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., Pitney Bowes, SBC Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, TXU, and Wal-Mart Stores. WBENC President’s Circle sponsors (women’s business enterprises) are ASAP Staffing, LLC, Lasertone Corporation, Neutral Posture, Pharmaceutical Resource Corporation, Pinnacle Technical Resources, Inc., Safe Haven Enterprises, Inc., and Smead Manufacturing Company, all women-owned businesses.
For more information about the Salute, visit the web site at www.wbenc.org/salute 2004. For more information about the WBENC certification, call (202) 872-5515; visit the web site at www.wbenc.org or e-mail WBENC at info@wbenc.org.
The Impact of Woman Owned Business
Major corporations wishing to increase market share realize it is no longer just “the right thing” to do business with diversity owned companies. Affected by recent economic and demographic trends and changes, corporations throughout the country have recognized that buying products and services from diversity owned companies positively impacts their business. Diversity-owned businesses contribute over $1.4 trillion in sales to the U.S. economy.
“Diversity businesses and consumers are a growing force in the U.S. economy, and a force to be reckoned with,” said Kenton Clarke, CEO of Computer Consulting Associates International, the company that built DiversityBusiness.com. “It’s no longer only about the Fortune 1000. This is a whole business segment that can carry its own, that provides jobs, products and services, and generates wealth for their communities. These are the new leaders in American business.”
The Top Woman List
This is a classification that represents the top woman-owned businesses in the US and Georgia, in sectors such as technology, manufacturing, food service and professional services. Large organizational buyers throughout the country that do business with multicultural and women-owned businesses use the list. This list is produced annually by DiversityBusiness.com, the nation's leading multicultural B2B Internet portal that links large organizational buyers to multicultural product and service suppliers.
The winning companies will be honored at a special awards ceremony at DiversityBusiness.com’s 6thh Annual Multicultural Business Conference, taking place March 29 – March 31, 2006 at the MGM Mirage in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For the complete list of winning companies, please visit:
About The Robart Companies
The Robart Companies is a third party transportation and logistics provider. This year marks 22 years in the transportation industry for the organization.
Robart Transportation specializes in truckload, volume partials, expedited, flatbed, & airfreight shipments throughout North America.
The RL Services Group supports and enhances transportation functions with a variety of services including supply chain analysis, traffic management, and freight payment, warehousing and site selection.
For more information Contact:
Laurie Smith
770-662-5008