Regional Workshop for WBEs Prior to Event

Secure the Contract: Defining & Communicating Your Value Proposition and Developing a Sustainable Competitive Edge  (for WBEs and established business owners)

 For additional information regarding these regional events, please click on the “workshops” tab above.

23^rd Annual Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

7:15 a.m.                             
Registration Opens  (outside Festival Hall B)

9:30 – 11:45 a.m.               
Women’s Business & Buyers Mart  (Festival Hall B)                                                                                             

10:00 – 11:45 a.m.            
Corporate Connections  (Festival Hall B) 
*By appointment only

1:45 – 5:00 p.m.                 
Women’s Business & Buyers Mart  (Festival Hall B)

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.                
Get Down to Business Networking & Wrap-Up Reception  (Lakeview Terrace)

The Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) extends their gratitude to all of the current and past sponsors of the Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference, for without their commitment, consistent generosity and support this annual event would not be possible.   

Sponsorships for this event are available for corporations, government agencies and WBENC certified WBEs.  Please see the appropriate forms above for a list of current opportunities.

Marquee Sponsors ($35,000 and Up)  

Premier Sponsors ($25,000-$34,000)

Featured Sponsors ($20,000- $24,000)

Workshop Sponsors ($7,500 - $10,000)

Ask the Experts Sponsors ($5,000)

Premier Media Sponsors ($50,000 and Up)

Media Sponsors ($10,000 and Up)

The Mart provides an opportunity for the established woman business owner to enhance the profitability of her business by establishing relationships with corporate and government buyers, and with other entrepreneurs.  It also provides every woman business owner, from start-up to established, with top-notch business resources to help ensure her business is as efficient and productive as it can be.  

Corporate Procurement

Business Resources

Federal Government Procurment

Local Government Procurement

WBE Companies

Resource Organizations

WE USA  

Located inside the Women’s Business & Buyers Mart
Festival Hall B, Navy Pier 

The Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) is thrilled to be presenting the 7th Annual Corporate Connections program at this year’s Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference. Over the past six years, this extraordinary program has grown to be one of the most successful and popular elements of the conference.   

Located on the Mart floor and strictly for certified WBEs, Corporate Connections provides WBEs with the opportunity to meet one-on-one with corporate and government purchasing decision-makers in closed-office sessions.  Numerous WBEs have secured highly sought after contracts through this business relationship building model.  Eligible WBEs will be pre-selected by corporate and government buyers for one-on-one meetings that will take place throughout the conference.  

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?  

All WBENC certified WBEs are eligible to participate.  A company’s WBE certification status must be current as of September 1, 2009. 
*If you are selected for an appointment you must also register to attend the Conference.  

Sponsored by National City – now part of PNC and Walgreens

For the past two decades, the Women’s Forum Luncheon has remained one of the most popular and prestigious elements of the Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference.  Learn from, and be inspired by, nationally renowned women business owners as moderator Terry Savage, Chicago Sun-Times financial columnist, leads this year’s panel through another lively, candid, open – and always fascinating - discussion about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.

*The last twenty minutes will be open for the audience to ask questions.

2009 Forum Moderator:

23rd Annual Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Noon – 1:45 p.m.   Grand Ballroom, Navy Pier

Sponsored by  ComEd, Health Care Service Corporation and W.W. Grainger
Keynote presentation by  Penny S. Pritzker

Each year, the Women’s Business Development Center’s (WBDC) Hall of Fame Awards recognize women entrepreneurs who have demonstrated unequaled strength, perseverance and creativity in their businesses, and who have embodied entrepreneurial success in various ways.  The WBDC also recognizes advocates, corporations and government agencies who have demonstrated their enthusiastic commitment to the strengthening of women’s business ownership and economic development.

2009 Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year
Kim Holstein, CEO, Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels

2009 Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year – WBE Success
Sharon Castillo, Principal, SB Services, Inc.  

2009 Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year - Rising Star
Kali Evans-Raoul, President, The Image Studios

2009 Advocacy Award
Lori Healey, President, Chicago 2016

2009 Corporate Support
Microsoft Corp.

Speaker Opportunities
Speaking opportunities for the 23rd annual Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference are closed.  If you are interested in becoming a speaker at the future Conferences, please contact Mia Delano directly at mdelano@wbdc.org

The Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) is a recognized leader in the development of innovative and affective programs that serve all stages of business owners.  The same standards used to create the workshops presented year-round in our Center and throughout our nine-state Midwestern Region have been used to create the workshops presented at our annual Conference. 

Regional Workshop for WBEs Prior to the Conference

Dates and Locations:

July 23, 2009 – St. Louis, MO host sponsor RubinBrown LLP
August 7, 2009 – Minneapolis, MN host sponsor Target Corp.
August 12, 2009 – Kansas City, MO host sponsor RubinBrown LLP
August 20, 2009 – Chicago, IL host sponsor PepsiCo, Inc.
September 2, 2009 – Milwaukee, WI host sponsor Harley-Davidson Motor  Company

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

From Dream to Reality: Launching Your Own Business  (For start-ups)
Sponsored by The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Citi Illinois
9:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.     Breakout Rooms 201-203

Do you have a great business idea, but you’re not sure how to turn that dream into reality?  Be part of a lively discussion with those on the frontlines—other women who have started their own businesses and professionals who work with them.  Hear how they learned to balance their personal and business lives, how they got financing, how their businesses evolved and how they knew when to change.  This stimulating, interactive session will provide you with the tools, information and guidance you need to launch a successful business.

Transportation to and from The Allerton Hotel Chicago and Navy Pier (Taxi Drop-off #2) will be provided for the Conference.  The shuttle will run on 15-20 minute intervals.    

Parking is also available at Navy Pier.  The garage entrances are located on the North side of the facility; follow the signs to Festival Hall B parking.  Please note, the parking facilities are a separate entity from Navy Pier; at this time, there are no discounts on parking.

A complimentary coat and luggage check will be available for your use both days of the event; this will be located in the lobby at the Taxi Drop-off #2 entrance – the main entrance for our event. 

COMING SOON