Resource Center

This year’s conference offers women business owners solutions to the current problems they are facing and the opportunity to increase the profitability of their businesses by building relationships with corporate and government buyers, business experts, and other women business owners.

In addition to the Women’s Forum Breakfast, highlights include:

• Women's Business & Buyers Mart, with more than 300 government and corporate buyers who are committed to purchasing products and services from women-owned businesses;
• Contract Connections, (formerly known as Corporate Connections) one-on-one, prescreened meetings between WBENC Certified WBEs and buyers from corporations and government agencies seeking suppliers for specific opportunities. To be eligible for meetings, a WBE must submit a Request for Appointment (RFA) form and register for the Conference no later than Friday, August 12, 2011.  For complete Contract Connections Eligibility Requirements and to submit your RFA form today, please click here.
• 25th Anniversary Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon, honoring successful female entrepreneurs and supporters of women's economic development; and
• The WBDC's 25th Anniversary Celebration, to be held the evening of September 14, 2011 with a Silent and Live Auction, including airfare for two, courtesy of United Airlines, and a laptop and Office10 software, courtesy of CDW and Microsoft Corporation.

Are you a WBE seeking to do business within the public sector?  Federal Government agencies and their prime corporate contractors are federally mandated to meet a 5% (of $540 billion) spending goal with women-owned small businesses (WOSB).  In October 2010, the law was strengthened to allow contracting officers to set-aside contracts where only WOSBs can compete.

At this 3-hour session, established WBEs will hear from noted government contracting expert and author, Gloria Larkin, about the benefits of the SBA Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Contracting Program, and learn how to:

• Leverage the WOSB program to improve, elevate and enhance your company’s perceived benefits to contracting officers and corporate buyers;
• Locate viable direct and indirect contract opportunities; and,
• Maximize your competitive position and business by effectively connecting and getting to the decision maker, and successfully building the relationship.

Program Dates and Locations:

• Tuesday, August 9, 2011 – St. Louis, MO - host sponsors Ameren and Saint Louis University, in partnership with RubinBrown LLP
• Wednesday, August 10, 2011 - Milwaukee, WI - host sponsor Harley-Davidson Motor Company
• Thursday, August 11, 2011 - Chicago, IL - host sponsor PepsiCo, Inc.
• Thursday, August 24, 2011 - Minneapolis, MN - host sponsor Target Corp.

The WBDC Child Care Business Program offers workshops, one-on-one business counseling and support services for start-up and mature child care businesses.  These workshops and services are offered in Spanish and English and are targeted primarily to women living in low-to-moderate income areas.  In addition, the WBDC produces an annual Child Care Business Expo, provides online information and resources, and has recently established the Child Care Business Management Institute to better serve mature child care businesses.

Hedy Ratner, WBDC co-president, said that the WBDC is enormously grateful for the relationship with the McCormick Foundation, “They have led the way, increasing access to quality child care and early childcare education.  The McCormick Foundation has helped the WBDC increase the sustainability and success of home and center-based child care businesses.”

The Robert R. McCormick Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to fostering communities of educated, informed and engaged citizens.  Through its philanthropic programs, Cantigny Park and museums, the Foundation helps develop citizen leaders and works to make life better in our communities.

“The McCormick Foundation and the WBDC share a common goal to provide programming that enhances urgently needed education programs for children,” says Sara Slaughter, director of the education program at the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

For more information about the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, please visit http://www.mccormickfoundation.org/.

As VP of Engineering and Project Management, Michelle is responsible for capacity planning, reliability programs, project management, long-range work planning and contractor alliance management at ComEd.

Prior to her current position, Michelle held the following positions at ComEd and Exelon: Director of Reliability Programs and Capacity Planning, Manager of Construction and Maintenance, Manager of Strategic Planning and Technical Support Group Leader.

Michelle holds a MBA from DePaul University and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

Additionally, Colleen Kramer, president of Evergreen Supply Company – who the WBDC nominated –received the Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Small Business of the Year Award.  Evergreen Supply is a 23 year old, WBE certified electrical supply company that provides lighting and electrical supplies to electrical contractors involved in some of Chicago’s largest construction projects.  Started in her basement by Colleen’s mother, Patt Gallagher, Evergreen Supply has grown into a 20,000 square foot warehouse facility boasting over $15 million dollars in annual sales and employing over 35 people.

Other awardees included:

• Katrina Markoff, Vosges, Ltd., Illinois Small Business Person of the Year
• Elaine Krieger, Krieger Kiddie Corporation, Entrepreneurial Success Award Winner
• Doris Symonds, T.A.L.K., Women’s Business Champion of the Year
• Jacob Elster and Taylor Mork, Crop to Cup, SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year

The WBDC is especially grateful to the Host Committee Co-Chairs Connie Lindsey, Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Northern Trust; Sandra Rand, WBDC Board member; and certified WBE Christy Webber, President, Christy Webber Landscapes.

WBDC Acting Chief Operating Officer Emilia DiMenco says, “We are honored that so many have taken on this role for this milestone year.  There is tremendous energy and enthusiasm among the Host Committee members for the WBDC’s anniversary and future!”