Chairman’s Corner

For Bill McCauley, the best fruits of the Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance are two-fold.On the one hand, female entrepreneurs have the opportunity to nurture and expand their businesses. And on the other hand, corporations have access to WBEs who can provide them with valuable services and goods.The end result of the WBEA, which provides certification,education programs and networking events, is a pleasant surprise for anyone involved in the organization.

“When it started out, it was really designed to provide a forum to get corporations and women business owners together and provide certification for WBEs,” said McCauley,business services manager for Shell Global Solutions, Inc. and WBEA board chairman.“For corporations, it was an organization that certified WBEs so when we went out and did business,we knew we were working with certified women-owned businesses, not just someone who slapped their wife’s name on a shingle and ran the business. It provides a great avenue for corporations and women business owners to interact and explore business opportunities.

”Watching the WBEA grow by serving on the board for nearly four years now has been a satisfying experience for McCauley, a 35-year veteran with Shell.“It has matured and refined its focus over the last three or four years.When it started 10 years ago [the Houston Women’s Business Council was formed in 1995 then became the WBEA in 2002], as with any start-up, there were growing pains. So it went through this period of growing membership and getting people certified,” McCauley explained. “But I think over the last year, we’ve been more focused on providing services for women business owners.

”Honing the group’s purpose is a necessary milestone and one that McCauley feels compelled to support,so much that he helped spearhead efforts to bring more services to WBEA members.“I led an organization review that resulted in the appointment of a business development manger [hired late last year],whose primary purpose within the WBEA was to work with companies and business owners to identify opportunities and help make connections to put women business owners in a position to compete for business,” McCauley said. “Some are even doing business with other women business owners.”McCauley is also proud of the work that has gone into establishing a satellite office in San Antonio. He credits board member Mark White, director of procurement and strategic sourcing for United Space Alliance, for the recent development.

“He identified San Antonio as one of those areas within our jurisdiction where we may really be able to provide services to WBEs there,” McCauley said, adding that the San Antonio office opened earlier this year and already hosted a successful networking event. “We had someone from San Antonio on the board, but it never really worked out well. And out of the[Houston] office, [WBEA Executive Director] Susan Repka sent people to San Antonio to work,but we did that only sometimes.”But San Antonio is a booming market in need of extra care.“Toyota has moved there, several companies have moved there,” McCauley pointed out.“The economy has been booming and growing.We felt there was a need.

”McCauley is excited to see what will unfold in WBEA’s future.Like Repka, McCauley is especially excited to see how WBEA members will expand their businesses.“Our strategic direction is that we need to make sure our programs are aligned with our mission. And our mission is about women business owners,”he said.“A lot of the work will be done through committees, so we need to make sure we have strong corporate and WBE committee members who are working on things that are in line with our mission. And the things that probably ring true are we need to continue to monitor marketplace trends and look for opportunities where we could provide access, direction and support for WBEs.”And McCauley intends to see that WBEs’ businesses grow.“I believe in the value of women- and minority-owned businesses,”he said.

“I think that anything that I can do personallyto promote women- and minority-owned business, I have anobligation to do.You need to help those who need help.”The WBEA staff share McCauley’s commitment to femaleentrepreneurs. Their efforts and dedication will ensure WBEAmembers’ growth.“They are a very dedicated group,”McCauley said.“They doa remarkable job of balancing women business owners andcorporate members and making sure that the needs of bothare addressed. I applaud them for their efforts.”