Focus forward

By design, the Women’s Business Enterprise Council of PA-DE-sNJ (WBEC)
utilizes a mix of programs, events and services to effectively meet the pre-
cise needs of its client base.“Economic justice is our goal,” said Geri Swift,
Philadelphia, PA-based president of WBEC and Women’s Business
Development Center.

We need to continue to open the doors of opportunity for
women business enterprises to ensure equal access to opportunity and to provide
corporate America the means with which to build world-class supplier diversity
programs that are inclusive of WBENC-certified women business enterprises.
According to Swift, achieving this goal is in direct correlation with the council’s mis-
sion to inf luence business growth.“We need to continue to educate and train women
entrepreneurs on how to grow their companies and their markets using WBENC certi-
fication as a business marketing tool,” she said.“The return on our council’s investment
is economic development — improving the lives of women and their families and help-
ing to build strong communities — making a difference one business at a time.”

To achieve its goal of economic justice for all women, Swift pointed out that it
is essential for every Fortune 500 corporation to have a world class supplier diver-
sity program and open the doors of opportunity to women business owners by
making a commitment to becoming a national member of WBENC as well as a
member of the regional partner organizations.

COMPOUNDED GROWTH

Since its 2000 creation,WBEC has exhibited unwavering dedication towards cer-
tifying women-owned businesses and assisting corporations in creating and build-
ing world class supplier diversity programs. Understandably, numerous factors that
have contributed to the council’s growth, explained Swift. “Key factor remain the
ability to build strong viable relationships and partnerships with WBENC, corpora-
tions, government agencies, women business enterprises and resource providers
in our footprint that believe in WBENC’s mission and have a commitment to pro-
viding access to opportunities for women business enterprises and economic
development in our communities,” she said.

The WBEC currently has 35 members comprised of
corporations, government and quasi-government agen-
cies as well as five women business enterprises. As the
WBEC continues to grow it remains a purchasing coun-
cil for nationally certified women’s business enterprises.
In fulfilling its mission, the council provides certifica-
tion, educational, networking, procurement-related and
informational programs and services that foster growth
and business opportunities between WBEs and purchas-
ing entities including major corporations and govern-
ment agencies.
WBEC is a co-founder and regional partner of the
Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, which is
dedicated to advancing the success of certified women’s
business enterprises and corporate members in partner-
ship with its affiliated women’s business organizations.

WBENC’s goal is to foster diversity in the world of com-
merce. Its programs and policies are designed to expand
opportunities and eliminate barriers in the marketplace
for women business owners. WBEC administers
WBENC’s national certification standard in
Pennsylvania, Delaware and Southern New Jersey. As of
2007, WBEC had 470 WBENC certified women business
enterprises accounting for $3 billion in revenues and
who employ 23,000.

EYES OPEN

Moving forward, the council is determined to better
utilize technology to educate, train and provide social
networking for all of its stakeholders. “We want to help
each corporation, institution of higher learning, casino,
medical center and government entity to become part of
our council and to make sure that their supplier diversi-
ty program is inclusive of women,” Swift said.
In addition, Swift is adamant in continuing on the jour-
ney to make WBENC certification the standard. “We will
continue to encourage our women business owners to
do business with each other and to create their own sup-
plier diversity programs — this is one of the most
rewarding outcomes — women helping women to grow
their business,” she said.

KEY
2007
ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Planning complete – The council completed its two
year strategic plan during 2007.
Done deals – Regionally, council members reported
doing business with more than 102 WBENC certified
women business enterprises totally $68,000,000 in
spend within the region. WBEC council members nation-
ally saw a total of $1 billion in spend with women-
owned businesses.
Membership retention – WBEC retained 27 coun-
cil members and recruited eight new council members
during 2007.

WBE milestones – With a focus on recruitment and
retention, the WBEC retained 95 percent of its WBEs and
certified 100 new women business enterprises.
H
ITTING GOALS
Increase membership – The council is focused on
raising its membership ranks to 50 private/public sector
members. The goal is to retain existing 35 corporate
council members and recruit 16 new members. Develop a targeted council recruitment plan. Enlist current coun-
cil members to recruit and refer at least one corporation
for council membership. Add two WBE representatives
from Pittsburgh.
Continue certification – With a goal of 570 certified
WBEs, the council hopes to recruit 100 new and retain
95 percent of existing certified WBEs.

Developing a
WBE recruitment plan and process will help facilitate
goal achievement.
Program plan – The WBEC plans to design, develop
and deliver programs for recruitment and retention of
certified WBEs and corporations.
ON THE DOCKET
Executive Leadership Luncheon – Taking place July
23 and December 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the
Courtyard by Marriott in Philadelphia Downtown. This
luncheon series links women business enterprises with
women business executives, supplier diversity and pur-
chasing professionals to gain access to opportunities and
to build social and power networks.
Listening to Your Business – Taking place May 8
from 8:00 a.m. to Noon at the Women’s Business
Development Center.

This workshop is designed to pro-
vide business owners with the critical evaluation tools
and action steps they need to maximize the growth and
profitability of their business and create a three-year
vision plan.
FastTrac GrowthVenture – Held on Thursdays from
May 29 to June 26 FastTrac is an entrepreneurial program
that helps businesses boost profits and increase growth,
create a framework to determine the best way to grow
your business and develop a viable business plan and
vision for success.

Annual Awards Program and Luncheon – This
June 4 event celebrates the success of the Women’s
Business Enterprise Council of PA-DE-sNJ and honors
those corporations, government agencies and women
business owners who are making a difference by open-
ing the doors of opportunity to women business owners.
Break Through Breakfast and Business Opportu-
nity Fair Access to New Markets – Taking place
August 8 and October 17 at the Doubletree Hotel
Pittsburgh City Center, these events allow Fortune 500
corporations and women business enterprises to share
their strategies.
Just Desserts – Taking place November 12 from 5:30
to 7:30 p.m. at the Union League of Philadelphia, Just
Desserts features Philadelphia’s leading women chefs,
bakers, restaurateurs and caterers who will serve a
delectable array of desserts, celebrating economic jus-
tice for women and the contributions of women busi-
ness owners.

CHAIR
’
S CORNER

Toby Stanislaw, supplier network coordinator with
Reading, PA-based FirstEnergy Corp. is the current chair
of the WBEC PA-DE-sNJ.According to Stanislaw, the goals
for this year are simple. “They are to assist the Women’s
Business Enterprise Council in its mission to foster the
economic growth and development of existing women’s
business enterprises and to assist in the growth of new
startup business,” she said.
Stanislaw told Women’s Enterprise that WBEC is fortu-
nate to have a group of supplier diversity professionals
from locally and nationally known corporations with a strong
corporate commitment to doing business with WBEC certified
women business enterprises.

“Our president, Geri Swift, has also
been a voice for women business owners at both the local and
state government levels. She has worked closely with the
Governor’s Minority and Women Business Opportunity Council
to ensure opportunities are available in all state agencies. For
example, in 2008, the council will be working closely with the
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to strengthen the report-
ing requirements for the regulated utilities doing business in
Pennsylvania,” said Stanislaw.“Also serving on the council are sev-
eral seasoned WBEs. Their collective voice provides us the input,
guidance, and business prospective we need as a council to
develop the educational component of our goals.”
FirstEnergy is a founding member of the Women’s Business
Enterprise Council PA-DE-sNJ.

“My membership in this council
provides me access to a group of talented, qualified and certi-
fied business owners that we count on to help run our plants
and to keep your lights on,” she said. “The workshop and net-
working opportunities provided by the Council have helped
strengthen and grow FirstEnergy’s business with certified
women owned businesses.”