Women’s Business Council - Southwest
July 2, 2008
Debbie Hurst
President
“I see myself as a knowledgeable facilitator. The real work is done between the WBE and the corporations.We [WBCS] help bring them together; they seal the deal! The education, mentoring and connection to corporate decision-makers that we provide helps WBEs develop into stronger suppliers for our corporate members. Corporations get qualified WBEs; individual WBEs grow; we advance women business ownership. It’s a win-win-win for us all.”
Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance
July 2, 2008
Susan Repka
Executive Director
“In the last few years,we have seen supplier diversity go from the ‘right thing to do’ to ‘the smart thing to do’ for a company’s bottom line. Corporations are beginning to understand that if they want womenowned businesses to purchase from them, they need to purchase from women-owned businesses. Supplier diversity is not just for big businesses, but companies of all sizes. Especially certified WBEs should have diversity in their supply chain.WBEA is stressing that to all of our WBEs.”
Women Business Enterprise Center
July 2, 2008
Geri Swift
Director
“It is rare that one gets to see an accomplishment of a lifelong goal to have a national women business enterprise certification program. I am grateful for being asked to participate on the steering committee to create the Women’s Business National Council to achieve this goal. I am thankful for the access to opportunities for business growth that WBENC certification has provided for women business enterprises through the commitment of the corporations that believe in WBENC’s mission.”
Women’s Business Enterprise Council-Southeast
July 2, 2008
Linda Steward
Director
“My greatest contribution to the supplier diversity arena was and continues to be making a strong economic argument for WBE supplier diversity. I founded the OWBRN WBECSE and in addition to being one of the founding councils of WBENC and being among the group that developed the WBENC WBE standards and procedures, I assisted the state of Ohio with a Governors Executive Order to include women in all purchasing practices.”
Women’s Presidents’ Organization; Women’s Presidents’ Educational Organization
July 2, 2008
Marhsa Firestone, Ph.D.
President and Founder
“I am most proud of the success of both the Women Presidents’ Organization and the Women Presidents’ Educational Organization in accelerating the growth and enhancing the competitiveness of women’s businesses — both through peer advisory as well as through certification and increased access to Fortune 1000 corporations.”
