The Women's Business Development Center (WBDC-Chicago)

is proud to announce the 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference, Women's Business & Buyers Mart,

the oldest conference for women business owners in the nation. This year's milestone event will be held September 14, 2O11

 at Chicago's McCormick Place-West. As one of tne

forerunners of  women's economic development in the country,

 this is a milestone event for not just the WBDC, but

for women's economic development  as a whole. We have

many exciting elements in store for you at this year's event, and are pleased to announce this year's  Women's Forum Breakfast Panelists: 
 WBDC Green & Grey Logo Abridged

Leylani Cardoso  

Founder and President, Bolzano Handbags and Vice President, Duty Free World International - both certified WBE companies - Bolzano is an international luxury handbags and accessories line, and Duty Free World currently has 30 locations around the world and is a leader in in-flight, travel retail working directly with the airlines.

Maxine Clark  

Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive

Bear, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. -

one of the world's most unique

retail-entertainment chains  currently operating over 400 stores worldwide.

Cathy Hughes

Founder and Chairperson, Radio One, Inc. - the largest African American-owned and operated broadcast company in the nation, and the first, and only, African American woman to chair a publically held company. 

Lynn Tilton  

CEO and Principal, Patriarch Partners, LLC - the largest woman-owned business in America with annual revenues in excess of $8 billion and over 120,000 employees, this private equity firm and holding company's portfolio includes the likes of Rand McNally, Spiegel and Stila Cosmetics, and a growing number of these companies are also now WBENC certified WBEs. 

As always, we are offering a Special Discounted Registration of $225.00 to all Certified WBEs on or before August 15, 2011, and to your employees.  This is an all-inclusive registration that grants you access to all conference events, including the Women's Forum Breakfast; the 25th Anniversary Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon; the Women's Business & Buyers Mart; and the WBDC's 25th Anniversary Celebration.  To register online, please click here or call 312-853-3477 ext. 24.


September is one of the busiest convention months in Chicago; room rates are high and rooms downtown go fast.  As the Official Hotel of this year's Conference the Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel, 636 S. Michigan Avenue, is offering a special rate of $239 for attendees.  The deadline for this special rate is August 30, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. or until the room block is full.  To book your reservation online, please click here or to book by phone call 866-508-0261 to make your reservation, and be sure to mention that you are with the "25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference" or the "Women's Business Development Center" to receive this special rate. 

 

We hope you will join us as we celebrate the 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference and capitalize on the opportunities our sponsors and staff have made available to you.

 

For a complete Schedule of Events and to register online for the Conference please visit www.WBDC.org.  For information on sponsor and exhibitor opportunities, purchasing a table at the Women's Forum Breakfast or Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon, or placing an ad in our Conference Program Book, please contact Mia Delano, Conference Director, at mdelano@wbdc.org.

 

*To be considered for a Contract Connections appointment you must also register to attend the Conference no later than August 12th. Please pay close attention to the WBDC-Chicago refund policy on the registration page. No registration payments will be refunded if a WBE does not receive an invitation to participate in a Contract Connections meeting. Contract Connections No-Show Policy. In the event that you do not show-up for a scheduled appointment you and your company will not be allowed to participate in any Contract Connections programs set-up by the Women's Business Development Center (WBDC-Chicago) until October 2012.

Certified WBEs, have you registered for Contract Connections yet? 

 

Formerly known as Corporate Connections, this successful program matches pre-selected WBENC Certified WBEs to meet one-on-one with corporate and government purchasing decision-makers. 

 

For more information on this year's Contract Connections program or to complete the Request for Appointment Form, please click here.  All WBENC Certified WBEs are encouraged to participate.*  

 

Regional Workshop for WBEs Prior to Event - to be held in August in Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and St. Louis.  Are you aware of the new federal government contracting opportunities for Women-Owned Small Businesses and how to capitalize on them?  Attend this 3-hour powerful session, Government Contracting: What WBEs Need to Know to be Successful, to learn how to capitalize on the new set asides for WOSBs!  For more information and to register to attend in your city, please click here.