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A Word from the Co-Presidents 
Greetings!
We're excited to welcome you to our 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference on September 14, 2011 at Chicago's McCormick Place-West. We hope that you will join us to make new connections and gain valuable resources for your business and celebrate the WBDC's 25th Anniversary.
This year's Women's Forum Breakfast, moderated by nationally syndicated financial columnist Terry Savage, will feature four of our country's top women business owners:
- Leylani Cardoso, founder and president, Bolzano Handbags, and vice president, Duty Free World International (Miami) - both certified WBE companies - working directly with the airlines, Duty Free World is a leader in in-flight, travel retail with 30 locations worldwide, and Bolzano is an international luxury handbags and accessories line.
- Maxine Clark, founder, chairman and chief executive bear, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (St. Louis) - one of the world's most unique retail-entertainment chains currently operating over 400 stores worldwide.
- Cathy Hughes, founder and chairperson, Radio One, Inc. (Maryland) - 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, founder, CEO and principal, Patriarch Partners, LLC (New York) - the largest woman-owned private equity firm and holding company in the country, managing 75 companies - a growing number of which are now WBENC certified WBEs - with over 120,000 employees and more than $8 billion in annual revenues, Patriarch's portfolio includes the likes of Rand McNally, Spiegel and Stila Cosmetics.
We hope you will join us for this event, and the entire Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference, on September 14, 2011!
Warm regards,
Hedy Ratner & Carol Dougal
Co-Founders & Co-Presidents
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| Register Today for the 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference!
September 14, 2011, McCormick Place-West, Chicago, IL
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2010 awardees pictured (from left): Kimberlee J. Burt, owner & executive director of A Child's Space, 2010 Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year - Rising Star; Marie L. O'Brien, president & CEO of Enterforce, Inc., 2010 Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year - Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) Success; Arabel Alva Rosales, president of AAR & Associates, Ltd., 2010 Advocacy Award; Francine Manilow, owner & president of Manilow Suites, Inc., 2010 Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year. Not pictured: Larry Wert, president, central and western region of NBC Local Media, and Deborah O. Brown, NBC5 director of station relations; NBC5 Chicago received the 2010 Corporate Support Award.
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The WBDC is proud to announce its 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference, the oldest conference and business opportunities fair for women in business in the country, and the premier event for women business owners in the Midwest. This year's conference will be held September 14, 2011 at McCormick Place-West in Chicago. Read more>>
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| Midwest Regional Workshops for WBEs
Government Contracting: What WBEs Need to Know to Be Successful
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Gloria Larkin
TargetGov at Marketing Outsource Associates, Inc.
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If you are a WBE seeking to do business within the public sector, you won't want to miss this event with noted government contracting expert and author, Gloria Larkin.
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.
Workshops will be held in St. Louis, Milwaukee, Chicago and Minneapolis during early August. Read more>>
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| Funder Spotlight
Robert R. McCormick Foundation
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 The WBDC is proud to be supported by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. Their generosity over the years has enabled the WBDC to grow and expand its 13 year old Child Care Business Program and Child Care Expo. The Robert R. McCormick Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to fostering communities of educated, informed and engaged citizens. Read more>>
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| WBDC Board of Directors Spotlight
Michelle Blaise, ComEd
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 | Michelle Blaise
ComEd |
Michelle Blaise is Vice President of Engineering and Project Management at ComEd and the newest member of the WBDC Board of Directors.
Michelle brings with her a strong commitment to supporting women and minority business owners through the mission and programs of the WBDC. Read more>>
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| 2011 Illinois SBA Awards
WBDC Honored as Regional Women's Business Center of Excellence
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Pictured (from left): Hedy M. Ratner & Carol Dougal, WBDC Co-Presidents, SBA Regional Women's Business Center of Excellence Awardees; Colleen Kramer & Patt Gallagher, Evergreen Supply Company, SBA Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Small Business of the Year.
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On June 30, 2011, Hedy Ratner and Carol Dougal, WBDC co-presidents, received the regional Women's Business Center of Excellence Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for their outstanding achievements on behalf of small businesses in Illinois and throughout the SBA's Region V geographic area (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin). Read more>>
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| WBDC 25th Anniversary Host Committee
Committee Raises Support in WBDC Anniversary Year
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In this milestone anniversary year, the WBDC is proud to announce its 25th Anniversary Host Committee. 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. Read more>>
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Save the Date!
USSAWBF
The United States-South Africa Women's Business Forum
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Support the WBDC!
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For 25 years, the WBDC has been THE place for women to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams of starting, strengthening and expanding their businesses.
In honor of the WBDC's 25th Anniversary, please consider giving a contribution to one of the following funding categories:
~ Business Support for Low-Income Women and Their Families
~ 25th Anniversary Equity Funds for Women-Owned Businesses
~ General Operating Funds to Support WBDC Programs & Services
Click here to donate online today!
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Send us your success stories! | |
The WBDC wants to share in your business success! Over the past 25 years, the WBDC has helped over 65,000 women start or expand their businesses.
Please share your success stories with us so that we may share them in our newsletters and media features as an inspiration to all. Please contact Danae Kovac at dkovac@wbdc.org.
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