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A Word from the Co-Presidents 
Greetings!
Anniversaries are a wonderful time to reflect and celebrate, reconnect with friends and focus on the future. This year, during the WBDC's 25th Anniversary, we've done all of those things and more. We had a successful 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference on September 14, where we were joined by over 2,000 women business owners, corporate and government supporters, and even the Windy City Rollers, Chicago's own women's roller derby team.
 We are also proud to present to you, our friends and supporters, our 25th Anniversary Annual Report. The report artfully captures the reach and impact of the WBDC over the past 25 years, and we hope you will take a minute to download and read it. Please click here to download a PDF of the report. We are extremely grateful to Fleishman-Hillard for their creation of our 25th Anniversary logo and the annual report design, and to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois for underwriting the printing, provided by certified WBE Consolidated Printing Company.
While much progress has been made in 25 years in women's business development, the next 25 years are our future. There is much to be done, and we look forward to your continued partnership in the years to come.
Warm wishes,
Hedy M. Ratner & Carol Dougal
WBDC Co-Founders & Co-Presidents
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WBDC 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference Wrap-Up
September 14, 2011, McCormick Place-West, Chicago, IL |
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2011 Award Winners (pictured, from left): Marianne Markowitz, regional administrator, Midwest Region, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), 25th Anniversary Advocacy Award; WBDC Co-Presidents Carol Dougal and Hedy M. Ratner; Marilyn Jones, founder and president, Consolidated Printing Company, 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year - Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) Success; Tim Maloney, Illinois State President, Bank of America, 25th Anniversary Corporate Support Award; Teresa Ging, founder and president, Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique, Inc., 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year - Rising Star; and Sharon Hoffman Avent, president and CEO, Smead Manufacturing Company, 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year.
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On September 14, 2011, the WBDC held its 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference and Women's Business & Buyers Mart at Chicago's McCormick Place-West, attracting over 2,000 participants seeking contract opportunities and resources to start or expand their businesses. Read more>>
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| Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
Key Investment for Chicago Small Businesses
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 The WBDC is a proud partner of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses at City Colleges of Chicago. The program is a $25 million investment designed to help local small business owners create jobs and economic opportunity by providing them with greater access to business education, financial capital and business support services. Applications for the first class of Chicago program participants are being accepted through October 26. Read more>>
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| Funder Spotlight
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
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 The WBDC is honored to be funded in part by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, a division of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC). One of the WBDC's longtime sponsors, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and HCSC has provided funds to support the ongoing programs of the WBDC and our annual Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference since 1994. In 2011, they generously doubled their support, becoming a Marquee Sponsor of the 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference and underwriting the printing of the WBDC 25th Anniversary Annual Report. Read more>>
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| WBDC 2011 Technology Makeover Competition
Over $100,000 in Free Technology Available
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The WBDC's 3rd Annual Small Business Technology Makeover Competition is now open for applications! Visit www.wbdctechnologymakeover.com where you can apply to win over $100,000 in FREE technology products and business services to help your business grow. Read more>>
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| United States-South Africa Women's Business Forum
Building Bridges Through Women Empowerment
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 On October 24-28, the South African Consulate-General will present the first annual United States-South Africa Women's Business Forum (USSAWBF). The Forum will bring leading women executives and entrepreneurs from South Africa to Chicago to discuss business opportunities between the two countries, and the WBDC is a proud co-sponsor of this event. Read more>>
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| WBDC Staff Spotlight
Carolina Diaz, Danae Kovac and Janice Lopez
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Pictured from left: Carolina Diaz, client database analyst; Janice Lopez, associate director of Latina programs; Danae Kovac, director of operations.
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The WBDC is pleased to announce new staff positions for Carolina Diaz, client database analyst; Danae Kovac, director of operations; and Janice Lopez, associate director of Latina programs. Carolina Diaz joined the WBDC in May 2011 as a marketing intern and was hired in September 2011 as client database analyst. Previously, Carolina was a learning opportunities facilitator at the YMCA Metro Chicago and held a post at The Aparecio Foundation. She was a tutor for retail mathematics and computer software at the Illinois Institute of Art where she will graduate with a B.A. in fashion marketing and management in December 2011. Carolina is fluent in Spanish, sewing and patternmaking. Danae Kovac has been promoted to director of operations at the WBDC. In this role she is responsible for the oversight and management of the WBDC's marketing, technology, client databases, human resources and administrative departments. Danae joined the WBDC in 2008 as special projects coordinator, and was promoted to manager of marketing and special projects the following year. Previously, she worked at the American Educational Research Association, in Washington, D.C., and was an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer at The Enterprising Kitchen in Chicago. In 2010, she served on the young women's leadership council of the Chicago Foundation for Women. Danae received a B.A. in sociology and a certificate in Urban Studies from Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. Janice Lopez rejoined the WBDC in September 2011 as associate director of Latina programs. In this role Janice provides general business management, counseling and training to WBDC clients in both English and Spanish. Janice has over 15 years of experience in business and economic development. Previously she held the position of area manager and certified business analyst for the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida, where she was responsible for providing consulting services for start-up and second stage businesses, review of business plans and analysis of business financial statements. Janice received a B.S. in finance from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago.
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WBDC 25th Anniversary Annual Report
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Click on the image above to download the report as a PDF.
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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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