PRESIDENT'S LETTER

As we approach the end of 2012, I want to be among the first to wish each and every one of you a happy holiday season and a healthy and prosperous new year. I also want to thank the active members of the WBCS for making this another successful year for the Council. Ours is a membership organization in every sense of the word. From our board of directors through all the WBCS committees, our members volunteer their expertise and time to make sure that the organization returns value for their investment. And the value has truly been evident in the connections made at the many procurement, networking, and educational events of the WBCS. With about 1,000 WBEs representing over $8 Billion in revenue and 77 Sustaining Members representing the major corporations and government entities in our region we are a powerhouse of entrepreneurship and opportunity. Sustaining Members reported over $513 million in business with WBE members this year alone, and that's not even counting the tremendous amount of business our WBEs do with one another. WBCS not only provides the premier WBENC national WBE certification, but also State of Texas HUB certification, the new federal government Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) certification, and Small Business Enterprise certification (SBE) as well. So we are a one-stop shop for certifications that assist women business owners regardless of where and with whom they are seeking to do business.

This year we've engaged in a strategic planning process to chart our course for the coming years, and we shared that plan with the membership during our Annual Meeting at the Power to Potential Business Forum on November 6. The plan outlines our five priority goals: 

1. WBCS provides continuous opportunities and value to regional WBEs and Corporate (Sustaining) Members through relevant programming, education and certification.
2. WBCS is considered by internal and external stakeholders to be the "go-to" leader in women-owned business certification and growth.
3. WBCS is financially solid, with funding through diverse revenue sources to grow the organization and offer high ROI to members.
4. The WBCS leadership and Board structure reflect and represent the diverse membership base, assuring organizational development and growth.
5. WBCS has the strategic resources - staff, technology, and facilities - aligned to support growth of the organization.

Each of you has a role to play and a way to benefit from these strategic goals. Please be a part of our success going forward. I invite you to start by joining us at the Parade of Stars Award Gala on January 31, 2013 to celebrate and recognize our outstanding members and kick off the new year right!

PARADE OF STARS AWARDS GALA    

Register Today! 

Join us for the Parade of Stars Awards Gala celebrating the successes of 2012 by honoring our WBCS members.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

5 - 8 p.m.

The Omni Hotel

555 Lamar Street

Dallas, TX 75202

There are numerous sponsorship opportunities available that will help promote your company. In order to secure the following full marketing benefits, you must secure your sponsorship by Friday, December 21, 2012:   

Katie Johnson, president of Upshaw Johnson Company, has been certified since 2008. She tirelessly devotes her time to the Council by serving on the Certification Committee, the Tulsa Territory Committee and has been a speaker at numerous events, including being the speaker for the General Session at the 2012 Harvesting Partnerships event. Katie never says "no". Her positive attitude and professionalism is an asset to the WBCS membership and staff.

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2013 WBENC Summit & Salute to Women's Business Enterprises! March 13-14, 2013 at the Baltimore Hilton, in the Heart of the Inner Harbor

The WBENC 2013 Summit & Salute brings together America's leading corporations, government agencies, women business owners and strategic partner organizations. This exciting program engages participants in a two-day program filled with important business growth principles, informal business development opportunities, and one-on-one networking sessions with national Corporate Members.

WBENC's 15th Annual Salute follows the Summit and highlights the significant contributions of women's business enterprises (WBEs) to the United States economy and will pay tribute to the 14 WBE Stars of 2013. In addition, select corporations that provide WBEs with growth opportunities in today's competitive marketplace will receive top honors at this gala recognition event.

• Register by January 24, 2013 for early-bird registration pricing. Only those registered by January 24, 2013 will qualify for Meet & Greet and Multi-Tier One-on-One networking sessions!
• Participate in the Meet & Greet session for WBEs to meet representatives from over 25 corporations including AT&T, Accenture and Ernst & Young
• Network with over 1000 Corporate, certified WBEs, and Government attendees
• Attend Summit educational tracks on Wednesday, March 13th and Thursday, March 14th that will help WBEs grow their business and help Corporate attendees maximize the Return on Investment of their Supplier Diversity Programs

Be sure to view the agenda and register now to mingle with the WBENC Stars!