News From Women's Business Council

This EXPO is the southwest's leading business development event for connecting women business owners with corporations, businesses, government entities, institutions and other organizations. It provides the opportunity to get acquainted with new business partners and to identify new companies that can assist in reaching your business goals.

Check out who is exhibiting this year!

Buyers Passes

Invite your prime suppliers and buyers. The WBCS offers buyer passes that allow corporate buyers and primes to attend the expo event at no charge. Email info@wbcsouthwest.org for more information.

Agenda

7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Registration Check-In
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Exhibitor Meet and Greet

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Silent Auction

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Power-Up Breakfast
9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. businessWORKS! EXPO

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Grab and Go Lunch
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Networking Reception
5:00 p.m. Silent Auction Closes
5:30 p.m. Silent Auction Check-Out
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Exhibitor Breakdown

Silent Auction

Attendees always look forward to the great items available at the businessWORKS! Silent Auction.

New this year, you will be able to electronically bid and also be notified electronically if you have been outbid. You also don't need to be present to win!

We thank everyone that graciously donated items for this year's auction.

Here is a sample of various items up for auction this year:

Golf Packages
Dallas Cowboy Tickets
Texas Ranger Tickets
IPad Mini
46" HDTV
American Airline Tickets
Taylor Swift Concert Tickets
And so much more!

So charge up your Smart Phone and get ready to join in the fun!

2013 WBENC NATIONAL CONFERENCE

The 2013 WBENC National Conference and Business Fair will be held June 25-27, 2013, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Online registration is now open. The Early Bird Attendee discount is available until April 12, 2013.

Attendees will have access to opportunities that connect WBENC-Certified WBEs, WBENC Corporate Members, Regional Partner Organization (RPO) leaders, RPO Corporate Members, government agency representatives and small business owners.

For those interested in participating in Matchmaker meetings, you must be registered as a full conference attendee by May 15, 2013. Matchmaker meetings will be held June 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Our members know there is no better time to experience the best of WBENC!

I have attended the national WBENC convention for the last six years. The educational opportunities are very worthwhile, but the opportunity to meet so many extraordinary women business owners is amazing. I have been a mentor and been mentored through the connections that I have made over the years with both WBEs and corporate members. The women from my TUCK Executive Education class use the convention as a reunion so we can reconnect and catch up on each other's success. I look forward to spending time with them and the members of the Women's Business Council - Southwest in Minneapolis in June."

Patti Winstanley
Aztec Promotional Group

ERNST & YOUNG PROGRAM

Ernst & Young Entrepreneurial
Winning Women 2013 Program

Entrepreneurial Winning Women program is a customized leadership development program with year-round activities, designed to help women entrepreneurs scale big, become market leaders and ultimately compete more effectively for Entrepreneur Of The Year.

Ernst & Young is looking for dynamic women business owners who are the founding CEOs of privately held U.S. companies that are less than 10 years old. Typical applicant annual company revenue ranges from $1 to $20 million.

Learn more about the program, its benefits and the application process.

Applications are due June 28, 2013.

BUSINESS INSIGHTS RECAP

The March Business Insights was held on March 26, at Brinker International.

Linda Swindling of Journey On, entertained the audience on how to identify and deal with constant complainers. Based on her new book Stop Complainers and Energy Drainers; How to Negotiate Work Drama to Get More Done, her presentation provided strategies to turn constant complainers into productive contributors.

Her book is available online, order yours today and stop those complainers!

DOROTHY B. BROTHERS EXECUTIVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Photo of Dorothy B Brothers Dorothy B. Brothers Executive Scholarship Program is a prestigious scholarship opportunity providing women business owners with up to $11,000 each in tuition to a WBENC approved executive education program and school of her choice.

This scholarship program provides women business owners access to the same high caliber management education that is available to Fortune 500 Companies and a framework to enable WBEs to formulate and implement business strategies and achieve a competitive advantage in the new millennium.

Candidates should meet the following criteria for scholarship consideration:

Currently certified as a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) by WBENC
Have at least three-to-five years experience running a business
Employ at least three full-time employees
Maintain a minimum annual sales volume of $500,000 (the range is $500,000 to $50,000,000)
Have not recently attended an executive management program (Tuck-WBENC Executive Program graduates are eligible to apply, but preference will be given to WBEs that have not already received a scholarship)

For further information, visit the WBENC website.

Application deadline is July 5, 2013.

MEMBER NEWS

Neeley School of Business

Lunch and Learn

April 18, 2013

The Neeley School of Business invites current and prospective members of the EMBA Class of 2014 to attend informative and interactive sessions focused on helping business leaders in the DFW community learn more about our Executive MBA (EMBA) Program. They are seeking leaders -- corporate executives, mid-level managers, and business owners who want to improve their business acumen, develop their ability to lead, and increase their career advancement opportunities. The luncheon will be a great opportunity to meet and mingle with business leaders from the DFW community, Neeley faculty and Neeley EMBA staff.

The subject of the April 2013 Preview Luncheon is "Negotiate Success." Dr. Rita Kosnik will introduce the core ideas behind a 5-step negotiations model aimed at effectively settling disagreements while strengthening long-term relationships. Through focused preparation and a deliberate choice of specific strategies and tactics, individuals can effectively develop win-win solutions to both business and personal challenges.

To register, visit emba.tcu.edu/preview.

ALL ABOUT AUSTIN

Austin Council Connection Luncheon

April 30, 2013

Don't miss Marny Lifshen, marketing communications consultant, author and speaker when she helps us

Work it Out!
Demystifying the Male/Female Workplace Dynamic

She will help you learn to:

Understand the different ways men and women build and manage relationships
Adjust communication style for the audience/situation
Recognize common misperceptions and assumptions
Leverage our innate strengths and learn from each other
Build a network of male/female allies and advocates

The last time Marny spoke at our Austin Council Connection luncheon we had standing room only, so register early to reserve your seat! You don't want to miss her!

The luncheon will be held Tuesday, April 30, at Chez Zee on Balcones Drive in Austin. Registration and networking starts at 11:15 a.m. with lunch beginning at noon and the program from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Austin Insights

May 8, 2013

Mark your calendar and join us in Austin on Wednesday, May 8, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum for Austin Insights, a networking reception and workshop.

Dell is our title sponsor once again, and will be bringing us a fantastic workshop. You'll have the opportunity to meet with our corporate sponsors, women business owners, partnering organizations and WBCS staff.

Enjoy an afternoon of learning from the experts, and an evening of networking and enjoying yourself with food, beer & wine. Watch for the invitation this week in your email or on our website!

MAY DFW TABLE TOPICS LUNCHEON

Collaboration Equation:
5 Winning Strategies to Connect & Collaborate for New Results and Purposeful Success

Presented by: LaurieGrace Bouldin, Relationship Strategist

Our relationships are the conduits to every measure of success we desire. Being strategic in "how" we relationship with others wherever we work, live, learn and play is essential to attaining big results. In this program, you'll learn how to become the cause for collaboration in your relationships by connecting efficiently, collaborating effectively and achieving extraordinarily. There's science and soul to this Collaboration Equation that leads to new levels of results. And the tipping point is simple - it all begins with you!

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

11:15 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Brinker International

6700 LBJ Freeway

Bldg. C, CR Play Room

Dallas, Texas 7524

WBCS NEWS

On Mar. 18, 2013, the Greater Southwest Black Chamber of Commerce hosted the women's empowerment luncheon. This panel discussion focused on "The Impact of Women's Business Enterprise Cerfification".

The panelists included our very own Anita Steele, Director of Certification, Carmen Garcia, Outreach Director, DART, Annie Partee, Director of Minority/Women Business Enterprise Department, DISD, Tawanna Lofton, CEO of TBey & Associates HR Staffing and Staffing, Inc., and Lisa Cruz Alonzo, Business Development and Procurement Services, City of Dallas.

TERRITORY NEWS

The WBCS participated in the City of Tulsa's Building Resources in Developing and Growing Enterprises (BRIDGE) Expo on March 19. This is our sixth year to participate in this event. We are fortunate to have the City of Tulsa accept the WBE certification administered by the WBCS for their BRIDGE participants and join us in our mission to grow certified women-owned businesses.