WBENC June 2012 President's Report

JUNE 2012

PRESIDENT’S

REPORT

PITNEY BOWES HOSTS DIVERSITY SUMMIT AND PRESENTS DIVERSITY SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARDS GOVERNMENT SPOTLIGHT: BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM COUNTDOWN TO WBENC 2012 NATIONAL CONFERENCE & BUSINESS FAIR

GAME ON! PREPARING FOR THE WBENC CONFERENCE HOST COMMITTEE MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT: TAMMY GIAIMO, LORRI NICHOLSON AND TERRI WHITE

WBENC

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

THIS CALENDAR INCLUDES EVENTS HOSTED BY WBENC’S REGIONAL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS. VISIT WBENC’S ONLINE CALENDAR FOR MORE EVENTS.

EDITORIAL TEAM WBENC’S 2012 NATIONAL CONFERENCE & BUSINESS FAIR June 19-21, 2012 Orlando Peabody Hotel and the Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Fla. Visit www.wbenc.org/wbencconf for details.

WBC-SOUTHWEST ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING (ACE) LUNCHEON June 21, 2012 Purdy McGuire Dallas, Texas Click here for details.

WBEC-WEST PRESENTS WORKING WITH DISNEY June 25, 2012 Anaheim, Calif.

Click here for registration information.

CHICAGO LATINA STYLE BUSINESS SERIES June 28, 2012 Chicago, Ill. Click here for details.

ASTRA WBA CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY MATCHMAKER WITH KAISER PERMANENTE June 29, 2012 Oakland Marriott City Center Oakland, Calif.

Click here for details.

WIPP ANNUAL LEADERSHIP MEETING July 18, 2012 The Liaison Capitol Hill Washington, D.C. Click here for details.

CHARLOTTE NC LATINA STYLE BUSINESS SERIES July 19, 2012 Charlotte, N.C. Click here for details.

WBEC PA-DE-sNJ WBE MATCHMAKER MEETINGS July 24, 2012 Wilmington, Del. Click here for details.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sharon Beadle

ASTRA WBA 18TH ANNUAL RECEPTION, WORKSHOPS & AWARDS July 24-25, 2012 Westin St Francis San Francisco, Calif.

Click here for details.

PRODUCTION AND DESIGN Limb Design

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Allison Gibson

PHOTOGRAPHY Linda Johnson Visionista WRITERS Paige Adams Director, Development and Corporate Relations Sharon Beadle Editor-in-Chief Betty Cole Sr. Director, Programs Kim Jones Manager, Member Services Pamela Prince-Eason President & CEO Lynthia Romney RomneyCom, LLC Candace Waterman Senior Director of Compliance & Alliance Relationships Lakesha White Sr. Certification Program Manager

TABLE OF CONTENTS: JUNE EDITION OF THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

NEW CORPORATE MEMBERS ARCELORMITTAL USA, LLC Jennifer Small Supplier Diversity Specialist TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION GROUP (TIG) Ying McGuire Vice President Lisa Whaley Morris Business Development Executive THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON Marques Benton Vice President UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION Angela Fusco Sr. Manager, Purchasing

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

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FEATURES Experience the WBENC Opportunity World!

Spotlight on Accel & ICON Top Corporate Best Practice: Ford Government Spotlight: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

5 6 8 9

CERTIFICATION Citi and the Foundation for Small Business Development Launch National Program Game On! Preparing for the WBENC Conference

10 11

OPPORTUNITIES Countdown to WBENC NC&BF Please Join Us for the WBENC Technology Summit During the National Conference & Business Fair Conference Host Committee Member Spotlight: Software Resources and Bruno White Entertainment National Conference MatchMaker Meetings

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RECOGNITION Pitney Bowes Hosts Supplier Diversity Summit and Presents Diversity Supplier of the Year Awards Women's Business Development Center Honored with Center of Excellence Award Visionista Produces Award Winning Videos for WBENC

20 22 23

RESOURCES Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity Named by DiversityPlus Women on Wellness Column: A Must Read Book to Help Deal with Stress of Moving an Aging Parent

www.wbenc.org

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june edition 2012

WBENC

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE In my role as your President and CEO, I am deeply involved

Taken together these ideas for productive and sustainable

in the strategic work we conduct across the many facets of

Member-WBE partnerships help drive innovation, better

our organization to deliver our COR Values – Certification,

serve customers and position all parties for future success.

Opportunities and Resources.

We believe that WBENC, as an organization, is in a unique

In fact, we have begun to actively align our initiatives,

position to identify, capture and share these ideas, and to

programs and events to those COR values, and measure our

deliver them to our constituents. In the upcoming months

progress against them.

we will be making these available to you in a variety of

This month, I want to share with you some very exciting work we are doing to generate Opportunities for productive and sustainable partnerships among our Corporate and Government Members and our Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs). Our ongoing goal is to enable our

formats – here in the President’s Report, in videos and podcasts on our website, in events across the country delivered by our RPOs and, in the very immediate future, at the 2012 WBENC National Conference & Business Fair in Orlando, on June 19-21.

Members and WBEs to work together toward enhancing their

On a national scale, this work elevates our role as the

products and services, and in turn fuel economic growth

leading advocate for, and authority on, women’s business

and jobs creation.

enterprises as suppliers to the nation’s corporations and

Over the past year, I have been meeting with our Members to understand their evolving business needs and explore ways that our WBEs can help meet those needs. I have also been able to understand each of our Regional Partner

government entities. It also deepens our value proposition to other companies and government agencies as well as women's businesses that we believe will choose to join our ranks to benefit from this knowledge base.

Organizations (RPOs) and many of the WBEs we jointly

Expect to see the launch of our Insight Series in September

serve. From these discussions we have begun building a rich

2012, and prepare to engage and monitor progress as we

compendium of proven programs and techniques to enhance

begin to report measurable results during our work together.

our WBEs’ skill sets and capacity toward these goals. As I mentioned in last month’s message, we gained invaluable insight on what drives sustainable success from the thought

We are very excited about the power and potential of WBENC and look forward to seeing you in Orlando!

leaders and decision makers honored at the 2011 America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises Awards Ceremony in March of this year.

Sincerely, Pamela Prince-Eason WBENC President and CEO

FEATURES

EXPERIENCE THE WBENC OPPORTUNITY WORLD! WBENC IS PLEASED TO INTRODUCE THE WOW! EXPERIENCE, DESIGNED TO ENGAGE, HONOR, RECOGNIZE AND HIGHLIGHT THE WBENC FAMILY AS WE CELEBRATE 15 YEARS OF VISION, OPPORTUNITIES AND SUCCESS.

WBENC OPPORTUNITY WORLD The WOW! Experience includes WBENC Opportunity

On Tuesday, June 19 at 4:00 p.m., at the Peabody Orlando

World (WOW!), Writers of WBENC (WOW!), WBENC on

Hotel, the Celebrating 15 Years of WOW! Reception and

Wellness (WOW!) and more. Our goal is to highlight the

Silent Auction will begin with video presentations in the

Women of WBENC (WOW!) as well as our Regional Partner

Windermere Ballroom’s sponsor-designated areas. Using

Organizations (RPOs), Corporate and Government Members

your WOW! Passport, you will collect stamps from each of

and other key groups by engaging our community in a new

the sponsor areas, as well as from the Celebration Rooms

and interesting way.

hosted by WBENC’s Regional Partner Organizations (RPOs)

Exemplifying this goal is WBENC Opportunity World.

and The Forum.

Is it a game? Is it chance? Is it a fun and informative

Once you’ve collected the required stamps, you can

approach to learning more about WBENC and its

participate in the WOW! Experience game and earn a

Key Constituents?

chance to win prizes while testing your knowledge of the

Gamification, a term coined by the marketing industry, uses a game environment or mindset to encourage interaction. It also offers ways to increase participation in loyalty rewards programs, social media sharing and market research as well as to enliven conferences and conventions.

The WBENC Opportunity World experience begins at registration when you pick up your conference credentials, conference bag, shirt, WOW! Passport and your Silent Auction Directory. Along with your credentials, you will need your WOW! Passport to participate fully in WOW!

WBENC community.

THE WOW! EXPERIENCE AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE & BUSINESS FAIR IS MORE THAN A GAME, IT IS A WAY TO ENHANCE THE VALUE OF YOUR WBENC CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE, AND CELEBRATE WBENC’S 15 YEARS OF VISION, OPPORTUNITIES AND SUCCESS! www.wbenc.org

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WBENC

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

FEATURES

ACCEL AND ICON CO-CHAIR NATIONAL CONFERENCE & BUSINESS FAIR OUR NATIONAL CONFERENCE & BUSINESS FAIR IS NEARLY UPON US AND WE ARE EXCITED TO PROFILE OUR WBE CO-CHAIRS: TARA ABRAHAM AND PAMELA CHAMBERS O’ROURKE ACCEL Accel inc. Chairman and Co-CEO Tara Abraham

mezzanine for sorting and holding. They travel down spiral

is one of the nation’s leading experts in contract

conveyer belts and then are carefully hand assembled by

packaging as well as a keen business strategist.

Accel's team of loyal and diverse associates.

And we are pleased that Accel is a WBE co-chair of the 2012 WBENC National Conference & Business Fair.

Abraham has led Accel, from its founding in 1995, to its position today as an award-winning company serving Fortune 500 clients in the personal care and beauty, pharmaceutical and health care and food and beverages industries. From the beginning, Abraham’s company

Accel’s efficiencies even extend to its flexible employment solutions. In addition to full- and part-time employees, Accel is designing a temporary staffing system to help the region’s hardest hit families get a steady stream of work.

Abraham is particularly passionate about the WBEs doing business with other WBEs, and Accel spends 58 percent of its goods and services with women and minority-owned businesses.

created flawless, artful packaging that enhanced sales while

“If every WBE did business with only one other WBE, we’d

reducing retail costs through efficient production and delivery.

have 11,000 new contracts to show for it,” she says.

In 2010 Accel made a bold move to anchor the New Albany Business Park East – part of a 3,000-acre development in the heart of Ohio, which was being hailed as “Silicon Valley of Manufacturing.”

In its 517,000 square-foot, LEED-certified facility, Accel is reinventing the way manufacturers deliver packages to market. Through greater efficiencies in design and engineering throughout the packaging process, Accel will increase its capacity by 40 percent and add 400 jobs to the region, and that’s just a start.

Together with the business park suppliers – which perform different functions in getting products to customers – Accel can speed its clients’ packages to market and enable those clients to respond swiftly to changing consumer demand. For example, if one shampoo is selling better than anticipated in a test market, the client can change the filler and reset the packaging – eliminating unnecessary inventory and meeting consumer demand in real time.

Consumer products are automatically unloaded from trucks and delivered to conveyer belts to the 100,000-square-foot

Abraham serves on the WBENC Board of Directors and as Chair of the WBENC Women’s Enterprise Forum. She also represents WBENC on the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC).

She was named a WBE Star in 2007.

The company’s commitment to unsurpassed quality and creative problem solving has resulted in numerous awards including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2000; Limited Brands Logistics Services Direct Ship Vendor Excellence Award in 2009; 2004 Limited Brands Apothecary Award and eight Fast Fifty Awards, given to the fastest growing companies in Central Ohio.

For its diversity, Accel has received Limited Brands’ 2009 and 2010 Partners in Supplier Diversity Award, 2011 Ohio National Diversity Council Most Powerful & Influential Women Award, 2007 WBEC-SE Women’s Business Star Award, NAWBO Visionary Award, Enterprising Women Award and numerous Top 500 Women/Diversity Owned Business Awards in the United States for the last 10 years.

Abraham serves on the boards of the United Way of Central Ohio and Peoples Bank Corp. She is a founding member of

The American Red Cross Tiffany Circle and American Heart

Board, and chairs the Capital Campaign for Ohio Health’s

Association’s Circle Of Red and co-chairs the 2013/14 Go Red

Kobacker Hospice Board.

campaign. She serves as the 2008-2012 chair for the Ohio State University College of Education/Human Ecology Advisory

ICON INFORMATION CONSULTANTS, LP Pamela Chambers O’Rourke founded Houstonbased ICON Information Consultants, LP in 1998. Under O’Rourke’s leadership the company has grown exponentially to achieve its current ranking as a national top-tier provider of human-capital solutions, consulting and payroll services.

In addition to these services, ICON identifies and recruits professionals in information technology, accounting, finance, human resources and procurement. With more than 2,000 employees in 48 states and 2011 revenues of $165 million, ICON clients include Hewlett-Packard, Shell, Halliburton, Pitney Bowes, Southwest Airlines, Alcoa, Waste Management and Reynolds Aluminum.

O’Rourke has made ICON a customer-service driven organization.

She is committed to delivering consistent results for managing and deploying technology solutions for ICON’s clients while maintaining the highest value in price and performance.

For more information, see www.accel-inc.com

numerous places on the Inc. 5000 Inaugural List of Fastest Growing Private Companies.

O’Rourke achieved these honors while continuing to be very active with issues impacting women-owned businesses through her advocacy and company sponsorship of WBE firms. In fact, ICON utilizes an active supplier diversity program that requires the use of Minority/Women Business Enterprise companies whenever possible.

Additionally, she believes giving back is an important business strategy, and one that she lives every day. O’Rourke’s deep passion for her business is just as strong as her determination to see other woman-owned companies succeed. As a result, she is involved with many organizations supporting women-owned businesses, including serving as a WBENC Board Member, a member of the WBENC Forum and co-chair of the Strategic Planning Technology team.

For example, to foster the growth of women-owned businesses, she has served on many local and regional boards and committees; participated in mentoring opportunities; provided more than $430,000 in sponsorships to WBE events over the

One of the ways ICON accomplishes this is through its

past five years; has contributed hundreds of volunteer hours

consultants who bring expert perspective to clients’ business

to raise funds on both the local and national scene. She is a

challenges. They gain a better understanding of what the

member of number of supporting organizations including WPO,

competition is planning, analyze new market opportunities and

The Committee of 200, Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance.

identify potential partners and solutions for its clients.

O’Rourke views education as the foundation of life’s success.

Through the years, ICON and O’Rourke have earned many

As a University of Houston alumnus, she continues to sponsor

awards and honors. ICON was ranked 12th in the 50 Fastest-

their events and scholarships. In June 2011, O’Rourke

Growing Women-Led Companies, by The Women Presidents'

was appointed to the UHAA CEO (Cougar Executive Officers)

Organization (WPO) and AMEX Open. O’Rourke was named

Advisory Board, which is awarded to high-level executives

the Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year in the Business

that are graduates of the University of Houston. O’Rourke also

Services Category for the Houston Gulf Coast Area and, most

served on the Board of Directors for AVANCE, a nonprofit Head

recently, was inducted into the Women Business Enterprise

Start program, focusing on parent education, early childhood

Hall of Fame. She received the U.S. Small Business

development, brain development, literacy and school readiness.

Administration’s 2005 “Women in Business Champion of the

In addition, she generously donated to help create AVANCE’s

Year,” and Fast Company Magazine’s “Top 25 Women Business

new computer lab, where adult students can further their

Builders.” She was honored as a finalist for WIPP’s “Member

educational and career goals.

to Watch” and as a WBE Star in 2008. ICON has earned

For more information, see www.iconconsultants.com www.wbenc.org

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WBENC

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

FEATURES

TOP CORPORATE BEST PRACTICE: FORD MOTOR COMPANY LONG-TERM BENEFITS FOR GROWING WBES In 2011, Ford Motor Company (Ford) set a new company record in the United States by sourcing more than $5 billion with minority-owned companies and $1 billion with women-owned firms, reinforcing its leadership position as a strong supporter of supplier diversity. For the third consecutive year, Ford exceeded its goal of sourcing 10 percent of its U.S. production and nonproduction purchases with minority and women suppliers.

Preston, who is an engineer herself, is able to match up the WBE to the project to provide opportunities for growth.

Ford, a new WBENC Top Corporation honoree this year, takes a long-term view in cultivating growth-oriented women and minority-owned suppliers who are prepared to meet the global auto manufacturer’s needs now and into the future.

WBEs and MBEs comprise 10 percent of Ford’s Aligned Business Framework (ABF). Some 103 suppliers have been selected as ABF partners. Ford has built this network into a diverse group of suppliers that are playing a key role in its longterm, global sourcing plans, helping improve Ford quality and lower development and production costs.

To fill the pipeline with competitive WBEs and MBEs, Ford engages them in its Joint Technology Framework (JTF), a program providing extraordinary access to Ford’s intellectual property assets – its processes, patents and engineers – so that suppliers can develop products for future commercial use. This includes introductions to Ford’s long-established Research and Advanced Engineering group, which anticipates automotive industry trends and requirements five to 10 years in the future, then develops solutions that can be incorporated into Ford products and processes.

“This is a three-in-one opportunity,” said Carla Preston, Director, Supplier Diversity Development. First, by participating in ABF, WBEs are positioned for long-term engagement with the company. Second, being selected for JTF enables them to develop the vision and technology to deliver on that engagement. Third, Ford will take this one step further by matching the WBEs to a technology that will take them into a new area, new vehicle or plant.

“WBEs gain insight into the kinds of services and technologies they will need to be production or nonproduction suppliers.

Even more powerfully, we work with them so that they acquire the technological expertise and expand the capacity they will need to deliver,” said Preston.

Carla Preston, Director, Supplier Diversity Development at Ford Motor Company (left), presenting Ford's World Excellence Award to Andra Rush, CEO of Rush Group Ltd

“We have responsibility to making sure that the WBEs will make a success of this,” Preston adds. “To do this, we facilitate the identification of buyers and suppliers to make a good match.

We build a solid financial case with anticipated long-term benefit. And then we advance them up the approval chain to the product director.”

Andra Rush, a WBENC-certified WBE and WBE Star, is a successful ABF participant as head of the Rush Group family of companies, which make up one of Ford’s largest minority- and woman-owned suppliers. She recently announced a joint venture with Faurecia, an international automotive parts manufacturer, to create Detroit Manufacturing Systems Ltd., LLC (DMS). This joint venture will manufacture and assemble automotive interior components and employ about 500 people in Detroit within the next three years. Ford Motor Company will be its first customer.

DMS will provide cockpit interiors for the Ford Mustang and Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.

This "win-win-win" business model leads to innovation and longterm successful relationships, Rush said. “This in turn, helps create sustainable businesses that can create true economic development in the City of Detroit and other communities across North America."

FEATURES

GOVERNMENT SPOTLIGHT: BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM ESTABLISHED OFFICES TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND AT THE 12 FEDERAL RESERVE BANKS. THE OFFICES BUILD ON THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM'S LONG-STANDING EFFORTS TO PROMOTE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND DIVERSITY, AND CONTINUE TO WORK TO FOSTER DIVERSITY IN PROCUREMENT, WITH A FOCUS ON MINORITY-OWNED AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES. IN ADDITION TO PROMOTING DIVERSITY AT THE BOARD AND THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM, THE BOARD'S OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PLAYS AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS TO ASSESS THE DIVERSITY PRACTICES AT ENTITIES REGULATED BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE. “WBENC IS PLEASED TO SUPPORT THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM AS THEY WORK TO MEET THEIR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION OF WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS,” SAID PAMELA PRINCE-EASON. “THE INVOLVEMENT OF SEVERAL OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANKS AS MEMBERS OF WBENC SHOWS A TRUE COMMITMENT FROM THEM AND THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS.” THE FEDERAL RESERVE ALSO HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES ACCESS THE TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES THEY NEED, BY CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND DATA ANALYSES, FORGING PARTNERSHIPS AMONG INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS AND PROMOTING INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES AND PROMISING PRACTICES. THESE EFFORTS GENERATE NEW IDEAS AND NEW APPROACHES FOR UNDERSTANDING AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF TODAY'S SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE RECENTLY HOSTED ITS ANNUAL VENDOR OUTREACH FAIR TO COLLABORATE WITH SUPPLIERS AND FOSTER SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIPS. WBENC-CERTIFIED WBES WERE INVITED TO MEET WITH THE BOARD’S TECHNICAL AND PROCUREMENT REPRESENTATIVES TO MARKET THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. THIS SUCCESSFUL EVENT ALSO INCLUDED A CAPACITYBUILDING SESSION: “HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD.” FOR INFORMATION REGARDING OPPORTUNITIES VISIT WWW.FEDERALRESERVE.GOV

www.wbenc.org

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WBENC

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

CERTIFICATION

CITI AND THE FOUNDATION FOR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LAUNCH NATIONAL PROGRAM In late March, Citi and the Foundation for Small Business Development launched the Partnership for Small Business Development, a new training and certification program. This program is designed to help some 400 minority- and women-owned businesses create jobs through certifications that will qualify them for set-aside contracts of large vendors, such as the federal and state governments as well as some large companies.

Those who will participate in the program are current subcontractors for Safeguard Properties, a national property maintenance and management company. Safeguard, a field-service vendor of Citi and partner in the project, operates by subcontracting the services of small businesses around the country, including many minority- and women-owned businesses.

Through this program, the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and local chapters of the National Minority Supplier Diversity Council will certify the more than 400 Safeguard subcontractors by the end of 2012. In addition, these small business owners will attend a two-day, 16-hour training session covering business fundamentals such as finance, capacity building and compliance. These sessions will be offered in each of six cities – Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Ft. Lauderdale, Las Vegas and New York City. Local members of the Small Business Development Center Network, which is the largest network of its kind in the country, will conduct this training.

"Organizations like ours, have well-established programs to improve WBEs access to contracts with vendors committed to diversifying their supply chains, and we are seeing enormous growth in that potential,” said Pamela Prince-Eason, President and CEO at WBENC.

CERTIFICATION

GAME ON! PREPARING FOR THE WBENC CONFERENCE THE WBENC NATIONAL CONFERENCE AND BUSINESS FAIR IS NEARLY HERE AND YOUR CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE WILL DEPEND ON YOUR PREPARATION. IN ADDITION TO PACKING THE PROPER CLOTHES, WHICH WE COVER IN "COUNTDOWN TO WBENC NATIONAL CONFERENCE & BUSINESS FAIR," ARTICLE ON PAGE 12 OF THIS MONTH’S REPORT, THERE ARE A FEW ADDITIONAL ITEMS YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT: YOUR PROSPECT LIST, BUSINESS CARDS AND ELEVATOR PITCH. • PROSPECT LIST–PRIOR TO ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE YOU SHOULD VISIT THE WBENC CONFERENCE WEBSITE AND IDENTIFY YOUR TOP 10 TO 15 PROSPECTS. TAKE TIME TO REVIEW THEIR WEBSITES TO IDENTIFY KEY FACTS AND REVIEW THEIR ANNUAL REPORT FOR INFORMATION ON COMMODITIES THEY ARE PURCHASING. ALSO DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER ON THEIR SUPPLIER DATABASE. DOING THIS WILL HELP YOU HAVE A MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION WITH THEM WHEN YOU PROVIDE INFORMATION ON YOUR COMPANY’S SOLUTIONS. • BUSINESS CARDS–THESE ARE YOUR COMPANY’S BILLBOARD. THEREFORE, BE SURE YOURS CONTAIN ALL THE RELEVANT AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT YOU AND YOUR COMPANY. CONSIDER ADDING A PHOTO OF YOURSELF, A CATCHY TAGLINE OR BULLET POINTS ON YOUR OFFERINGS TO SET YOURSELF APART. THESE WILL REINFORCE THE INFORMATION YOU SHARE IN YOUR CONVERSATION WITH THE COMPANY’S REPRESENTATIVE. • ELEVATOR PITCH–CLEAR, CONCISE, INFORMATIVE, INTERESTING, SOLUTION ORIENTED AND PERSONABLE: THESE ARE THE ELEMENTS OF A GREAT ELEVATOR PITCH. WRITE IT DOWN, PRACTICE SAYING IT WITHOUT BEING RUSHED OR APPEARING SCRIPTED. JUST LET IT FLOW NATURALLY. BEING WELL PREPARED CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN YOUR CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE. BE SURE TO READ COUNTDOWN TO WBENC NATIONAL CONFERENCE & BUSINESS FAIR ON PAGE 12, FOR MORE DETAILS.

TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON TWITTER AND USE THE HASHTAG FOR THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE & BUSINESS FAIR: #WBENCCONF TO FIND US ON FACEBOOK, PLEASE CLICK HERE

www.wbenc.org

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WBENC

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

OPPORTUNITIES

COUNTDOWN TO WBENC NATIONAL CONFERENCE & BUSINESS FAIR IN A FEW SHORT DAYS, WE WILL KICKOFF OF THE 13TH ANNUAL WBENC NATIONAL CONFERENCE & BUSINESS FAIR AND THE CELEBRATION AND RECOGNITION OF OUR 15-YEAR ANNIVERSARY. OUR CO-CHAIRS, THE WOMEN’S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER – FLORIDA, THE FLORIDA HOST COMMITTEE AND STOVELL MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, AS WELL AS OUR WBENC STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO CREATE AN EVENT THAT WILL MAXIMIZE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL ATTENDEES. BEFORE YOU FINALIZE YOUR SCHEDULE, PACK YOUR SUITCASE OR BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY TO ORLANDO, PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. The second day of the conference is dedicated to the Business Fair. The Business Fair will feature more than 300 exhibitors representing a wide range of industries. Remember corporate and government exhibitors are there to share information about their upcoming opportunities, as well as to discuss services they offer to WBEs. The WBE exhibitors are sure to impress you with the wide array of products and services they have to offer. In addition, many WBEs are taking advantage of the new WBE Marketplace where they will feature products you can buy on-site.

Make the most of your time on the Business Fair floor by reviewing the profiles of the exhibitors in advance. Select the top 10 prospects you believe are the best fit, as either prospective clients or suppliers, and do your homework on each. Then, when you walk up to your prospect, you won’t waste time with a generic inquiry; instead, you can get down to business.

WHAT TO WEAR. Florida is sunny and humid this time of year, but the conference facility will be well air-conditioned.

Daytime attire should be business or business casual. If you get chilled easily, be sure to bring a light sweater or wrap. Footwear is crucial. This is a large venue. Your 4-inch heels may be gorgeous, but they might slow your pace. Reserve the fancy shoes for the evenings and be comfortable during the day. Also, pack your workout clothes, so you can join the zumba or yoga fun.

Suggested attire varies for each evening. On Tuesday the 15th Anniversary Reception begins at 4:00 p.m., at the Peabody.

Most attendees will come straight from the Conference to the Reception, therefore whatever you are wearing during the day is appropriate. However, if you are so inclined, you may go up to your room and put on casual evening dress. The Reception is focused on networking and enjoying our time together.

On Wednesday evening, all attendees are encouraged to attend the reception at Universal Studios Citywalk, which runs from 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Bus transportation will be provided to and from the Peabody Orlando and the Hilton Orlando to Universal Studios. Since this is an outdoor event, choose comfortable, loose clothing, such as khakis, shorts or lightweight jeans. In addition, we recommend you wear the cotton conference t-shirt you will receive in your program bag. Not only will you be cool, but also you’ll be able to find others from your regional partner organizations by looking for t-shirts that match your color shirt.

THE TRIBUTE! RECEPTION AND DINNER ON THURSDAY evening, which begins at 6:00 p.m., is a time to celebrate. Consider this a dressy business or cocktail attire affair. This is the last night, so it’s more than appropriate to leave a lasting impression.

UNIQUE CONFERENCE EVENTS. In addition to tremendous keynote speakers, effective workshops and the Business Fair, there are programs outside of the mainstream schedule that are not to be missed. If you arrive early, do not waste time getting a tan. You have all summer to do that; instead check out the following:

• TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT—Attend WBENC’s inaugural Tech Summit taking place on Monday, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

in Peabody Orlando Windermere W. The Summit features industry experts from AT&T, Dell, IBM, HP, Cisco,

Pitney Bowes, Verizon and Oracle who will discuss the future of technology as it applies to WBENC’s structure

and that of small businesses. In addition, several original equipment manufacturers will host break-out

sessions from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., in Peabody Orlando Conference Rooms 7-10.

• FIRST-TIME ATTENDEE ORIENTATION—Navigating the conference without prior experience can be daunting.

Eliminate the anxiety by attending this orientation, which focuses on how to get the most out of the conference, on

Monday from 1:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m., in Peabody Grand Ballrooms T-U. In addition to hearing first-hand from experts

from the Florida Host Committee, you will also have the advantage of building relationships immediately with

other attendees. WBENC’s President Emeritus, Linda Denny, will lead the workshop. You can be sure she has all

of the answers when it comes to maximizing your time each minute of every day.

• FORUM KEYNOTE PRESENTATION—Lisa Price, Founder, President of Carol's Daughter, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.,

in Peabody Orlando Windermere X. Prepare to be inspired as you hear how she transformed her beloved hobby of

mixing up fragrances and creams at home into a multi-million dollar beauty empire.

• SILENT AUCTION—The Auction takes place on Tuesday, during the Anniversary Reception, from 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.,

at the Peabody Orlando. This event raises more than $100,000 each year due to the outstanding quality of the

items and available services. Your guide to finding the perfect item is the Silent Auction Directory, which will be

given to you during on-site registration and will be available during the Auction. Whether you are seeking travel

adventures or high-end jewelry, you will find it all in the Directory. WBENC-certified WBEs should take note of

the more than 20 Power Lunches that will be available, featuring meetings with senior executives from Raytheon,

Office Depot, Accenture, Home Depot and many more. A Power Lunch is not a guarantee of contract, but it can

be a game-changer because it offers the chance to develop relationships at a very high level.

• LEARNING LABS—Be sure to check out the Learning Labs, which are mini classrooms located on the Business

Fair floor. On Wednesday from 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., you will have the opportunity to chose from six different

learning experiences presented by WBENC Corporate Members and WBEs. The topics will be:

• Technology Solutions for Small Business, presented by AT&T

• Hands-On Skills To Pinpoint Federal Business WAY Ahead of RFP!, presented by Judy Bradt, Summit Insight

• Best Practices: Marketing for Your Business, presented by Denise Evans, Vice President, Market Development, IBM

• Think Globally, Act Locally, presented by Global Business Committee

• The Secret of My Global Success: WBEs Share Their Stories, presented by Global Business Committee

• Minding the Home Front, presented by Susan Bari, President Emeritus, WBENC

• POST-CONFERENCE—If you and friends or family are staying in Orlando after the conference to enjoy the many

theme parks, please take advantage of the cost-saving packages put together by Orlando Conference Management.

Go to http://www.wbenc.org/wbencconf/family-package.php to view your options and make your reservations today. www.wbenc.org

june edition 2012 PG 13

WBENC

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

OPPORTUNITIES

PLEASE JOIN US AT THE WBENC TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT BEFORE THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE & BUSINESS FAIR OPPORTUNITY:

WBENC Technology Summit

WHEN:

Monday, June 18, 2012

General Session-Panel Discussion:

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Panelist Breakout Sessions:

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

WHERE:

Windermere Ballroom

Peabody Hotel, Orlando

PURPOSE: Effective and efficient technology is critical to the success of any business, and WBENC is no different. In an effort to renew our technology infrastructure to better serve all of our constituents, WBENC is excited to present the WBENC Technology Summit 2012, which will take place at the National Conference & Business Fair in Orlando, on Monday, June 18, 2012. This summit is an opportunity to bring together industry experts, business planners, strategic technology integrators and industry representatives from our constituent groups (Corporate and Government Members, WBEs and Regional Partner Organizations) in a panel discussion. We plan to leverage the collective insight, knowledge and experience from the Technology Summit panelists to create viable solutions to WBENC’s technology challenges.

This strategic meeting, and more importantly the collaborative planning and discussion process itself, will facilitate and document the services, solutions and processes to ensure our technology is strategically applied and aligned with WBENC’s business goals and objectives.

You are invited to attend as a part of the general audience. Listen in on the illustrious panel’s presentation and the panel’s discussions with the invited technology-industry practitioners during the general session. Opportunities for networking with the panelists and invited technology-industry practitioners, and learning about “leaning-forward” technology, continue in the panelist breakout sessions.

ATTENDEES:

• Confirmed panelists are representatives from AT&T, Dell, HP, IBM, Oracle, Pitney Bowes and Verizon

• Invited technology-industry practitioners from the WBENC Community will engage in discussions

with the panelists

• General audience

DON’T MISS OUT ON THE CONVERSATION!

s s i m s t ’ n do year’ ! this bration cele

VISION, OPPORTUNITIES, SUCCESS!

tueSDaY, June 19 tHrougH tHurSDaY, June 21, 2012

ORLANDO, FLORIDA

2012 SPonSorS aS oF aPriL 26, 2012

2012 Co-CHairS

FeatureD SPonSorS

Contributing Partner SPonSorS

accenture act-1 group altria group, inc. arbill aSaP Solutions group LLC bP america CableLinks, inc.

Cenergy Charlie bravo aviation Chevron Digital Hands energy Future Holdings ernst & Young LLP exxon Mobil Corporation ibM imagen KellyMitchell group, inc.

Manpowergroup Microsoft Mirror Show Management ntSg, inc. olsa resources, inc.

PepsiCo, inc.

Pfizer inc Pitney bowes inc.

Private eyes PS energy group, inc. raytheon Company Quigley-Simpson Shell oil Company Smead Manufacturing Company Strategic Staffing Solutions Superior Staff resources, inc. target the Coca-Cola Company trans-expedite inc. transPak inc.

Wal-Mart Stores, inc.

WeConnect Canada Welcome events Women’s business enterprise Council of Pa-De-snJ Women Presidents’ organization

LeaD SPonSorS

at&t CSS building Services, inc.

CVM Solutions DeMartino Construction Company general Motors Corporation Hired by Matrix, inc. robert Half international, inc.

Staples, inc.

Verizon W. W. grainger, inc.

PrograM SPonSorS alcatel-Lucent archer Daniels Midland Company bank of america Johnson & Johnson Kraft Foods

HoSt CounCiL

Women’s business Development Council of Florida

HoSt CoMMittee

Landry & Kling events at Sea Host Committee Chair a-Plus Meetings & incentives bruno White entertainment Doubletake Studios, inc.

MCo Construction Services, inc. orlando Conference Management group, inc. restor telecom SDi international Corp.

Software resources, inc. the DW group, inc. triage Partners LLC

PLatinuM SPonSorS aflac allstate insurance bMW Manufacturing brocade ConocoPhillips Creative resources Crescent Construction Services Dakkota integrated Systems LLC Ford Motor Company JPMorgan Chase & Company Kaiser Permanente Macy’s Marriott international MasterCard Worldwide Meadows office Furniture Co. Pacific gas and electric Company time Warner inc. toraLab, LLC toyota Motor north america united Wells Fargo

For more information, please go to www.wbenc.org/wbencconf

experience: • A chance to conduct at least 40-50 percent of your company’s annual prospecting in two days • A ccess to procurement representatives ready to make buying decisions • T ime for formal and informal face-to-face networking • T raining to give you an edge in a competitive business environment

WBENC

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

OPPORTUNITIES

CONFERENCE HOST MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: SOFTWARE RESOURCES AND BRUNO WHITE ENTERTAINMENT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE AND BUSINESS FAIR IS NEARLY HERE, SO LET’S SHINE THE SPOTLIGHT ON HOST MEMBERS: TAMMY GIAIMO, LORRI NICHOLSON AND TERRI WHITE. EACH OF THESE TWO BUSINESSES PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THEIR TOP NOTCH CLIENTS. SOFTWARE RESOURCES HELPS ORGANIZATIONS WITH THEIR STAFFING NEEDS IN MANY INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING HEALTH CARE AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. BRUNO WHITE ENTERTAINMENT IS A FULL-SERVICE ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION COMPANY WHOSE CLIENTS INCLUDE DISNEY AND ORLANDO'S CONVENTION AND VISITOR'S BUREAU. SOFTWARE RESOURCES For 20 years, Software Resources has provided

recruiting methodology, paired with a state-of-

staffing solutions, including contract, contract-

the-art applicant tracking and central recruiting

to-perm and permanent search services to its

system is a winning formula.

clients nationally. Software Resources specializes in positions in the Technology, Creative and Web, Human Resources and Finance and Accounting areas. Under the leadership of CEO Tamara (Tammy) L. Giaimo, Software Resources has distinguished itself by swiftly and successfully addressing its

TAMMY GIAIMO CEO, SOFTWARE RESOURCES

clients’ contingent staffing requirements with flexible, customer-centric solutions.

Software Resources’ strategic approach helps clients achieve greater cost savings, better control of their projects and more consistent processes and outcomes.

Giaimo’s core belief is that people should be empowered to act in the best interest of the candidate and client in every interaction. To facilitate swift and precise decision making, the company maintains a relatively flat organizational structure. According to Giaimo, some of the company’s most satisfying “wins” came when we stretched to meet a client’s need outside Software Resources traditional suite of services.

An early example of this is when Software Resources had the opportunity to create a contract management system for a leading media and entertainment

Giaimo and her team work tirelessly to develop

company. As a result of recruiting the best talent

processes and procedures to identify, recruit,

for the job and managing the process meticulously

place and retain world-class programmer analysts, the project was on time and within budget. application developers, business analysts, technical editors and writers, infrastructure support and systems administration professionals, QA/testers and project managers. Software Resources consultants are recognized time and

“We were immediately given the opportunity to provide technology contract staffing services to the company, which we continue to do today on a national scale,” Giaimo says.

again as subject matter experts by their peers

More recently, Software Resources expanded its

and within their professional communities. The

services by offering payroll and back-office support

organization brings that expertise to the table for

to a long-time corporate partner. Giaimo increased

clients across multiple verticals and geographical

Software Resources’ credit lines, hired additional territories. Software Resources’ tightly constructed support staff and created a parallel business service

for the customer. Now, in addition to the large

for providing clients with exemplary service. In

volume of professional staffing with this client,

addition to serving as CEO, Giaimo also serves

Software Resources has added a high-volume of

on the Board of Directors.

payroll or leased employees that have helped them meet aggressive national hiring targets.

Today, Software Resources has consultants in 13 states and utilizes a Central Recruiting Center

During a career spanning 24 years, Giaimo has

model administered from its corporate office in

been recognized for her many achievements.

Lake Mary, Fla.

She received numerous awards and accolades

www.softwareresources.com

BRUNO WHITE ENTERTAINMENT Bruno White Entertainment (BWE), a nationally

Disney and the Department of Defense in

recognized leader in field production work, was

developing and executing strategic, educational

established in 1996, by sisters Lorri Nicholson,

and branded entertainment programming.

CEO and Executive Producer, and Terri White, President and Executive Producer. BWE develops original creative content as well as offers broad support in all production services.

TERRI WHITE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

LORRI NICHOLSON CEO AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Providing complete “below the line” productions services, BWE supplements a show’s core producers and talent, as well as provides local crew and on-location logistics. Among its many

BWE distinguishes itself in the fiercely competitive and increasingly specialized industry by remaining versatile.

"We thrive on doing radically different types of video and film production, from communication videos, educational videos, training pieces or info-mercials,” White said.

accomplishments, BWE has supplied on-location

While expert at many kinds of production, BWE

production services for the last seven season finales

is especially adept at shooting on-location, and

of America's Funniest Home Videos and has worked

thrives with clients whose needs are location-

with ESPN, The Rosie Show and Live with Kelly.

specific, essentially taking them anywhere.

White and Nicholson each bring distinctive and

The company's clients are as diverse as its

complementary skills to the company. White

reach. In addition to Disney, BWE has also

gained vast entertainment experience during her

worked extensively for Fitness Quest in Ohio,

years with the Walt Disney Company, with whom

David Leadbetter, Martin Marietta and Orlando's

she maintains an ongoing working relationship.

Convention and Visitor's Bureau. It has provided

BWE has provided full-production services

production services for the Orlando Citrus Parade

on hundreds of projects, including Extreme

on New Year's Day.

Makeover, Extreme Makeover Home edition, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, The View, According to

“The market changes and the times change with

Jim and Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve.

it, so we have to be flexible to move and grow,” Nicholson says.

Nicholson's experience combines a diverse background in strategic business development

Located in Central Florida, BWE has additional

and sales for Fortune 500 companies, along

post facilities including Walt Disney World

with extensive experience in the entertainment

Property. It has an exclusive contract with the

and production field. BWE has benefited from

Disney Event Group (Orlando) to shoot corporate

her involvement in producing and implementing

events and weddings on various Disney properties.

creative and highly marketable productions.

Nicholson has worked closely with Microsoft,

For more information about BWE, visit http://www.brunowhite.com www.wbenc.org

june edition 2012 PG 17

WBENC

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

OPPORTUNITIES

NATIONAL CONFERENCE MATCHMAKER MEETINGS: A VALUABLE BENEFIT OF CONFERENCE REGISTRATION On June 21, in Orlando, the National Conference & Business Fair will hold its annual MatchMaker Meetings, which are sponsored by AT&T. MatchMaker Meetings are opportunities for WBENC-Certified WBEs to meet with buyers from WBENC corporate member organizations to discuss possible sourcing opportunities in a variety of service and product areas. WBENC’s goal in arranging these sessions is to provide quality, relevant meetings for both the WBE and buyer.

Conference attendee schedules are jam-packed, therefore it’s particularly important that these meetings are true opportunities for both parties.

This year, nearly 40 Corporate and Government Members will be participating with more than 80 buyers representing their organizations. Using a special event matchmaking tool created for WBENC, each buyer has had the opportunity to review eligible WBE profiles and invite them to sit down for a 20-minute face-to-face discussion on June 21.

Any WBENC-Certified WBE who registered for the full conference by May 11, was eligible to sign up for this year’s matchmaking. Although there is no guarantee of being selected for a meeting, those who do participate see the tremendous value that even one meeting can create. A face-toface discussion can be highly rewarding, whether through an immediate contract or by providing an initial introduction that leads to an opportunity months, or years, down the road.

NOT ONLY HEAR THE CONFERENCE BUZZ, BUT COME SEE IT

UPCOMING WBE DEADLINES FOR EXECUTIVE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Visit the Dell Social Media Listening Command Center

Dorothy B. Brothers Executive Scholarship:

where you can not only hear the conference buzz, but

Application Deadline July 2

also see the chatter fromTwitter, Facebook and other social media hubs as it is tracked and broadcast.

Tuck-WBENC Executive Program: Application Deadline July 13

build your own

The Bracelet as individual as you are.

As we celebrate our 15th year, WBENC has created the Legacy Bracelet as a statement of your participation and ongoing support of our organization.

Each beautiful hand-crafted sterling silver bead represents different aspects of WBENC that have made it the progressive and respected organization that it is today.

Whether you are new to certification, membership or supplier diversity and women’s entrepreneurship, you can build your own beautiful piece of jewelry that will tell the story of how you’re engaged with WBENC.

Isn’t it time to start your Legacy®?

Order Your WBENC Legacy® Online www.thedwgroup.com/wbenclegacy 1-800-704-0546 Visit the WBENC Legacy® Booth #1034 in Orlandowww.wbenc.org

june edition 2012 PG

WBENC

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

RECOGNITION

PITNEY BOWES HOSTS SUPPLIER DIVERSITY SUMMIT AND PRESENTS DIVERSITY SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARDS In an effort to build greater awareness of the value of its supplier diversity program, Pitney Bowes hosted its second annual Supplier Diversity Summit last month at its world headquarters in Stamford, Conn. Summit participants included a wide range of internal Pitney Bowes stakeholders from across the business, as well as two prime suppliers.

Some 90 diverse suppliers attended looking to gain a better understanding of Pitney Bowes’ procurement opportunities and the best way to do business with the company.

Pitney Bowes Chairman, President, and CEO Murray Martin kicked off the summit addressing the value that supplier diversity brings to Pitney Bowes.

“DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ARE BUSINESS IMPERATIVES FOR US AT PITNEY

BOWES,” SAID MURRAY. “THIS INCLUDES HAVING DIVERSE SUPPLIERS WHO

WE BELIEVE ARE ESSENTIAL FOR DELIVERING VALUE IN OUR GLOBAL

MARKETS. OUR DIVERSE SUPPLIERS ARE INNOVATIVE, DEDICATED, HIGH

QUALITY PARTNERS. THEY GIVE US A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE THAT IS GOOD

FOR US AND GOOD FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.”

THE SUPPLIER DIVERSITY SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARDS Martin presented the Pitney Bowes “Supplier Diversity Supplier of the Year Award,” to two of the company’s valued suppliers: Leflein Associates Inc. and Young Moving and Storage Leflein Associates Inc., a women-owned business and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) certified supplier since 2008, is a full-service marketing research company, based in northern New Jersey. Leflein provides strategic market research for branding and new product development to Pitney Bowes.

“It was an honor to be nominated by the Pitney Bowes Enterprise Procurement department and an even greater thrill to be selected as this year’s winner,” said Barbara Leflein, Founder and President, Leflein. “Earning this award is a true testament to the value-added services we provide and the strong relationships we have developed with Pitney Bowes over the years.”

Young Moving and Storage is a National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) certified business with headquarters in Richmond, Va. Young Moving and Storage has been providing office relocation services for Pitney Bowes since 2010.

The summit also featured a keynote address by Al Williams, Accenture Chief Procurement Officer, who discussed the innovation and world-class services that diverse businesses bring to global enterprises. WBENC President and CEO Pamela Prince-Eason and Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council President Dr. Fred McKinney also addressed the standing-room only crowd, sharing their views on the importance of opening up opportunities for women- and minority-owned businesses.

In 2011, Pitney Bowes’ commitment to supplier diversity resulted in strong performance in spend with diverse suppliers, in addition to a notable increase in the inclusion of diverse suppliers in sourcing opportunities. Included in this increase were successful contract awards to diverse businesses in the areas of staffing, janitorial services and products, courier services, security services, manufacturing and logistics.

"We believe it is important for diverse suppliers to have the opportunity to meet and build relationships with our key internal stakeholders and prime suppliers in one-on-one matchmaker sessions," said Laura Taylor, Pitney Bowes, Vice President Strategic Sourcing and Procurement Operations and WBENC Board chair. “The positive feedback we have received from attendees validates our belief.”

Pitney Bowes was recently honored by WBENC as one of America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises, the only national award honoring corporations for worldclass programs that level the playing field for women’s business enterprises (WBEs) to compete for corporate business.

www.wbenc.org

june edition 2012 PG 21

WBENC

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

RECOGNITION

WOMEN’S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER HONORED WITH CENTER OF EXCELLENCE AWARD THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA REGION RECENTLY PRESENTED ITS 2012 WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE AWARD TO THE WOMEN’S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (WBDC) AND ITS PRESIDENT, GERI SWIFT. WBDC WAS HONORED ON JUNE 7, 2012, FOR ITS EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION IN ASSISTING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS BY PROVIDING A WIDE VARIETY OF TRAINING AND COUNSELING. IN ADDITION, WBDC WAS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS DEDICATION AND SUPPORT OF THE WOMEN’S BUSINESS COMMUNITY. GERI SWIFT PRESIDENT,

“THE WOMEN’S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER IS VITAL TO THE CONTINUED

THE WOMEN'S

PROGRESS OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS. AT WELLS FARGO, WE ARE PROUD TO

BUSINESS

BE A CORPORATE CHAMPION OF THIS AMAZING ORGANIZATION,” SAID PRESIDENT,

DEVELOPMENT

WELLS FARGO BANK VINCE LUIZZI, WHO NOMINATED WBDC FOR THIS AWARD. “WE

CENTER (WBDC)

ARE PROUD TO BE THEIR PARTNER AND PROUD TO HELP THIS ORGANIZATION–AND ALL IT STANDS FOR–MOVE FORWARD.” FORMED IN JULY 1995 WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A MATCHING GRANT FROM THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION’S OFFICE OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERSHIP, THE WBDC FOSTERS THE DEVELOPMENT AND RETENTION OF SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES

BY DELIVERING RESOURCES THAT ENABLE INDIVIDUALS TO START NEW BUSINESSES AND GROW EXISTING ONES. WBDC ALSO FACILITATES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CORPORATIONS, GOVERNMENT AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES TO PROVEN GROWN AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH OUR WOMEN’S BUSINESS ENTERPRISE COUNCIL (WBEC) OF PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE AND SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY FORMED IN 2000. WBEC IS A REGIONAL PARTNER OF THE WOMEN’S ENTERPRISE NATIONAL COUNCIL. WHILE THE CENTER IS DEDICATED TO THE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN, THE SERVICES ARE OPEN TO ALL INDIVIDUALS.

RECOGNITION

VISIONISTA PRODUCES AWARD WINNING VIDEOS FOR WBENC WBENC is proud to announce that the WBENC Stars Video series, created by Visionista, has recently earned several prestigious awards. The Telly Awards named the WBENC Stars Video series as winner of three Bronze Telly Awards. The Hermes Creative Award gave the Stars Video a Platinum award, while the event opener received an Honorable Mention.

ABOUT THE TELLY AWARDS The Telly Awards was founded in 1979 and is the premier award honoring the finest film and video productions, online commercials, videos and films. Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, TV stations, cable operators and corporate video departments in the world.

TELLY BRONZE AWARDS

• WBENC Stars Series - Category: Non-Broadcast Productions: Motivational

• WBENC Stars Series - Category: TV Programs, Segments, or Promo Pieces: Use of Graphics

• WBENC Event Opener - Category: TV Programs, Segments, or Promo Pieces: Use of Graphics

For more information about the award process visit: http://www.tellyawards.com/

ABOUT THE HERMES CREATIVE AWARDS Hermes is an international competition for creative professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of marketing and communication programs and print, visual and audio materials. Entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, graphic design shops web and digital creators and freelancers.

THE HERMES CREATIVE AWARDS

• Platinum Award: WBENC Stars Series Samples - Category: Event Video

• Honorable Mention: WBENC Event Opener - Category: Event Video

For more details about the awards process visit: http://www.hermesawards.com/faq

www.wbenc.org

june edition 2012 PG 23

WBENC

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

RECOGNITION

TOP 25 WOMEN IN POWER IMPACTING DIVERSITY NAMED BY DIVERSITYPLUS DiversityPlus magazine, one of the leading diversity magazines in the United States, recently named the 2012 Top 25 Women in Power. These women were chosen for the outstanding supplier diversity programs they have developed in their respective organizations.

According to the magazine’s press release, each one of the Women in Power has developed a unique approach to supplier diversity, and the companies they work for appreciate and understand the important contributions they make to corporate success.

“WBENC is very pleased to see our Board members and member companies positioned so well on this list." said Pamela Prince-Eason, WBENC President and CEO. "We know first-hand the role these women play in the success of Women-owned businesses accessing the Corporate Supply Chain and are pleased to be affiliated with each one of them.”

2012 TOP 25 WOMEN IN POWER IMPACTING DIVERSITY

• Gladys Lopez, Manager, Corporate Supplier Diversity and Business Development, American Express

• Lynn Boccio, Vice President, Strategic Business and Diversity Relation, Avis Budget Group

• Claire Scanlon, Vice President and Manager, Supplier Development Program, BNY Mellon

• Tracey Gibson Sr., Director of Global Diversity & Inclusion, Cargill

• Sallye Thompson Marbury, Director, Supplier Diversity & Purchasing, CHEP

• Tyra L. Paytes, Manager, Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Diversity, Cox Communications

• Elaine Mosley, Manager, Supplier Development, CSX Transportation

• Cyndi Hopkins, Director, Global Supplier Diversity, Dell Inc.

• Karmetria Burton, General Manager, Supplier Diversity, Delta Airlines

• Christina Ruggiero, Head Procurement, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Russia, Diageo

• Aline Presley, Supplier Diversity Coordinator, ExxonMobil

• Nancy Minchillo, Manager, Global Supplier Diversity, Hewlett-Packard

• Veronica Manuel-Gilbert, Director, Enterprise Supplier Diversity, Johnson & Johnson

• Jacqueline L. Rosa, Executive Director, Corporate Supplier Diversity, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

• Vickie His, Associate Director, Supplier Diversity, Kraft Foods

• Nancy H. Deskins, Director, Category Management & Supplier Diversity, Lockheed Martin Corporation

• Saunjah Powell-Pointet, Supplier Diversity Leader, Merck

• Stephanie Burroughs, Director, Procurement Programs, NJSBDC

• Shari Francis, Manager, Hub Merchandising, Office Depot

• Barbara A. Taylor, Senior Manager, Corporate Supplier Diversity Strategic Integration, The Boeing Company

• Terrez Thompson, Vice President, Supplier Diversity The Coca-Cola Company

• Julia Hubbel, President and CEO, The Hubbel Group

• Dawn Marchand, Supplier Diversity Manager, The Walt Disney Company

• Ruby McCleary, Director, Supplier Diversity, United Airlines

• Kathy Homeyer, Director, Supplier Diversity, UPS

For more information visit www.diversityplus.com

RESOURCES

WOMEN ON WELLNESS A MUST READ BOOK TO HELP DEAL WITH STRESS OF MOVING AN AGING PARENT

M

ore often than not, the responsibility for moving

Bari also suggests you enlist a team of

an aging parent falls on a woman’s shoulders.

professionals who know more than you

According to the AARP, a not-for-profit organization that

do about the subject. In her final stages

helps people over 50 improve the quality of their lives,

of writing, The Guide to Moving Mom,

70 percent of all caregivers are women. And today, most

she sought advice from a professional

of those women work outside of the home. It is clear

stager, an estate attorney, a moving

the responsibility of moving–whether moving your own

company that has a senior moves

family across town or a loved one across the country–is a

division and, importantly, a psychologist

profound experience.

who specializes in work/life balance.

In her recent book, The Guide to Moving Mom, Susan Bari includes hints and tips from her own experience of helping

IN SUSAN’S OWN WORDS

a loved one let go of the trappings of a full life, as well as

By way of background, I wrote the first draft of what was

what she learned in her own recent moves.

then titled Moving Mom, in the mid 1990s, when I moved

“I have found through trial and error that the best approach is to take each move one step at a time,” said Bari.

my mother from her home in Boston to Northern Virginia, where my husband Dick and I, as well as my brother and his family, were living. Soon after, I got very busy founding

It is especially difficult for motivated, “can do” executives

WBENC. After my Mom died in 1997 (the same year we

and business owners to do so. As with a young child who

launched WBENC), I shelved the project.

surprises with every growth step, we can’t be sure how our aging loved one will progress – but we know we have to be there for them, according to Bari.

Bari"s first piece of advice for your next visit “home”:

• Identify resources in the community that provide services to seniors.

• Enlist neighbors and friends to provide interim support

while the decision to move and where is being

evaluated. (Having a neighbor check that the

newspaper has been picked up can mean that Mom is

okay today.)

• Make an emergency telephone/email list (doctors,

pharmacies, emergency rooms, grocery stores that

deliver, etc.)

Then after moving several times myself, most recently to a co-op in Manhattan and starting a new career in real estate, I realized that I needed to take the manuscript down from the shelf and update its content for today’s world.

The result is The Guide to Moving Mom. I invite you to learn more about the many detailed hints in the book. You can purchase a copy at https:/www.createspace.com/3716787 or visit me at the book signing at the 2012 WBENC National Conference & Business Fair in Orlando!

• Make a list of all medical information including prescription information.

www.wbenc.org

june edition 2012 PG 25