Ernst & Young Global Chairman And CEO James S. Turley Receives Crystal Leadership Award From Women's Business Enterprise National Council

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) bestowed the prestigious Crystal Leadership Award to James S. Turley, Global Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ernst & Young, at WBENC's 2013 Salute to Women's Business Enterprises, a gathering of over 1,000 major corporations, government entities and women's businesses in Baltimore on March 14, 2013.

The award, the highest honor given to a corporate entity by WBENC, recognizes Turley's leadership in influencing women's business success. This is evidenced by the groundbreaking programs he has overseen enabling the strategic development of women-owned businesses. His stewardship of Ernst & Young's extraordinary supplier diversity program and commitment to integrity, quality and professionalism is reflected throughout the organization.

"Jim Turley demonstrates the power of principled leadership in spurring growth among women's businesses, from emerging entrepreneurs to established suppliers," said Pamela Prince-Eason, President and CEO of WBENC. "His support of equal marketplace access and capacity development has resulted in stronger women's businesses, and in turn, their contributions to a better economy."

Ernst & Young pioneered the world-renowned Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award more than 25 years ago and founded its Entrepreneurial Winning Women^TM Program six years ago. This national competition and executive leadership program identifies a select group of high-potential women entrepreneurs whose businesses show potential for scalable growth and then guides them in achieving it.

During WBENC's Summit & Salute to Women's Business Enterprises (WBEs), Ernst & Young LLP was named one of WBENC's 2012 America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises, an honor it has received four times. It is the only national award honoring corporations for world class programs that level the playing field for women's business enterprises to compete for corporate business.  

"Under Jim's leadership, Ernst & Young people are encouraged to find innovative ways to help women thrive. He recognizes the tremendous economic potential of women as employees, entrepreneurs, producers and consumers, and he sets the bar very high in his efforts to help them realize that potential," said Theresa Harrison, Director of Supplier Diversity at Ernst & Young LLP, as well as a past recipient of WBENC's William J. Alcorn Award for excellence in 2011. Harrison is a WBENC Board Member and a tireless contributor to the organization, chairing the Corporate Membership and Revenue Generation Committee among other commitments.

WBENC's Summit & Salute is designed to drive business development and collaborative success among WBENC's Corporate and Government Members and WBEs.

Ernst & Young LLP is a member firm of the global Ernst & Young organization, providing assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services in offices throughout the US. Ernst & Young member firms have 167,000 people worldwide who are united by its shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality.

WBENC is the leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, with over 11,000 WBENC-Certified WBEs. www.wbenc.org.

SOURCE Women's Business Enterprise National Council