WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) today announced its annual listing of America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises, the only national award honoring corporations for world-class programs that create level playing fields for women's business enterprises (WBEs) to compete for corporate contracts.

"We are proud to honor 20 Top Corporations for their world-class leadership in partnering with women's business enterprises to sustain innovation in this country and fuel our economic growth," said Linda Denny, president and CEO of WBENC, the leading authority on and advocate for women's business enterprises (WBEs) as vendors and suppliers to the nation's leading corporations.  "These Top Corporations are deeply committed to supplier diversity programs that span their organizations and achieve measurable results."  

Top Corporations programs offer equal access and result in a high volume of business with women's business enterprises.  The 2010 Top Corporations for WBEs are:

The America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises Award presentation will take place on Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at the Women In Military Service For America Memorial in Arlington, VA.

The event will occur during WBENC's 2011 Summit & Salute to Women's Business Enterprise:  The Opportunity Connection, attracting over 1000 attendees and providing thought leadership and business development opportunities including the black tie celebration of 14 Women's Business Enterprise Stars, exemplary WBEs from across the country.

Energy Future Holdings (formerly TXU Corp), UPS, and AT&T(1), including its predecessor companies, have been recognized by WBENC every year since the award was created 12 years ago. Avis Budget Group, Inc. and Chevron, including their predecessor companies, have each won the award 11 times. PepsiCo, Inc. has won 10 times; and Shell Oil Company has won nine times. IBM Corporation has won eight times. Bank of America, Pfizer and Verizon have won seven times.  Exxon Mobil Corporation, Johnson & Johnson and The Coca-Cola Company have been on the list five times. Alcatel-Lucent has won four times.  Accenture, Dell and Manpower have been on the list three times. Ernst & Young celebrates its second year on the list.

WBENC also welcomes Kelly Services. Inc. in its first year as a Top Corporation.

"This expanding list demonstrates that best practices prevail in even the most challenging environments.  Our Top Corporations are the pillars of our economy by driving and standing behind their vital business partnerships with women's business enterprises," Denny said.

About WBENC: Founded in 1997, WBENC is also the nation's leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, with over 10,500 WBENC-certified WBEs.   www.wbenc.org.

(1)  AT&T Inc., formerly SBC Communications Inc., has won this award every year since its inception.  AT&T Corp, which was acquired by SBC in late 2005, also was a multiyear winner.  BellSouth Corporation, acquired by AT&T Inc. in late 2006, has also won the award in past years.

SOURCE Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

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