WBENC Presents Crystal Leadership Award to Energy Future Holdings President and CEO John Young

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) presented John F. Young, president and CEO of Energy Future Holdings (EFH), with the prestigious Crystal Leadership Award at its 2012 Salute to Women's Business Enterprises, a gathering of more than 1,200 major corporations, government entities and women's businesses, that took place in Baltimore.

WBENC President and CEO Pamela Prince-Eason awarded Young the honor for his vital role in driving best practices to advance women's business opportunities from the top of the organization throughout the EFH network. 

"John Young is a pillar of commitment to women's businesses," she said. "He has mobilized a talented advisory team of experts and innovators at EFH that have created opportunities for women entrepreneurs to contribute with valuable products and services." 

Young spearheaded a bold system for top-down commitment to doing business with women. For two full years, EFH's corporate advisory board – appointed and chaired by Young – has placed full accountability for women's business enterprise inclusion and success where the opportunity lies: in the businesses themselves. 

Cheryl Stevens, EFH's vice president of supplier diversity, who presents on a regular basis to the advisory council and the EFH board of directors, is Immediate Past Chair of the WBENC Board.  

"Cheryl Stevens is an eminently respected leader, who has guided our organization over many years and continues to be at the forefront of advancing opportunities for women's businesses in the marketplace," said Laura Taylor, WBENC board chair. 

WBENC honored EFH for its exemplary support of WBEs earlier that day at the Awards Ceremony for the 2011 America's Top Corporation for Women's Business Enterprises, which EFH has won for 13 years.  Speaking on an expert panel, Young reinforced EFH's continued commitment to women's business success.

In thanking the Top Corporations at that event, Taylor said, "It is your commitment that opens the doors to WBEs, your thought leadership that enables their growth, and your participation in WBENC that enables us to make the strides we do."

WBENC is the leading advocate for and authority on women's businesses as suppliers to the nation's corporations and government agencies.  www.wbenc.org

SOURCE Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)