Women's Business Enterprise National Council Announces 2010 Women in Business National Conference and Business Fair: The Opportunity Connection in Baltimore June 22-24

WASHINGTON, March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 2,500 women business owners and corporations will convene in Baltimore, Maryland to fast track business contracts and bolster the economy at the Women's Business Enterprise National Council's (WBENC) 11th Annual Women in Business National Conference and Business Fair: The Opportunity Connection (WIB2010).  This is the largest event of its kind for Women's Business Enterprises (WBEs) in the nation, on June 22-24, 2010.

"In one concentrated event, Women's Business Enterprises and corporations can access strategies and spark the connections that lead to opportunities for substantive, sustainable partnerships and new contracts," said Linda Denny, president and CEO of WBENC, the leading advocate for, and authority on, women's business enterprises as suppliers to the world's major corporations.  "That is why this year's theme is The Opportunity Connection. We bring buyers and suppliers together in a face-to-face forum that fosters business development and provides astute guidance on the national and global trends driving profitability."

WBENC is the only organization bringing corporations and Women's Business Enterprises together with the goal of generating business partnerships for its nearly 10,000 WBENC Certified WBEs and its more than 250 Corporate Members, representing many of the world's most prestigious brands.  WBENC's 14 Regional Partner Organizations (RPOs) deliver WBENC's gold standard of certification as well as skills-building and business-generating events throughout the U.S. 

"As the Host Council we invite women's businesses to experience The Opportunity Connection first hand and see why certification is the gateway to corporate contacts," said Liz Cullen, Executive Director, Women Presidents' Educational Organization-DC.  "Exemplifying this success is our Host Committee comprised of 13 WBENC-certified WBEs whose innovative and strategic business models enable them to thrive in today's economy," she added. The East Coast Host Committee members are certified through the Women Presidents' Educational Organization with headquarters in New York, NY and Washington, DC. 

Through its combined territories, WPEO provides full service third party certification to women entrepreneurs in Washington, DC; Maryland, and Virginia, as well as New York, Northern New Jersey (including Princeton and points North), and Southern Connecticut. 

WBENC's benefits are gaining global momentum as its certification – relied upon by major corporations in surfacing quality women's businesses – is being replicated around the world.  Women's Business Enterprises certified by WEConnect Europe, WEConnect Canada, WEConnect India and WEConnect China are expected to attend the Conference and Business Fair to explore cross-border collaborations with WBEs and corporate attendees.

"The impact of our work is growing geometrically.  Our multinational corporate members are eager to identify sophisticated women's business enterprises that can deliver exceptional products and services," Denny added.

Powerful role models will set an inspirational tone at Women in Business 2010: The Opportunity Connection.  Sheila Johnson, visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist, CEO of the award-winning luxury properties company Salamander Hospitality, LLC, will keynote at the Kickoff Luncheon on Tuesday, June 22. As President & Managing Partner of the Women's National Basketball Association's Washington Mystics, and a partner in Lincoln Holdings, LLC, Ms. Johnson is the first African-American woman to have a stake in three professional sports teams, including the Washington Wizards (National Basketball Association) and the Washington Capitals (National Hockey League). She is Global Ambassador for CARE, the humanitarian organization fighting global poverty by empowering women.

More than 350 exhibitors, including procurement decision makers from the Fortune 500, are expected to participate in the Business Fair on June 23 held at The Baltimore Convention Center.  Conference activities will take place at the Hilton Baltimore.  For more information and to register for WIB2010, visit the event website at http://www.wbenc.org/wib2010/.

As of March 1, sponsors of WBENC's :  Co-Chairs: Johnson & Johnson and Omega World Travel. Sponsors: A10 Clinical Solutions, Inc., Accel Inc., Accenture, Aflac, Alcatel-Lucent, Altria Group, Inc., Archer Daniels Midland Company, Avis Budget Group, Bank of America, BP America, Candice Bennett & Associates, Inc., Chevron, Chrysler LLC, Cleaners of America, Connex International, Dell, Inc., Energy Future Holdings, Exhibit Edge Inc., Exxon Mobil Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Freddie Mac, General Motors Corporation, Hollister Construction Company, HR Anew, IBM, ICON Information Consultants, LP, J.C. Penney Company, Inc. , Kelly Mitchell Group, Inc., Kraft Foods, Leslie Saunders Insurance Agency, Inc., LiveHealthier, Macy's, Manpower Inc., MasterCard Worldwide, Meadows Office Furniture Co., Microsoft, MKAssociates, Inc., NTSG, Inc., Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Path Forward International, PepsiCo, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Pitney Bowes Inc., Raytheon Company, Shell Oil Company, Smead Manufacturing Company, Staples, Inc., Strategic Staffing Solutions, Target, TCIM Services, Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, The Event Planning Group, LLC, The Home Depot, Timeless Frames, Décor & Expressions, Tom Sawyer Company, Trans-Expedite Inc., United, UPS, Verizon, W.W. Grainger, Inc., Wells Fargo, Zorch.

Media sponsors are Women's Enterprise USA, MBN USA, Enterprising Women, Diversity Plus, MBE Magazine, Professional Woman's Magazine, Hispanic Network Magazine, Black EOE Journal, PINK Magazine, DiversityCareers, Minorities and Women in Business, Women's Radio, and Worklife Matters and Veracle Media.

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

SOURCE Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)