Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Announces New List of 2011 America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) today announced its 13th annual listing of America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises, the only national award honoring corporations for world class programs that level the playing field for women's business enterprises (WBEs) to compete for corporate business.  This year WBENC recognizes 29 corporations for developing and driving innovative best practices across their organizations that result in productive business partnerships with women entrepreneurs and valuable products and services for their customers.

The 2011 list is reflective of the progress honorees, working together with WBENC, have achieved in advancing the success of WBEs in doing business with corporations and government entities. 

"Thanks to the extraordinary leadership of our Top Corporations, and the commitment of all our member companies, we have created tremendous opportunities for WBEs in the public and the private sectors.  This work, in turn, fuels a stronger economy as WBEs add jobs and contribute to their communities," said Pamela Prince-Eason, President and CEO of WBENC, the leading authority on and advocate for WBEs as suppliers to the nation's leading corporations and government entities. 

"Our Top Corporations know that women's businesses drive innovation and competitiveness in today's marketplace.  That's why they are deeply committed to strategic business development programs that span their organizations and achieve measurable results," Prince-Eason added.

Founded in 1997 and celebrating its 15th anniversary, WBENC is honored to recognize the companies that make up the list of its 2011 Top Corporations for Women Business Enterprises:

Accenture
Alcatel-Lucent
Avis Budget Group
AT&T
BP America
Bank of America
Chevron
The Coca-Cola Company
Dell, Inc.
Energy Future Holdings
Ernst & Young LLP
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Ford Motor Company
IBM Corporation
Johnson & Johnson
Kelly Services, Inc.
ManpowerGroup
Marriott International, Inc.
Office Depot
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
PepsiCo, Inc.
Pfizer Inc
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Shell Oil Company
Staples, Inc.
Target Corporation
United Airlines, Inc.
UPS
Verizon

The America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises Award presentation will take place at the Landmark Theatre in Baltimore, MD on Thursday, March 22, 2012. The event will occur during WBENC's 2012 Summit & Salute to Women's Business Enterprise.  The Summit program features thought leadership and business development opportunities, and the black tie Salute celebrates 14 Women's Business Enterprise Stars, exemplary WBEs from across the country.

Energy Future Holdings (formerly TXU Corp.), UPS, and AT&T[1], including all predecessor companies, have been recognized by WBENC every year since the award was created 13 years ago.  Avis Budget Group and Chevron, including all predecessor companies, have each won the award 12 times.  PepsiCo, Inc. has won 11 times. Bank of America, Office Depot and Shell Oil Company have won 10 times.  IBM Corporation has won nine times.  Pfizer and Verizon have won eight times.  Exxon Mobil Corporation, Johnson & Johnson and The Coca-Cola Company have been on the list six times.  Alcatel-Lucent has won five times.  Accenture; Dell, Inc., and ManpowerGroup have been on the list four times.  Ernst & Young LLP celebrates its third year on the list.  Kelly Services, Inc. and Marriott International, Inc. have won two times.

WBENC also welcomes BP America; Ford Motor Company; Pitney Bowes Inc.; Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Staples, Inc.; Target Corporation, and United Airlines, Inc. to the list of WBENC's Top Corporations for WBEs.

For more information, please go to 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)