Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Names Benita Fortner As Chair Of Board Of Directors

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) has named Benita Fortner, Director of Supplier Diversity for Raytheon Company, as Chair of the WBENC Board of Directors.  Fortner previously served as First Vice Chair to Laura Taylor, Vice President, Strategic Sourcing and Procurement Operations at Pitney Bowes Inc.  Taylor has served as WBENC Board Chair since 2011 and will continue to sit on the Board as Immediate Past Chair.

"Benita Fortner has been a tremendous partner to me over the last three years.  We at WBENC are proud and honored that she will bring her talent and deep experience to leading the Board," Taylor said.  

"Benita is an outstanding professional," added Pamela Prince-Eason, WBENC President and CEO and former Board Chair.  "I have enjoyed working with her in her many roles contributing greatly to the WBENC Board; and I am very excited that she will be our organization's Board Chair." 

Prior to her role as First Vice Chair, Fortner served as Chair, Member Services and Programs of the WBENC Board.  She has been involved in minority and women business outreach and development for more than 20 years, and has served in numerous leadership roles for business, government and educational organizations. 

Additionally, WBENC announced a new slate of officers for new terms ending December 2015. They are:

• Theresa Harrison, First Vice Chair of the WBENC Board. Harrison is Director of Supplier Diversity at Ernst & Young LLP. She previously served as Chair of Corporate Membership and Revenue Generation, and has served as Board Liaison with the WBENC Women's Enterprise Forum.
• Kim Brown, Second Vice Chair. Brown is Vice President, General Procurement and Supplier Diversity, Dell Inc., and previously served as Secretary to the WBENC Board.
• Debra Jennings-Johnson, Secretary. Jennings-Johnson is Director, Supplier Diversity at BP America. She was previously Second Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, is the Chair of the Ambassadors initiative, and has served as Chair of the Marketing Committee.
• Kathy Homeyer, Treasurer, continuing her prior role on the Board. Homeyer is Director, Supplier Diversity, UPS.

"WBENC is pleased to have such accomplished and passionate professionals leading our organization as we continue to grow and thrive," Taylor added.

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

SOURCE The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)