Womens Business Enterprise Council South

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• Womens Business Enterprise Council South

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General Information

• Incorporated October 1994
• 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
• Regional Partner Organization of the Womens
  Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
• Service area includes LA, MS, AL, FL Panhandle
  
• Governed by By-Laws and a 19-member board

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Stats

• 26 Corporate Members
• Oil Gas Energy Legal Insurance Gaming
  Financial Sports Electronics Other
  Services
• 315 Certified WBEs
• 61 Louisiana
• 27 Alabama
• 10 Mississippi
• 2 Florida Panhandle
• 3 Staff Members

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About WBENC

• Premiere 3rd party certifier of businesses
  owned, managed, operated, and controlled by women
• 13 Regional Partner Organizations (RPOs) provide
  certification in US and territories
• Over 7500 certified WBEs
• Certification of choice for Corporate America

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Benefits of Certification

• Nationally recognized and accepted WBE
  certification
• Listed on WBENCLink, the national database
  accessed by corporate partners and other WBEs
• Invited to all regional events, seminars, and
  luncheons to meet and network with local
  corporate reps and WBEs
• Eligible to exhibit at regional national expos
• Eligible to participate in MatchMakers at
  national conference

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Certification Criteria

• 51 ownership by a woman or women
• Management Control
• Contribution of Capital and/or Expertise
• Independence
• US Citizen or Legal Resident Alien

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CertificationProcess

• Fill out an online application at www.wbenc.org
• Set up username and password
• Mail application, supporting documentation
  processing fee to WBEC South office
• Completed file goes to Certification Committee
  for review
• Site visit is conducted within 30 days generally
• Final determination is made

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CertificationProcess cont.

• Designed to be intrusive. We want to weed out
  those companies that are not truly woman-owned,
  operated, managed and independently controlled
• Committee members are trained by WBENC
• Everyone signs confidentiality disclosure
  statements
• Certification is valid for one year
• Site visits are conducted every 3 years

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Events

• 4 major annual events
• Womens Business Opportunity Expo
• April 2008 Birmingham, AL
• April 22 23, 2009 Jackson, MS
• Silent Auction
• September 17, 2009 New Orleans (Garden District
  Home)
• Lafayette Holiday Gala
• November 19, 2009 Lafayette (City Club at
  River Ranch)
• Holiday Luncheon
• December 17, 2009 New Orleans (Loews Hotel)

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Events cont.

• Regional Events
• We hold regional events throughout the entire
  territory.
• New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Huntsville,
  Birmingham, Tupelo, Jackson, and Mobile
• Topics have included
• Linking Business with Government
• Your Business and the Current Economy
• Mistakes to Avoid in Business
• Partner with LAMBC SRMBC in events

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Website

• New website launched June 1, 2008!
• www.wbecsouth.org
• Information on events, certification procedures,
  and web based resources.
• Includes success stories, WBE spotlight,
  testimonials, and business opportunities.

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Newsletter

• Electronic Newsletter
• Provides information on
• Major upcoming events
• WBENCLink Training
• Done Deals
• WBE successes and press releases

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Done DealsTM

• The purpose of the Done Deals Program is to
  provide recognition and acknowledgment of
  business being conducted between members.
• A contract must be executed between two parties.
• At least one must be a member of the local
  Council or partner organization both must be
  WBENC members.
• Report Done Deals on our website or via
  phone/email.

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Contact Us

• WBEC South
• 400 Poydras Street
• Suite 1790
• New Orleans, LA 70130
• 504.680.1886 O 504.680.6412 F
• www.wbecsouth.org

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Staff

• Blanca E. Robinson President
• 504.680.1886 or blanca_at_wbecsouth.org
• Evelyn King Director of Certification
• 504.680.6497 or evelyn_at_wbecsouth.org
• Jennifer R. Rezvan Business Development Asst.
• 504-680.6473 or jennifer_at_wbecsouth.org

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Site VisitReviewer

• Debbie Barber
• 615-532-4916 or debbie.barber_at_tennessee.edu