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25th Anniversary
Celebration
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At A Glance
Speakers
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Exhibitors
Welcome
WBDC Announces New 25th Anniversary Logo
As we move into our 25th Anniversary year, we'’re excited to announce our new 25th Anniversary logo and brand, developed through the generous donation of services from Fleishman Hillard. We extend our sincere thanks to Maxine Winer, senior partner and general manager, and Bill Utter, senior vice president and partner, at Fleishman Hillard.
The 25th Anniversary logo gives the WBDC a fresh new look. Embedded within the number 25 is an equal sign, a symbol of our commitment to advocating and working for an equal society where women and minority-owned businesses have equal chances to succeed.
As we celebrate the amazing work that has been done in the past 25 years, we’'re reminded that “progress is only the beginning” and there is still much to be done.
You’'ll be seeing our new logo throughout the year as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary, and we hope you’ will join us, as ambassadors for the WBDC, in sharing our vision for economic empowerment through business ownership.
It is our pleasure to invite you and your colleagues to the 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference, Women's Business & Buyers Mart, the oldest conference and business opportunities fair for women in business in the country, and the premier event for women business owners in the Midwest.
This year's conference and the 25th anniversary celebration will be held September 14, 2011 at McCormick Place-West in Chicago.
This year's conference offers women business owners solutions to the current problems they are facing and the opportunity to increase the profitability of their businesses by building relationships with corporate and government buyers, business experts, and other women business owners.
We encourage you to attend this year's event and participate in the opportunities that our staff and sponsors have made available to you. Please continue to visit our conference website for updates as we get closer to September.
S. Carol Dougal and Hedy M. Ratner
Co-Founders and Co-Presidents
Women's Business Development Center (WBDC)
25th Anniversary Celebration
On March 29, 2011, the WBDC held its 25th Anniversary Kickoff Reception at the Chicago Cultural Center, and unveiled its new 25th Anniversary logo.
This year we celebrate the amazing work of the WBDC team in assisting over 65,000 women attain economic independence through business ownership; the expansion of the WBDC to a nine-state Midwestern region; and the progress women have made politically, economically and in business success over the past 25 years. We also share our vision for the future and look forward to planning for the next 25 years.
The reception debuted the WBDC's HERstory display, a tribute to over 25 successful women business owners and longtime WBDC clients, as well as, memorable moments in the WBDC's history. Attendees enjoyed hors d'oeuvres by certified WBE caterer Limelight Catering and a dessert buffet provided by women-owned businesses Sarah's Pastries and Candies, Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique and Sweet Cheeks Cakes and Pastries. Other certified WBE contributors included Overture Premiums and Promotions, Desert Rose Design, Consolidated Printing and J&J Exhibitors Service.
The festivities included remarks from former Illinois governor James R. Thompson, the founding funder of the WBDC; Judith Roussel, Illinois district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration; Cristal Thomas, Illinois deputy governor; Kurt Summers, chief of staff to Cook County board president; John P. Daley, Cook County commissioner; Deborah Sawyer, founder and CEO of Environmental Design International representing the award winning WBE clients of the WBDC; Debra Jennings-Johnson, director of supplier diversity at BP America and WBDC board chair; and WBDC co-founders and co-presidents Hedy Ratner and Carol Dougal.
The WBDC is especially grateful to our 25th Anniversary Marquee Sponsors BP America, Harris and Keurig, and to our WBE Marquee Sponsors INTREN and Smead Manufacturing Co.
We hope you will join us at the 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference for our final anniversary celebration.
25th Anniversary Women's Forum Breakfast
Maxine Clark
Panelist
Terry Savage
Moderator
Leylani Cardoso
Lynn Tilton
HOW DO I REGISTER?
WBE Registration: WBEs must complete the Request for Appointment form no later than August 12, 2011.
WBENCLink profiles for registered companies will be sent to the participating corporate and government entities, who will then determine which WBEs they would like to invite to one-on-one meetings. WBEs should check their company descriptions in WBENCLink to ensure that their business description is easy to understand and that all information is accurate.
We welcome ALL WBENC Certified WBEs to participate in this business opportunities program!
If you are selected for an appointment you must also register to attend the Conference. Please pay close attention to the WBDC-Chicago refund policy on the registration page. No registration payments will be refunded if a WBE does not receive an invitation to participate in a Contract Connections meeting.
Corporations and Government Agencies - Corporations and Government Agencies that are interested in participating by bringing one or more purchasing decision-makers to the conference should contact Cynthia Johnson at cjohnson_wbdc.org for more information.
WBE No-Show Policy: In the event that you do not show-up for a scheduled appointment you and your company will not be allowed to participate in any Contract Connections programs set-up by the Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) until October 2012.
MEDIA
SPONSORS
($10,000 and Up)
Black EOE Journal
CATALINA
Enterprising Women
Hispanic Network
Latino Social
MBE
Minorities and Women In Business
Minority Business News USA (MBN USA)
Professional Womans
Todays Chicago Woman (TCW)
Womens Enterprise Magazine (WE USA)
Women's Radio*
Click herefor 2011 EWC Corporate & Government Sponsorship Opportunities
Click here for 2011 WBE Sponsorship Opportunities
The Womens Business Development Center (WBDC) extends their gratitude to all of the current and past sponsors of the Entrepreneurial Womans Conference, for without their commitment, consistent generosity and support this annual event would not be possible.
Sponsorships for this event are available for corporations, government agencies and WBENC certified WBEs. Please see the appropriate forms above for a list of current opportunities.
The WBDC is proud to announce the early commitment of the following 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Womans Conference sponsors:
WBE
($5,000-$10,000)
Consolidated Printing Company
Desert Rose Design
Futura Marketing Inc.
J&J Exhibitors Service, Inc.
Overture Premiums & Promotions LLC
Zorch International, Inc.
PREMIER
($25,000-$29,000)
Allstate
CDW
Citi
ComEd
The Nielsen Company
OfficeMax
Target Corporation
U.S. Bank
United Airlines -
The Official Carrier of the WBDC
W.W. Graigner, Inc.
($10,000-$24,000)
National Van Lines, Inc.
($50,000 and Up)
Chicago Sun-Times
Comcast
Crains Chicago Business
NBC5 Chicago
Pioneer Press
WVON Radio
Keurig, Inc.
MARQUEE
BP America, Inc.
Harris N.A.
MAJOR
($15,000-$19,000)
Bank of America
Fleishman Hillard
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
M&I Bank
Office Depot
RubinBrown
Southwest Airlines Co.
UPS
U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Small Business Administration
($25,000 and Up)
INTREN, Inc.
Smead Manufacturing Co
Exhibitors Info
25th Anniversary Women's Business & Buyers Mart
Download the 2011 Exhibitor
Service Manual
It also provides every woman business owner, from start-up to established, with top-notch business resources to help ensure her business is as efficient and productive as it can be.
For the past two decades, the Mart has helped successfully establish business relationships between women-owned businesses and the purchasing departments of major corporations and government agencies.
Download 2011 Exhibitors List
Download 2011 WBDC Buyers Mart Floorplan
The Women's Business & Buyers Mart is the tradeshow element of the Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference, and serves as a one-stop shop for women entrepreneurs in every stage of business.
The Mart provides an opportunity for the established woman business owner to enhance the profitability of her business by establishing relationships with corporate and government buyers, and with other entrepreneurs.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
McCormick Place-West, Chicago
7:30 a.m.
Registration Opens (outside Skyline Ballroom)
8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
25th Anniversary Womens Forum Breakfast (Skyline Ballroom A-C)
9:30 - 11:45 a.m.
Women's Business & Buyers Mart (Skyline Ballroom D&E)
9:45 - 11:45 a.m.
Contract Connections (Skyline Ballroom D&E)
*By appointment only
From Dream to Reality: Launching Your Own Business
*Workshop for start-ups (Breakout Room 180)
10:00 & 11:00am
The State of Women-Owned Firms in the US
Skyline Ballroom D&E
Noon - 1:45 p.m.
25th Anniversary Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon (Skyline Ballroom A-C)
1:45 - 5:00 p.m.
2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Ask the Experts: Solutions for Your Business
*For business owners of all levels (Breakout Room 179)
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
WBDC 25th Anniversary Celebration
(Skyline Ballroom Terrace)
Regional Workshop for WBEs Prior to Event
The WBDC-Chicago will again host a workshop for all certified WBEs prior to the September Conference in each of its 4 major markets: Chicago; St. Louis, MO; Milwaukee, WI; and Minneapolis, MN. For more information, click here.
Regional Workshop for WBEs Prior to the Conference
Government Contracting: What WBEs Need to Know to be Successful
(for WBEs and established business owners)
Dates and Locations:
August 9, 2011 - Register Now
St. Louis, MO - host sponsors Ameren and Saint Louis University, in partnership with RubinBrown LLP
August 10, 2011 - Register Now
Milwaukee, WI - host sponsor Harley-Davidson Motor Company
August 11, 2011 - Register Now
Chicago, IL - host sponsor PepsiCo, Inc.
August 24, 2011 - Register Now
Minneapolis, MN - host sponsor Target Corp.
Are you a WBE seeking to do business within the public-sector? Government agencies and their prime corporate contractors are federally mandated to meet a 5% (of $540 billion) spending goal with women-owned small businesses (WOSB). In October 2010, the law was strengthened to allow contracting officers to set-aside contracts where only WOSBs can compete.
At this 3-hour session, established WBEs will hear from noted government contracting expert and author, Gloria Larkin, about the benefits of the SBA Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) contracting program, and learn how to:
•Leverage the WOSB program to improve, elevate and enhance their companys perceived benefits to contracting officers and corporate buyers;
•Locate viable direct and indirect contract opportunities; and,
•Maximize their competitive position and business by effectively connecting and getting to the decision maker, and successfully building the relationship.
We hope you will join us for this informative and impactful session. For more information on facilitator Gloria Larkin, please visit www.TargetGov.com.
All certified WBEs headquartered in our around these locations will receive additional information via email on each event 3-4 weeks prior to set date with details on registering.
Program facilitator
Gloria Larkin
President, TargetGov at Marketing Outsource Associates, Inc.
The Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) is a recognized leader in the development of innovative and affective programs that serve all stages of business owners. The same standards used to create the workshops presented year-round in our Center and throughout our nine-state Midwestern Region have been used to create the workshops presented at our annual Conference.
The WBDC-Chicago will again host a workshop for all certified WBEs prior to the September Conference in each of its 4 major markets: Chicago; St. Louis, MO; Milwaukee, WI; and Minneapolis, MN. All certified WBEs headquartered in our around these locations will receive additional information on each event 3-4 weeks prior to set date.
Please click herefor details and to register.
From Dream to Reality: Launching Your Own Business (For start-ups)
Sponsored by The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
9:45 - 11:45 a.m. Breakout Room 180
Do you have a great business idea, but you're not sure how to turn that dream into reality? Be part of a lively discussion with those on the frontlines - other women who have started their own businesses and the professionals who helped them get there. Hear how they secured financing, how their businesses evolved, how they learned to balance their personal and professional lives, and how they knew when to change. This stimulating, interactive session will provide you with the tools, information and guidance you need to launch a successful business.
Contract Connections
9:45 - 11:45 a.m. & 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Located inside the Women's Business & Buyers Mart Skyline Ballroom D & E, McCormick Place-West
The Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) is thrilled to be presenting the 9th Annual Contract Connections program at this year's Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference. The purpose of this program is to establish connections between certified Women's Business Enterprises (WBEs) and purchasing decision-makers from corporations and government agencies seeking suppliers for specific opportunities. Eligible WBEs will be pre-selected by the participating corporate and government entities for one-on-one meetings that will take place throughout the conference. Last year, over 200 meetings took place.
Contract Connections meetings are driven by the needs of participating corporations and government agencies, and not by the WBDC-Chicago. There is no guarantee that a WBE will be invited to participate in a meeting. Meetings will not be announced until August 26, 2011.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Contract Connections Eligibility Requirements for WBEs: In order to apply for a 2011 Corporate Connections meeting, your company must be a current WBENC certified WBE through any of WBENC's 14 Regional Partner Organizations. WBEs must also be registered for the 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Womans Conference before applying for a meeting. Please note, only WBEs that meet these Eligibility Requirements will be considered for Corporate Connections meetings; please also see our no-show policy.
For registration information, please click here.
General Info and Travel
This year's Conference will take place on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at Chicago's McCormick Place-West.
Tickets are $225 for women business owners and $250 for all others on or before August 31, 2011; after August 31, 2011, tickets become $300 for everyone, in advance and at the door.
This fee includes access to all conference events including the 25th Anniversary Celebration, all conference meals, and the Mart. Individual tickets may also be purchased for the 25th Anniversary Celebration, Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon, Women's Business & Buyers Mart, and the Women's Forum Breakfast and are $125 each for everyone.
As the Official Hotel of this year's Conference, the Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel, 636 S. Michigan Avenue, is offering a special rate of $239 for attendees. September is one of the busiest convention months in Chicago; room rates are high and rooms downtown go fast.
We encourage you to call early to reserve a room. The deadline for this special rate is August 30, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. or until the room block is full; please note, there are a limited number of rooms available at this rate and they will be given on a first come, first served basis. To book your reservation online, please click here or to book by phone call 866-508-0261 to make your reservation, and be sure to mention that you are with the "25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference" or the "Women's Business Development Center" to receive this special rate. Please visit www.marriott.com to view this beautiful property.
Transportation to and from the Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel and McCormick Place-West will be provided the day of the event. The shuttle will run on 15-20 minute intervals. Please follow the directional signs at the Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel and McCormick Place-West to be directed to the shuttles. >>> MORE
Contact Information
For general information and questions regarding registration for this year's Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference, please call 312-853-3477 ext. 240. Someone will return your call within 48 hours.
For questions about becoming a sponsor; purchasing an exhibit booth; purchasing a breakfast or luncheon table; speaking at, donating to and/or becoming a partner of this year's event, please contact Mia Delano at 312-853-3477 ext. 450 or mdelano_wbdc.org
If you are already a registered exhibitor and have questions regarding your exhibit booth set-up at the Women's Business & Buyers Mart please contact J&J Exhibitors Service at 312-225-3323.
For press inquiries please contact Chris Ruys Communications at 312-337-7746 or tammy_chrisruys.com
25th Anniversary Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon
The WBDC Applauds the 25th Anniversary Hall of Fame Award Recipients
25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year
Sharon Hoffman Avent
President & CEO, Smead Manufacturing Company
25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year - WBE Success
Marilyn Jones
Founder & President, Consolidated Printing Company
25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year Rising Star
Teresa Ging
Founder & President, Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique, Inc.
25th Anniversary Advocacy Award
25th Anniversary Corporate Support Award
The Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) extends their gratitude to all of the current and past sponsors of the Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference, for without their commitment, consistent generosity and support this annual event would not be possible.
Sponsors listed are those committed by August 22, 2011
General Info and Travel cont.
Parking is available at McCormick Place - West. Please follow the signs to Lot A parking; garage level 4 is equal to building level 3 which is where our event is located. At this time, there are no discounts on parking.
A complimentary coat and luggage check will be available for your use at the event; this will be located by registration outside of the Skyline Ballroom.
Upon your arrival at McCormick Place - West, please check-in at Registration, located just outside of the Skyline Ballroom, where you will receive your registration packet, including your name badge, meal tickets and Conference materials. All online Registrants will check-in at the Pre-Registered counters, which will be alphabetical by your last name.
Registration will open at 7:30 a.m. on September 14, 2011.
All facilities are handicapped accessible.
2011 Forum Moderator: Terry Savage
Chicago Sun-Times Financial Columnist and Best-Selling Author of The Savage Truth on Money
President, Terry Savage Productions, Ltd.
Terry Savage is a nationally recognized, award-winning financial authority, television personality and the author of best-selling books on personal finance. Her most recent book, The Savage Number: How Much Money Do You Need to Retire?, hit the top 20 list on Amazon.com and has received praise from investment gurus like James Cramer, Jim Rogers, and Bob Brinker.
Terry is the nationally syndicated personal finance columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. She also writes weekly for theStreet.com, and is a regular commentator on CNN, CNBC, PBS and NBC on issues related to investing and financial markets. You can read her columns and post questions on her blog at www.TerrySavage.com. Terrys financial expertise comes from experience.
A founding member and the first woman trader on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Terry is also the president of her own company, Terry Savage Productions, Ltd.
2011 Forum Panelist
Cathy Hughes
Founder and Chairperson
Radio One, Inc.
Cathy Hughes is the founder and Chairperson of Radio One, Inc., the largest African American owned and operated broadcast-company in the nation, and the first African American company in radio history to dominate several major markets simultaneously and possesses the first woman-owned radio station to rank #1 in any major market. Now a public company, Hughes is also the first, and only, African American woman to chair a publicly held corporation.
Radio One is the parent corporation of TV One, a partnership with Comcast, and Syndication One, the media home of Rev. Al Sharpton, Yolanda Adams, and Russ Parr, to name a few; Reach Media, the home of the Tom Joyner Morning Show; Music One, the home of Harpist Jeff Majors; Interactive One, the home of Black Planet, NewsOne and Hello Beautiful; and, Distribution One where CDs and DVDs are marketed.
Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Bear
Build-A-Bear Workshop®
Maxine Clark is one of the true innovators in the retail industry. During her 35+-year career, her ability to spot emerging retail and merchandising trends and her insight into the desires of the American consumer have generated growth for retail leaders, including department store, discount and specialty stores.
In 1997, she founded Build-A-Bear Workshop®, a teddy-bear themed retail-entertainment experience. Today there are more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, Mexico and the Middle East. The company extends its in-store interactive experience online with its award winning virtual world at bearville.com®.
Founder, CEO and Principal
Patriarch Partners, LLC
Lynn Tilton is Chief Executive Officer and Principal of Patriarch Partners, LLC, a private equity firm and holding company managing 75 companies with annual revenues of more than $8 billion. A passionate proponent of saving American manufacturing jobs by saving American companies, Tilton has bought more than 150 companies since 2000, many of which were on the brink of closure or liquidation, and in so doing has saved over 250,000 jobs.
Tilton's portfolio includes such brands as Dura Automotive, American LaFrance, MD Helicopters, Rand McNally, and Stila Cosmetics among many others. Under her leadership, Patriarch has become the largest woman-owned business in America with over 120,000 employees, and a growing number of these companies are also WBENC Certified WBEs.
Tilton's career spans 30 years and encompasses private equity, operational turnarounds, distressed asset management, financial engineering, and senior management. In addition to her role at Patriarch, Tilton currently serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MD Helicopters Inc., a leading manufacturer of commercial and military aircraft. Prior to founding Patriarch Partners, Tilton held positions at Morgan Stanley, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Oppenheimer and Merrill Lynch.
Founder and President, Bolzano Handbags
Vice President, Duty Free World International
Leylani Cardoso is a savvy businesswoman, WBENC certified WBE, designer, international powerhouse and a mother of two. Along with her mother and business partner Mayra Del Valle, a Cuban native, Cardoso founded Duty Free World International, a leader in in-flight travel retail with 30 locations around the world, and wasted no time turning her business into a multimillion dollar company before hitting the five-year mark.
After more than a decade working with every major retail brand in the international retail business, Cardoso saw a void in the handbag industry. And, in 2002, she launched her own, international luxury handbag and accessories line, Bolzano Handbags, drawing on her international business acumen, practical needs and her talent for design. Bolzano is an international luxury handbags and accessories line, and Duty Free World currently has 30 locations around the world and is a leader in in-flight, travel retail working directly with the airlines.
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