This year Suzanne Pease, VP Corporate & Economic Development, and the CED Council have put a major effort into identifying, researching and negotiating Affinity Agreements with companies that offer members financial member discounts or benefits.

The National Women Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC), a NAWBO sister organization and creator of the first national certification program for women business owners, has launched an online e-procurement site called the NWBOC Marketplace at http://nwboc.economicengine.com . The NWBOC Marketplace is designed to create new opportunities for women business owners and streamline the process of doing business with corporate America. By using the online service, women-owned enterprises will have access to corporations and government agencies seeking vendors across a wide range of industries.

NAWBO is beginning a big-picture 5-year strategic planning effort chaired by Immediate Past President Barbara G. Stanbridge. This strategic planning process is being designed with multiple levels of participation for all NAWBO stakeholders. There will be opportunities for members, chapters, regions, corporate partners, sister organizations and other interested parties to participate in the strategic planning process.