If you missed the 8th Annual Women’s Business Round-Up Trade Fair in April, you missed a once-a-year opportunity to market your business and make connections with hundreds of businesses committed to the utilization of WBEs. This event has a reputation for initiating and fostering quality business relationships. As one of the longest running trade fairs for women-owned businesses in the country, the Women’s Business Round-Up saw many new corporations attending this year. Corporate supplier diversity initiatives are growing along with a movement to ensure that prime suppliers to major corporations are also committed to the utilization of women-owned businesses.
Speaking of excellent events for marketing your business, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is holding its national conference and trade fair in less than a month on June 23-26 in New York City. With over 250 exhibitors, it is a great opportunity to meet with buyers and supplier diversity personnel of major corporations throughout the nation. All members of WBCS who register to attend or exhibit at the trade fair in New York will be entered into a drawing to receive a full registration or Distinctive Breakfast Sponsorship at next year’s Women’s Business Round-Up Trade Fair. So mark your calendars now and make sure you don’t miss next year’s Round-Up on April 14-15, 2004.
The increase in Sustaining Membership in the Council this year is one more indication of the growing interest among corporations in doing business with women owned firms.
Seven new members thus far this year have gotten active in the Council quickly and several are already reporting business with our WBE members. Please help welcome Wyndham International, H.E.Butt Grocery, UBS Paine Webber, Merrill Lynch, Baker Hughes, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Express Personnel Services to full Sustaining Membership in the Council.
I am also very pleased to report that the WBCS is organizing a steering committee in Austin that will provide input into programming in the Austin area. We are holding an outreach event in Austin on July 24th to begin facilitating business connections between corporate and WBE members there. Sponsoring corporations, Merrill Lynch, Guaranty Bank, and LCRA will provide information on how to do business with their corporations.
It looks like summer can be the best time to grow your business with all the opportunities available within the Council. From New York City to Austin to Dallas/Ft. Worth, there is a lot coming up. Get all the details in this issue of Mind Your Business and at the council website, www.wbcsouthwest.org.
