The Women’s Business Council – Southwest includes the word Southwest for a reason. We are a regional Council with a growing membership throughout our four state region. I want to share the news about our regional activities and acknowledge the fine contributions from our members outside of the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex.
Our WBE membership in Austin has grown by 68% during the past year largely due to the outstanding work of our Austin Steering Committee headed up by WBE members Libbey Scheible with INOSS and Carol Williams of Trendsetter Electronics. They have established quarterly TOP TEN Networking meetings in Austin which provide an excellent opportunity for WBE and corporate members to network and pursue business relationships. Their outreach and collaboration with other organizations in the community have resulted in a growing network of support and education that brings added value for the members in Austin and is serving as a model for other cities throughout our region.
The WBCS will be holding a “Direction of Success” Luncheon in Tulsa on September 14th sponsored by sustaining members American Airlines and Valor Telecom. We will provide valuable information on how to maximize your certification and Council membership while hearing from our sponsors about their commitment and process for doing business with WBEs. WBE member, Tamara Walden with Walden Energy is helping to organize the meeting with a plan toward launching a Tulsa steering committee for ongoing programming.
Arkansas member Virginia Paxton of Clever Gifts has been a longstanding member of the WBCS certification committee, doing site visits in Arkansas and marketing the benefits of WBCS membership to women business owners throughout the state. She is currently helping to plan a “Direction of Success” luncheon in Arkansas in early October. Another active Arkansas member, Stone Ward, provides PR consultation and website design services for WBCS and has done a great job helping us “get the word out” about the Council. And I am very proud to announce that we have two new Sustaining Members from Arkansas: Tyson Foods, Inc. and Alltel. We welcome their participation and commitment to doing business with WBEs.
Many of our regional members participate in the Council’s major events held in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex. In addition, I encourage each of you to help us identify how we can bring added value to you on a local basis as the WBCS continues to advance Women Business Enterprises throughout north Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
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