WBES luanches in Northwest Arkansas
By Janie Clark
The Women's Business Council Southwest is looking to Northwest Arkansas businesswomen to link their power to potential. The launch to include NWA has begun. Several area businesses, including Walmart, Tyson Foods, and the Bentonville / Bella Vista Chamber have hosted luncheons to introduce the WBCS to local women-owned businesses.
"For certification as a WBE, a business must be at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by women," explains Nancy Readel, vice president at WBCS.
The focus of the organization, based in Arlington, Texas, is to administrate Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certification. The organization handles Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. According to Readel, there are about 1,000 women-owned businesses and corporations throughout the region. Arkansas has but a few who are certified.
The application is not to be taken lightly, says Sharon Garman, COO of The Roark Group in Rogers, Ark. The documentation to apply took her nearly nine months to complete. Her corporation now has been certified for several years.
"I can't say what we've received in actual dollars from our certification," Garman told a group recently at NWACC's Shewmaker Center for Global Business Development. "When we receive an opportunity to bid on a project, however, being able to check the WBE Certification box is a real advantage. We use the logo proudly on our business cards and materials."
Many corporations are required to spend a certain percentage of funds with minority businesses, called supplier diversity spend. The WBE Certification fits that bill. There are currently about 85 corporate members in the WBCS, Readel says. "That's a warm lead in building new relationships," she says. "In addition, your company is listed in a national database used by thousands of corporations and government entities throughout the nation."
The 2011 Sustaining Member list includes corporations such as AT&T, Walmart, PepsiCo, Tyson Foods, FedEx, UPS, Coca-Coal, Heinz, Johnson & Johnson, Proctor & Gamble, Kellogg and Microsoft.
According to Readel, 27 WBCS sustaining members reported doing $116 million in business with Women Business Entrepreneurs last quarter.
Additional benefits of membership include access to conference and business fairs, resources and support, including mentoring and procurement programs. To learn more about WBCS and your women-owned business potential, contact Nancy Readel at nreadel@wbsouthwest.org. or call 866-451-5997.
