Dear WBDC Community,
By the numbers, WBDC Clients are thriving and taking full advantage of opportunities being offered:
- Nearly 150 individuals are actively pursuing mentor/mentee relationships in the WBDC virtual mentoring group
- Since launching the latest entrepreneurial training series Plan for Profit, there have been nearly 100 graduates
- Over 375 clients have utilized the WBDC's eLearning Portal to access business financial tutorials, developing business plans and much more.
Take a look at the opportunities available to you and get involved! Warm regards, Emilia DiMenco President & CEO Women's Business Development Center |
| View more photos from the evening.
WBDC-MN Hosted 8th Annual Evening of Celebration
WBDC-MN hosted its 8th Annual Evening of Celebration at the University of Minnesota's McNamara Alumni Center early in March to coincide with International Women's Day. This annual celebration was created to honor the achievements of local certified women's business enterprises (WBEs) and recognize distinguished corporate and community partners and volunteers of the WBDC-MN. View more photos from the evening.
This year's honorees included:
Advocacy Award
Readus Fletcher, Deputy Director of Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity, City of St. Paul
Giving Back Award
Kathryn Mazon, Sr. Business Development Lead of Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Diversity, Target Corporation
Corporate Partner of the Year
Craig Taylor, Director of the Office for Business & Community Economic Development, University of Minnesota
WBE of the Year
Heather Manley, President,On-Demand Group, Inc.
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WBDC's 2013 Annual Report is Here!
Click to view the interactive annual report.
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Whether you're a start-up or established early childhood education entrepreneur, you'll learn to navigate your way to success by attending the WBDC's 16th Annual Early Childhood Education Entrepreneurship Expo.
Expo highlights include the Destination Success! Breakfast, featuring a panel of child care industry experts; Road Map to Growth Business Workshops for every level of business featuring experts and experienced child care providers; Early Childhood Education Applause Awards Luncheon,honoring outstanding child care providers and activists in the child care community. Wrap the night up with the Chocolate Hour Reception celebrating 16 years of supporting, building and growing successful child care businesses and the 2013/14 Developing Your Child Care Business graduates.
From today until May 1, use promo code "AWB10" to save 10% on the Early Bird Rate! Click here to register!
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Do you have an e-commerce site? Are you using the cloud for sharing information? Or maybe your employees drive company automobiles? If you answered yes to any of these, you may be putting you and your business at risk.
Learn tips to help protect your business from everyday risks to catastrophic natural disasters on May 20th at the East Bank Club with The Travelers Companies, Accion and WBDC.
Click here to register now>
Dinner will be served.
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WBDC Team Continues to Grow!
The WBDC is pleased to introduce new team members joining the staff and supporting the mission of the organization.
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| UPCOMING WBDC-Chicago EVENTS | |
May 6
Wisdom, Wine & Cheese: An Introduction to WBDC Services
May 7
Webinar: How to Leverage Your WBENC Certification
May 8
Starting a Business in Illinois
May 16 Grow Your Business with Allstate Supplier Diversity Opportunities Learn more>>
For a full list of calendar events, please click here. |
| UPCOMING WBDC Regional EVENTS | |
May 5
Minnesota Event
How to do Business with Minneapolis Public Schools
May 7 Minnesota Event Effective Networking & Maximizing Supplier Diversity Tradeshows
May 14 Kansas City Event
Minority & Women-Owned Expo
May 15
Minnesota Event
Joint Procurement Meeting with Best Buy
Learn more>>
For a complete listing of WBDC and partner events, please click here. |
| UPCOMING PARTNER EVENTS | |
May 6
World Chicago Spring Diplomacy Luncheon
May 7
Midwest Small Business Government Contracting Small Business Symposium
May 9 SBA Small Business Week Kickoff
May 15
Early Childhood National Leadership Conference
May 16 Empowering Emerging Entrepreneurs: New Business Boot Camp
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| Client Spotlight | |
In 2009, the two founders, Evelyn Engert and Sarah Wilcox, came together bringing their expertise in the healthcare and consulting industries. Read more>>
Staying motivated while enduring countless obstacles is not an easy thing to do and while business owners naturally handle these stresses better than most, child care provider Ninva Concepcion has mastered the concept of...
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Women's Business Development Center
8 S. Michigan Ave. 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603
312.853.3477
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