Houston, Texas (May, 2011) – The WBEA Board of Directors announced and acknowledged the following winners at their annual WBEA Expo Awards Luncheon May 20 at Houston’s Reliant Center.

WBE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR UNDER $1 MILLION: Keystone Resources

This award recognizes a woman business enterprise that has demonstrated consistent quality, competitiveness and reliability.

CORPORATE ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR: Teresa Sharp, Chevron and Marian Nimon, UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

This award recognizes the individual corporate member who has provided exceptional support to women business development and WBEA.

WBE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR $1-5 MILLION: Shea Writing and Training Solutions, Inc

This award recognizes a woman business enterprise that has demonstrated consistent quality, competitiveness and reliability.

BUYER OF THE YEAR: Suhail Siddiqui, BP America, Inc.

This award recognizes the buyer or purchasing specialist who has utilized and promoted business opportunities for WBEA women businesses.

WBE ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR: Julie Marie Irvin, Keystone Resources

This award recognizes the owner of a women’s business enterprise who has provided exceptional support to WBEA and women business development. The nominee must be a member of the council for a minimum of one (1) year.

WBE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR - $5-10 MILLION: Aztec Facility Services, Inc.

This award recognizes a woman business enterprise that has demonstrated consistent quality, competitiveness and reliability.

WBE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR OVER $10 MILLON: Rose International, Inc.

This award recognizes a woman business enterprise that has demonstrated consistent quality, competitiveness and reliability.

CORPORATION OF THE YEAR: Chevron

This award recognizes a WBEA corporate member that has made the greatest impact in WBEA and WBE development.

CORPORATE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Brittany Barton, Houston Independent School District

This award recognizes the individual Corporate Member who has provided exceptional support to WBEA.

WBE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD: Connie Rankin, Customized Real Estate Services, Inc.

This award recognizes the individual WBE or a member of their staff, who has provided exceptional support to WBEA.

Primary Services Vice President, Sabra Phillips, was honored as one of the Houston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 during a special awards ceremony in May. The HBJ 40 Under 40 awards recognize emerging Houston leaders for their dynamic work in business and the community.

One of Primary's long-term clients, a Fortune 500 Senior HR Director, said, "Sabra is a well-rounded leader who displays both strong business and people skills... She is one of the strongest HR leaders I've encountered in my entire career."

In addition to her work with Primary, Sabra serves on the Texas Exes Houston Chapter Board where she is very involved with their scholarship program and previously served on the Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance Board of Directors.

WBEA Star for 2010
Sue Pistone, Sue Pistone & Associates
(left to right) Pamela Eason, Pfizer (WBENC Chair), Linda Denny, WBENC President and Susan Repka, WBEA Executive Director

Fourteen exemplary women business leaders stepped into the spotlight to receive the nation's premier award for excellence among women's business enterprises (WBEs) bestowed by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) at its Annual Salute to Women's Business Enterprises.

14 Women Businesses Named “2010 Women’s Business Enterprise Stars” by Women’s Business Enterprise National Council

Washington, DC, December 23, 2009 – Fourteen exemplary women business leaders will step into the spotlight to receive the nation’s premier award for excellence among women’s business enterprises (WBEs) bestowed by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) at its Annual Salute to Women’s Business Enterprises. On Thursday, March 25, 2010, 1,000 corporate executives, WBEs and government and nonprofit VIPs will acknowledge the tenacity, drive and inventiveness demonstrated by women’s business enterprise at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD.

The 2010 WBENC Women’s Business Enterprise Stars are selected by WBENC’s 14 Regional Partner Organizations (RPOs) that conduct WBENC’s world-class certification of WBEs, in addition to providing skill-building educational programs and business development opportunities with major corporations.

“Our 2010 Women’s Business Enterprise Stars represent the best that our country offers in terms of innovation and long term success,” said Linda Denny, WBENC President and CEO, the leading advocate for and authority on WBEs. “They continually discover ways to meet their corporate clients’ complex needs in today’s environment.”

WBENC’s Summit & Salute is a comprehensive two-day program that offers strategic educational programs and access to thought leaders for corporations and women’s business enterprises. In delivering sophisticated resources and senior-level networking opportunities, WBENC enables the long term success of women’s businesses and the corporations they serve. Accenture is Presenting Sponsor at the Summit & Salute.

“The Summit & Salute illustrates why we say WBENC is The Opportunity Connection for women’s business enterprises,” Denny said. The Summit & Salute brings together America's leading corporations, government agencies, women business owners and strategic partner organizations. This year’s keynote presentations and workshops will focus on business forecasts, market trends, best practices, and networking environments conducive to business.

The following 2010 WBENC Women’s Business Enterprise Stars will be recognized for leadership in their respective local business communities, inspiration to other women business owners, and active roles at the helm of successful certified businesses:

LaSonya Berry, CEO, McPherson, Berry & Associates, Inc., representing Greater Women’s Business Council. www.mcphersonberry.com
Sandy Hunter, President, Hunter Hawk, Inc., representing Astra Women's Business Alliance. www.hunterhawk.com
Kari Heistad, CEO, Culture Coach International, representing the Center for Women & Enterprise. www. culturecoach.biz
Katherine Mlakar, Chairman of the Board, The Millcraft Paper Company, representing Ohio River Valley Women’s Business Council. www.millcraft.com
Terri Quinton, President, Q2 Marketing Group, representing Women’s Business Council – Southwest. www.q2marketinggroup.com
Kimberly Holstein, President/CEO and CIO (Chief Inspiration Officer), Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels, representing Women’s Business Development Center – Chicago. www.kimandscotts.com
Claudette Stroble, President, Orlando Conference Management Group, Inc., representing Women’s Business Development Center – Florida. www.ocmg.net
Sue Pistone, CEO/President, Sue Pistone & Associates, representing Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance. suepistone@suepistone.com
Denise Kanaar, CEO, D & D Logistics LLC, representing Women’s Business Enterprise Council - Great Lakes. www.d-dlogistics.com
Judith Zimmerman, President & CEO, Artcraft & Foremost, representing Women’s Business Enterprise Council – PA-DE-sNJ. www.artcraftpromos.com
Michele Vignes, President/CEO, Universal Personnel, LLC, representing Women’s Business Enterprise Council South www.universal-personnel.com
Laurie Travis, President, LT Evention, representing Women’s Business Enterprise Council – West. www.ltevention.com
Jennifer Collins, President, The Event Planning Group, representing Women Presidents’ Educational Organization – DC. www.tepgevents.com
Julie Levi, President, Progressive Promotions, Inc., representing Women Presidents’ Educational Organization – NY. www.progressivepromotions.com

The Salute black-tie reception and dinner will honor the 14 Women’s Business Enterprise Stars of 2010, as well as America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises for 2009. For reservations, visit www.wbenc.org/summit-salute.

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