Three A's

AWARENESS

According the Center for Women’s Business Research

10.1 million firms are owned by women (50% or more), employing more than 13 million people, and generating $1.9 trillion in sales as of 2008.
Three quarters of all women-owned businesses are majority owned by women (51% or more), for a total of 7.2 million firms, employing 7.3 million people, and generating $1.1 trillion in sales.
Women-owned firms (50% or more) account for 40% of all privately held firms.

In 1996 a coalition of women’s business advocates came together and recognized a disparity in the dollars spent on women owned businesses and the number of women owned businesses in the country.

In 1997 WBENC was formed to address this disparity and to provide a certification program for women owned business wanting to do business in the private sector through supplier diversity programs of Fortune 1000 companies.

WBENC, the national organizing body, has 14 regional partner organizations that manage the certification process at the local level, providing local support with national scope.

The WPEO is the regional partner organization that covers the following regions:

Southern Connecticut
Northern New Jersey
New York
Washington DC
Maryland
Virginia

WBENC and its regional partner organizations work with certified Women’s Business Enterprises and Corporations to help integrate women owned businesses into the supply chains of Fortune 1000s companies, helping WBEs gain business and corporations to reach their goals.

APPROVAL

The certification is in place to provide a third-party evaluation to assure that those granted the certification are legitimately owned and run. We evaluate firms based on the following criteria:

Ownership
Control & Management
Contribution
Independence

See our Certification page for more information.

ACCESS

The WPEO is based on the intent to support WBEs in ACCESSING OPPORTUNITIES.

Through our programming, initiatives and partnerships we help advocate for and empower WBEs in securing business opportunities with Fortune 1000s companies.

Through our Signature Events, Educational Programs, Matchmaking Meetings, Done Deals ™ Initiative and Media Opportunities, we support WBEs in business development and networking.

For more information on our programs please see our page outlining Signature Programs & Events.