Newsletters
A quarterly publication of the Women's Business Development Center
January 2012
A Word from the Co-Presidents
After 25 magnificent years of helping women achieve economic independence through entrepreneurship, the WBDC is continuing to cultivate innovation and build a network of powerful partnerships. We were thrilled with the success of the celebration of our 25th anniversary in 2011 and at how bright the future looks for women in business in 2012 and beyond.
We are grateful for the support of new and longstanding sponsors during these tough economic times. The need for strong, thought-leading business connections is more evident today than ever before, and through our networking events, workshops and Annual Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference we have cultivated those relationships to the benefit of all. We successfully held our
Third Annual Technology Makeover Competition with the support of many of our partners and will be announcing the winner later this month. With the help of
Discover Financial Services the WBDC is expanding our outreach and Spanish bilingual services to more Chicago communities.
For the benefit of the business community, the WBDC continues to provide programs and services that are responsive to current business needs. In 2012, we'll be offering more webinars and online joint business counseling sessions and soon will be providing online/on-demand business education supported by a grant from
Deluxe Corporation Foundation. The future for the WBDC is limitless and we look forward to continuing our partnership with you in this New Year.
Warm wishes,
Hedy M. Ratner & Carol Dougal
WBDC Co-Founders & Co-Presidents
Win FREE Registration to the 26th Annual Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference (EWC)!
Take 10 minutes to fill out the WBDC Customer Service Survey and you are automatically registered to win one of five free registrations to the EWC! We value your feedback and utilize the information provided to meet your business needs.
Funder Spotlight
Deluxe Corporation Foundation
The WBDC is honored to partner with the
Deluxe Corporation Foundation, a strong supportor of entrepreneurs and business education, to bring WBDC business education opportunities to a new online learning environment.
Over the years, the WBDC has seen a growing need to expand our channels of distribution for the critical business materials and courses that are currently offered. Now, the $170,000 grant from Deluxe Corporation Foundation will enable the WBDC to convert its successful, manual-based in-person business education courses into online/on-demand, interactive learning opportunities, thus expanding our reach and capacity to better serve women business owners.
"Our business curriculum has been designed to educate women entrepreneurs so they are able to make informed decisions and successfully compete in the marketplace," said Hedy M. Ratner, WBDC co-president. "We realize that many are not able to attend our in-person workshops due to time, financial and family constraints. The WBDC is very grateful for the support of Deluxe Corporation Foundation in providing these entrepreneurs with a learning experience as good as or better than in-person classroom training - but on their own time and terms."
"The Deluxe Corporation Foundation is focused on long-term solutions that help people, businesses and communities thrive and grow," said Lee Schram, chief executive officer of Deluxe and president of the Deluxe Foundation. "This mission is reflected in our grant to the Women's Business Development Center, enabling them to help many more women entrepreneurs by providing business education courses in the online environment."
Since its creation in 1952, the Deluxe Corporation Foundation has awarded more than $90 million to education, arts and human services programs. To learn more, visit
their website.
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
Inaugural Chicago Session Launched this Month
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program hosted its inaugural Chicago session on January 6, 2012 at
City Colleges of Chicago. The all-day session commenced an 11 - session business management education program that focuses on providing practical training to successfully grow each participant's business and create jobs.
The application process came to an end in December with the selection of small business owners from a range of industries, including a number of women-owned businesses and WBDC clients. The program has been met with great enthusiasm by this first cohort of program participants who want to grow their businesses, and are seeking guidance in financing, networking opportunities and connections with other entrepreneurs. Joanna Sobran, President/CEO
MXOtech, Inc. and a member of the first cohort, had this to say about the session:
"The first Goldman Sachs session exceeded my expectations! It was very fast paced, highly organized and a lot of fun... getting my creative business juices flowing. I'm looking forward to the next session on "My Business Growth Plan'. This is something every business owner should do but doesn't always have the time. Collaborating with many down-to-earth, energetic and intelligent business colleagues and program managers over the next five months is my dream come true."
WBDC 2011 Technology Makeover Competition
Winner to Be Announced January 31st!
For the third consecutive year, the WBDC successfully held its Technology Makeover Competition with the support of our generous sponsors. Registration came to a close on December 15, 2011 with 25 applications received. Eligible applicants needed to be a for-profit business in Illinois with at least two years in business, a minimum of four employee workstations and at least $1,000,000 in revenue.
As in the past two years, the applicants were all impressive, but the field has been narrowed to three finalists. The winner will be chosen and announced following oral presentations to the panel of competition judges on January 31, 2012. The winner will receive over $100,000 in services and technology materials to help their business grow. The prize package will include:
- 1 small business server, 1 networked printer, 1 projector, 2 headsets from CDW
- 7 laptop computers from the Microsoft Store
- $30,000 scholarship to Executive Business Training from COSi
- Website development, including brand design and content from MarketM
- Installation and configuration hardware, labor and support from Falkor
- 5 licenses of Microsoft Small Business Server Premium 2008, Microsoft Office Professional 2011 and Windows 7 Ultimate from Microsoft
- 1 Applications Class and more from Directions
- Full Suite of Constant Contact products
Look for the announcement of the winning company in the next AWB, April 2012!
All applicants will also have the opportunity to participate in an exclusive executive business training program, facilitated by Cycle of Success Institute (COSi) and designed to guide them on subjects such as growing market share, managing profitable growth and creating a competitive edge.
To Be Available 1/27/2012
Thanks to funding received from Deluxe Corporation Foundation to update the WBDC's website to support online /on-demand learning, the WBDC is seeking a qualified Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) to assist us in this project. We are looking for a technology partner who will host the WBDC website and work with key WBDC staff to redesign and rebuild it. The new site will provide a centralized hub of business education news, resources and educational opportunities for visitors to experience in an enriched online environment.
Interested, qualified WBEs are encouraged to respond to the Request for Proposals (RFP), which will be posted on the WBDC website no later than January 27, 2012.
The Future is Bright for WBEs and MBEs
Officials on Every Level Focus on Creating Opportunities
This is a unique and exciting time for more business and contracting opportunities for minority and women business enterprises with government entities. With Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Illinois Governor Quinn, we have elected officials absolutely committed to expanding new business opportunities for women and minority-owned business.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed a
Blue Ribbon Task Force to work on recommending best practices in procurement and compliance and certification in the
CIty of Chicago. Additionally, the
Affirmative Action Advisory Council is being reappointed to help implement these practices.
At the state level,
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has reconstituted and appointed new members to the
Business Enterprise Program, which is now involved in statewide expansion of monitoring and compliance to include all state agencies including state colleges and universities and the Illinois Toll Highway Authority.
The WBDC remains involved in advocacy efforts on behalf of women and minority-owned businesses at all levels of government. This is indeed a good time to be a minority and women business enterprise!
Staff Spotlight
Bethany Hartley, Katie Lang and Grace Lopez
The WBDC is pleased to announce new staff positions for Bethany Hartley, marketing assistant; Katie Lang, WBDC-Minnesota associate program director; and Grace Lopez, receptionist/training assistant.
Bethany Hartley joined the WBDC in November 2011 as the marketing assistant. Previously, Bethany was a freelance social media specialist in the South Bend, IN area. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2008 with a B.B.A. in marketing. When Bethany isn't
tweeting, updating
Facebook or
blogging, she can be found trying out unique restaurants around Chicago.
Katie Lang also came to the WBDC in November 2011 as associate program director in the WBDC-Minnesota office after working as a strategic consultant for Industrial Fabrics Association International. Prior to that, Katie successfully launched and sold her own custom design gift business. In her free time, Katie enjoys being an avid member of a gourmet cooking club.
Grace Lopez started at the WBDC in May 2011 as the receptionist/training assistant. Before joining the WBDC team, Grace was a customer support specialist for Paper Source in Chicago's West Loop. Grace plans on finishing her Liberal Arts degree at Harold Washington College in the near future. When Grace isn't greeting clients at the WBDC front desk, she can be found cheering on any and all Chicago sports teams!
