The Women\'s Business Council - Southwest (WBCS) is a not-for-profit organization that provides national Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) certification for women business owners who own, control and operate 51 percent or more of the business. The WBCS serves a four-state region including central and north Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Their mission statement is: Grow Certified Women-Owned Businesses. They provide educational, procurement and networking opportunities to their growing membership of over 1,000 WBEs and 82 corporate members. Along with administering the WBE certification, and growing women-owned businesses, the WBCS assists its corporate members in meeting their supplier diversity objectives and contract obligations with supplier diversity spend requirements.
14. CERTIFICATION TEAM Anita Steele E-mail: [email_address] Phone: (817) 299-0566 Ext 206 Toll Free: (866) 451-5997 Ext 206 Kelly Francis E-mail: [email_address] Phone: (817) 299-0566 Ext 210 Toll Free: (866) 451-5997 Ext 210 Address: Ste 158 2201 N. Collins Arlington, Texas 76011 Web site: www.wbcsouthwest.org Contact Information
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Began in 1995 as the North Texas Women’s Business Council providing third-party Women’s Business Enterprises (WBE) certification for the North Texas area. In 1997, became a regional partner with Women’s Business Enterprise National Council to administer a national WBE certification. We currently administer the national certification in a four state region: Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Central and North Texas.
The Women’s Business Council Southwest is an independent non-profit organization. It is a stand alone - not a sub-chapter of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.
We currently have over 1,000 certified women business owners and close to 100 sustaining members which are corporations, government entities and institutions. Our national certification is recognized by over 500 private sector corporations. We certify business that are 51% owned, controlled and operated by women.
Our certification criteria is established by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council Online application can be accessed through the WBCS web site or www.wbenc.org Requested information would be not limited to the completed application, taxes form the last three years (even if your business has been in existence less than three months taxes still need to be submitted). articles of incorporation, stock information, by laws, minutes, financial statements, proof of gender, etc. Once your application have been received all requested information and documents, the file is reviewed by the Certification Committee, a site visit is conducted and the recommendation is made certify or deny. Recertification is every year. Site visits are conducted every three years.
Your company’s information is listed in an internet accessible database on WBENC’s Web site utilized by over 1,000 corporations and government entities throughout the nation who accept WBENC certification. Becoming certified provides and added value for your customers by enabling them to count their spend with you in order to meet their supplier diversity goals and also securing government contracts that request a certain percentages of business is to awarded to a minority or woman business. Source from over 10,000 WBEs in the database. Utilize the WBENC and WBCS logos on your Web site, business cards, stationary so that every visitor is aware that your are a certified woman owned business. It also gives you a chance to share your knowledge and experience with other WBEs. Providing Mentoring – Best Practice & Solutions.
WBENC also offers a conference and business fair where you are able to showcase your company on a national level. Offers numerous networking opportunities. Four major events each year – Coming in April is our Southwest Women’s BusinessWorks! Trade Fair. This is the largest trade fair in its region that focuses on women-owned businesses. In September, we have Harvesting Partnerships which is an educational forum that features a keynote speaker and breakout session on various topics of interest. In November we have Power to Potential our procurement event of the year which matches up supplier to buyer. It also provides information to WBEs on doing business with corporations. In January we have the Parade of Stars Awards banquet celebrating our past year’s successes and recognizing those members that went above and beyond. You can serve on any of our committees which allow you to establish direct relationships with other members. People do business with people they know. (Regional Committee, Steering Committee, Ongoing Committee)
