wbenc december president's report

DECEMBER 2012

WBE SUCCESS STORIESFOCUS ON THE FORUM - CESCO INC

BEST FINISHING INC

RECOGNITION ANNETTE TADDEO-GOLDSTEIN

2012 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENT

FORD NMSDC CORPORATION OF THE YEAR AWARD

LILY OTIENO NMSDC NATIONAL MINORITY SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

TOP CORPORATION BEST PRACTICES MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL INCVERIZON

REPORT

PRESIDENTrsquoS REPORT

WBDC Webinar Getting a GSA Schedule ContractDecember 19 2012Virtual WebinarClick here for details

WBEC-West 1st Annual Supplier Diversity SummitJanuary 8 2013Arizona Science CenterPhoenix ArizClick here for details

WBEC-West Corporate Dine AroundJanuary 10 20131130 The Restaurant at the Arizona CenterPhoenix ArizClick here for details

NGLCC 6th Annual Financial Services Diversity Leadership AwardsJanuary 14 2013New York Stock ExchangeNew York NYClick here for details

WBDC Procurement Meeting Hosted by Minneapolis Public School DistrictJanuary 30 2013Minneapolis Public School DistrictMinneapolis MinnClick here for details

WBCS 2013 Parade of Stars Awards GalaJanuary 31 2013Omni HotelDallas TexasClick here for details

ISM Women Executive Supply Management Summit February 5-7 2013Doubletree by Hilton New OrleansNew Orleans LaClick here for details

WBEC-PA-DE-sNJ Listening to Your BusinessFebruary 27 2013Womenrsquos Business Enterprise CouncilPhiladelphia PaClick here for details

WBEC-Great Lakes 2013 Leadership Institute for Women February 28 2013Location TBAClick here for details

EDITORIAL TEAMEDITOR-IN-CHIEFPat Birmingham

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTAllison Gibson

PRODUCTION AND DESIGNLimb Design

PHOTOGRAPHYLinda JohnsonVisionista

WRITERSPaige AdamsSenior Director Development amp Corporate Relations

Kim JonesManager Corporate Member Services

Brenda LoubePrincipalFounder of Corporate Fitness Works

Jean PolingContributing Writer

Pamela Prince-EasonPresident amp CEO

Lynthia RomneyRomneyCom LLC

Candace WatermanChief of Staff

LaKesha WhiteSenior Compliance Manager

CALENDAR OF EVENTSTHIS CALENDAR INCLUDES EVENTS HOSTED BY WBENCS REGIONAL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS VISIT WBENCS ONLINE CALENDAR FOR MORE EVENTS

WWWWBENCORG raquo DECEMBER EDITION 2012 raquo 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS DECEMBER EDITION OF THE PRESIDENTrsquoS REPORT

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2

PRESIDENTrsquoS MESSAGE 4

FEATURES Top Corporation Best Practices Marriott International Inc 5 Verizon 6

Recovery From Sandy - Resources From the United States Small Business Association 9

Government Spotlight SBArsquoS Government Contracting Classroom 10

CERTIFICATIONWBE Success Stories Focus on the Forum - CESCO Inc 12 Best Finishing Inc 14

OPPORTUNITIESSummit amp Salute - Workshops amp Tracks 16Government Opportunity Experience 18

RECOGNITION Annette Taddeo-Goldstein 2012 International Business Woman of the Year Award Recipient 20Ford NMSDC Corporation of the Year Award 22Lily Otieno NMSDC National Minority Supplier of the Year 24April Day New President of WBEA 26

RESOURCES The Best Year of Your Life 28

Only Certified WBE Summit amp Salute and Summit-only ticket holders registered by January 24 2013 will qualify for Meet and Greet and Multi Tier One-on-One networking sessions

Donrsquot miss early bird registration

HILTON BALTIMOREMARCH 13-14 2013

wwwwbencorgsummit-salute

PRESIDENTrsquoS MESSAGE

ldquo REFLECTING BACK AND LOOKING FORWARDrdquo

WBENCrsquos 15th Anniversary year is coming to a close and we have celebrated many milestones and successes over the last 12 months Our organizationrsquos record of accomplishments is a source of pride for many including me My personal path with WBENC has been extremely rewarding and I continue to be energized and inspired by the incredible women that we serve and the Corporate and Government members that contribute greatly to our collective success Our Regional Partner Organizations (RPOs) have dedicated themselves to our mission of advancing of women-owned businesses and their collaboration is essential to our growth Our Board of Directors chaired by Laura Taylor continually provides wisdom and guidance making sure we are positioned for success

Many individuals have contributed to WBENCrsquos journey in the past 15 years Currently our WBENC community has more than 11400 WBEs 770 WOSB certified WBEs and National programs Our signature capacity development resources include the Tuck-WBENC Executive program and the Dorothy B Brothers Executive Scholarship enabling WBEs to expand their businesses through targeted educational opportunities We have introduced fresh and informative content through our Insights series poising us to bring business trends and challenges to the forefront for our constituents Our 2012 Summit amp Salute and National Conference and Business Fair were dedicated to honoring the leaders and their legacies that have made WBENC the respected organization it is today We are proud to display the historic panels depicting our leaders Womenrsquos Business Enterprise Stars and Top Corporations spanning 15 years throughout our office in Washington DC They are a constant source of inspiration and pride reminding us of not only what has been accomplished but what remains to be done to support our mission and vision as we progress on the Road to Growth and Sustainability As Albert Einstein said ldquoLearn from yesterday live for today hope for tomorrow

The important thing is not to stop questioningrdquo Our rich past enables us to keep questioning what is possible for the future

Our growth and success is dependent upon the contributions of so many in our community Our new theme ldquoJoin Forces Succeed Togetherrdquo is representative of the need for all of our constituents to engage and be a part of our future Collectively we can accomplish great things that will reap benefits for all - our WBEs members and RPOs For instance in 2012 we have built a strong foundation for our CORE strategy to lead us into 2013 and beyond Five teams spent countless hours refining the goals and action plans to bring our initiatives for certification opportunities resources engagement and technology to the next level Our future is full of exciting possibilities because of their progressive thinking and dedication to WBENC I look forward to seeing their efforts come to life and watching our organization evolve and grow

I am grateful for the incredible people who have and continue to contribute to our success I am proud of WBENCrsquos past and look forward to the many opportunities that lie ahead for us in the New Year

Wishing you a Happy Holiday and a bright and prosperous New Year

SincerelyPamela Prince-EasonWBENC President and CEO


FEATURES

TOP CORPORATION BEST PRACTICES Marriott International Inc Marriott International Inc Global Success with the Personal Touch

Although itrsquos hard to imagine Marriott International Inc ndash which has nearly 3800 hotels in 74 countries around the globe ndash started out as a nine stool AampW root beer stand in Washington DC 85 years ago Thatrsquos one reason that the global hospitality leader has a strong appreciation for the quality initiative and diversity that small businesses bring to the table

Marriott has established a track record for its commitment to womenrsquos and diverse-owned businesses In 1989 the company became the first in the travel industry to launch a formal diversity and inclusion program And the company was the first in the industry to introduce its supplier diversity program in 1997 Marriott has also twice been the proud recipient of WBENCrsquos Top Corporation for Womenrsquos Business Enterprises (WBEs) including this yearrsquos award for 2011

As with many of WBENCrsquos Top Corporations the dedication to womenrsquos business growth starts at the top and engages both internal and external supporters President and CEO of Marriott

Arne M Sorenson drives ownership of diversity and inclusion through leadership of the companyrsquos Global Diversity and Inclusion Council This is reinforced by the companyrsquos board-level Committee for Excellence (CFE) headed by Debra Lee chairman and chief executive officer BET Networks

Together they help guide Marriott to develop and deepen its relationships with WBEs and diverse suppliers around the world In addition to aligning with the companyrsquos overarching principles of doing business this work supports its vision to have each hotel reflect the culture of its own community Marriott strives to hire local talent to manage and work in its hotels and when possible features local artwork and designs

ldquo The nature of our business is putting people first ndash our guests our employees and the businesses in the communities that we touch all around the worldrdquo explained Denise Naguib Marriott Vice President Sustainability amp Supplier Diversity ldquoThat core value fuels

our work with a broad diversity of suppliers ndash literally thousands of women- minority- veteran- disabled- and LGBT-run businesses around the globerdquo

Over the last decade Marriott has spent $4 billion with diverse suppliers and in 2011 spent 17 percent of its total procurement dollars with diverse suppliers Just over nine percent of total payments to Marriottrsquos consultants suppliers and vendors was awarded to women-owned businesses

In the spirit of partnership Marriott helps to mentor and provide educational opportunities for its suppliers A recent example is McPadnet owned by Karen Edwards which is a full-service printing promotional products fulfillment and distribution company based in Gaithersburg Md

Marriott partnered with McPadnet on the design and production of its business training materials Edwards was mentored by a Marriott executive and other WBE suppliers that could offer some expertise and guidance on working effectively with the company Since then McPadnetrsquos business has expanded its capacity and now produces training manuals used by Marriottrsquos associates in various languages

Marriott is always seeking to identify more talented WBEs and introduce them into the company To do that it partners with WBENC and relies on the WBENC National Conference amp Business Fair and other national and regional networking events to interact with many potential WBE suppliers

ldquo It can be a daunting task for a WBE to get to know our company so we have people at WBENC events to meet the WBEs learn what they do and then connect them to the right decision maker in our organizationrdquo Naguib said

In these ways the global hospitality giant has not lost the personal touch ndash both in terms of understanding and delivering on the needs of its guests and in connecting with prospective WBEs

For more information on Marriottrsquos diversity programs please visit wwwmarriottcomdiversity


FEATURES

TOP CORPORATION BEST PRACTICES Verizon Verizon A Three-Pillar Program Connecting WBEs with Buying

Decision Makers

Verizon is known for its ability to bring people together It is also a leader in diversity best practices connecting its own corporate buyers select prime suppliers and Womenrsquos Business Enterprises (WBEs) with the goal of driving womenrsquos business growth

An eight-time recipient of the WBENC Americarsquos Top Corporations for WBEs Award Verizonrsquos commitment to diversity as a value is articulated in its Credo and supported at the very top of the organization

As Verizonrsquos Chairman and CEO Lowell C McAdam states ldquoVerizon is committed

to continuously identifying and expanding effective business partnerships with

diverse suppliers These mutually beneficial relationships allow us to provide

superior service and excellent communications experiences for our customers

while broadening our reach in the competitive marketplacerdquo

To uphold this position Verizon created a centerpiece program to build sustainable value-added business partnerships with women and minority owned enterprises

The name of this program is the Premier Supplier Academy and it is targeted at select WBEs and MBEs with at least $1 million in revenues The three pillars on which it stands are Education Inclusion and Awareness

Specific programs and goals are embedded in each of these pillars to identify and help grow WBEs and strengthen multi-tier programs Together they create a continuum of dialogue capacity building and business development among Verizon its significant prime suppliers (to include WBENC Board Member and Top Corporation Alcatel-Lucent and WBENC Board member Johnson Controls) and its WBEMBE and other diverse suppliers

For example to advance Education and Inclusion Verizon arranges mentoring individualized goal setting action plan development one-on-one capabilities overviews pitch meetings and feedback for diverse and womenrsquos business enterprises This helps suppliers understand the specific needs and practices of both Verizon and its prime suppliers in awarding future business At the same time Verizon encourages transparency among its prime suppliers in how they manage and drive diversity throughout their own supply chains

DONNA WEAVER-ERHARDTSourcing and Supplier DiversityVerizon


ldquo We could take a topic as fundamental as an RFP and

help our WBEs and diverse suppliers understand

why it is important for them to participate with us

We help them see how an RFP is such a crucial way

for us to understand their strengths and get to know

them for a longer-term relationshiprdquo said Donna

Erhardt Director Supplier Diversity SRM and Global

Relationship Management at Verizon

This goes hand in hand with Verizonrsquos work in building Awareness among Verizon stakeholders and its prime

suppliers as to the deep value offered by WBEs ldquoBy

identifying cultivating and showcasing successful

WBEs we help the decision makers envision the upside

potential of working with themrdquo Erhardt added

Verizon also encourages buyers to identify promising WBEs through aggressive outreach to business trade or regional organizations

How does Verizon track its success By going back to these buyers to ascertain how much business they are doing with WBE and diverse suppliers

ldquo We provide metrics to our business stakeholders

leadership team and the sourcing organizationrdquo said

Erhardt ldquoWe look at our prime suppliers and how

much they are reporting If they are reporting diversity

spend this underscores the value of our program If

they are not it creates a point of reference for us to

learn more about any barriers they are facingrdquo

Verizon also hosts an annual Supplier Summit and Diversity Forum providing education networking and recognition opportunities for WBEs and diverse suppliers At this event WBEs hear Verizon stakeholders present their expectations and key business objectives for the year They meet with select prime suppliers and Verizon employees and executives Through panels featuring exemplary WBE and diverse suppliers they can learn from their peers about what it takes to be a successful supplier at Verizon

Finally women and diverse suppliers are recognized before an audience of decision makers This year PCN (PC Network Inc) a WBENC-certified WBE was nominated for

an award in the ldquoTop Small Businessrdquo category for helping Verizon meet challenging deliverables PCN provides a broad range of IT consulting services including Managed DDI (DNSDHCP - Domain Name System Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol and IP Address Management) a critical technical offering for enterprises struggling to manage massive increases in network-enabled devices IP-dependent technologies and mobility and cloud strategies

Thanks to PCNrsquos technical innovation and smart design a survey tool and reporting portal was implemented for Verizon that resulted in cost savings and customer satisfaction PCN continues to provide Verizon with innovative and agile services that meet the demands of some of its most strategic customers At a recent Quest Forum Americas Best Practices event PCN collaborated with Verizon and Cisco to present a panel on the topic of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) the latest version of the communications protocol upon which the Internet is built A general primer on IPv6 produced by PCN is available on YouTube

ldquo We are also a strong proponent of recognizing women

owned businesses for their quality performancerdquo

Erhardt said ldquoIt showcases success and cultivates

a strong and ongoing collaborationrdquo She shared a touching example At WBENCrsquos 2012 National Conference amp Business Fair Erhardt and her team were approached by WBEMBE Bernadette Rivero President The Cortez Brothers a TV commercial production company She handed them a letter thanking Verizon and its ad agency primes for their ldquoleap of faithrdquo in hiring her company The letter read ldquoYour jobs meant the world to us They allow us to grow and thrive and to take pride in the work we dordquo

Verizon is a charter member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable In 2011 Verizon purchased nearly $4 billion in goods and services from WBE and diverse suppliers and is on track to exceed those results in 2012 To learn more

about Verizon visit wwwverizoncom



PRESIDENTrsquoS REPORTFEATURES

RECOVERY FROM SANDY - RESOURCES FROM THE UNITED STATES SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION In our continuing efforts to assist our constituents still recovering from

the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy the following is the latest update from the United States Small Business Administration blog

Therersquos a lot of information out there about different

forms of federal assistance and a lot of confusion about

the US Small Business Administrationrsquos role in helping

homeowners renters and businesses recover The SBA

is committed to the long-term recovery of the people and

businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy

Donrsquot let misinformation keep you from getting an SBA

disaster loan Here are the facts

1 You donrsquot have to be a business owner to apply for an

SBA disaster loan SBA makes low-interest loans to

homeowners of up to $200000 to repair or replace the

residence Renters and homeowners are also eligible

to apply for up to $40000 to repair or replace damaged

personal property ndash like furniture cars appliances ndash

that isnrsquot fully covered by insurance

2 Most business disaster loans approved by SBA are

made at the 4 percent interest rate There is no sliding

or variable interest rate scale Businesses that have

additional assets cash flow and higher credit scores

that enable them to qualify elsewhere for credit can

still get an SBA loan but at a higher interest rate

of 6 percent

3 A notice about the Coastal Barrier Resources

Act ndash which prohibits residents and businesses in

Coastal Barrier areas from receiving federal disaster

assistance ndash was included in disaster loan packets

If your property is on a coastal area donrsquot assume

you arenrsquot eligible to apply for an SBA disaster loan

Once the SBA gets the application they can make the

decision to process the loan application

4 Even if you donrsquot have insurance you can still apply

for SBA disaster assistance And if you do have

insurance donrsquot wait to receive a settlement before you

apply for an SBA disaster loan We donrsquot want you to

miss the application deadline

5 Your important documents ndash like property records

financial information ndash were probably lost in the storm

No worries ndash the SBA has resources available to help

you complete the disaster loan application anyway

There are several ways to apply

bull Apply online at httpsdisasterloansbagov

bull Visit a Disaster Recovery Center in your area

httpwwwfemagovdisaster-recovery-centers

bull For information about the disaster loan process

or to have an application mailed to you email

disastercustomerservicesbagov or call 1-800-659-

2955 Those who are deaf hard-of-hearing or speech-

impaired can call 1-800-877-8339

bull To download an application click

wwwsbagovdisaster

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance

register online at wwwdisasterassistancegov or use your

mobile device at httpmfemagov

For more information click here

OPPORTUNITIES

SBArsquoS GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING CLASSROOM

Are you interested in winning government contracts Would you like to know more about the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) program Do you know and understand how the government buys goods and services The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) has just the tool to answer all of your questions The Government Contracting (GC) Classroom is an online tool of training modules for potential government contractors Each module is self-paced and is approximately 30 minutes in length

There are modules on specific SBA programs such as 8a HUB Zone etc however below are recommended modules for Womenrsquos Business Enterprises (WBEs) to view

The WOSB Advantagebull Comprehensive overview of the WOSB program including how to get certified and

additional resources to use

Government Contracting 101 Part 1 bull Contracting basics and SBA certification programs overview

Government Contracting 101 Part 2bull Explanation of contracting methods used by the governmentbull Different types of contracts and agreementsbull Key parts of the FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulations)

Government Contracting 101 Part 3bull Selling to the government

Business Opportunitiesbull A guide to winning government contractsbull Receive a Certificate of Completion from the SBA

When doing business with any company it is important to understand all the dynamics of the contracting process which is why the SBA has developed the GC Classroom to allow contractors to become poised for success with the proper information To access the modules please visit wwwsbagovgcclassroom to embark upon your journey into government contracting


Susan Citron and Sharon Harris were enjoying a bottle of Spottswoode Cabernet during dinner in the home of their mutual friend Beth Milliken Susan had a passion for food and wine and wanted to get back into the wine business after a successful career in publishing and advertising Sharon had started Wine Entre Femmes and wanted to help women in the wine industry Both shared a dear friend a passion for wine and the desire to change the way women thought about and bought wine Like many important business ideas A Womanrsquos Palate was hatched over an exquisite bottle of wine

60 percent of all wines are bought by women and women buy 85 percent of wines under $18 But ask any fine wine producer in Napa how many women are on their mailing list and the answer is almost none less than 1 percent At wine tastings across the US we have frequently heard women say they really donrsquot know much about wine that they werenrsquot sure if they could tell the difference between a basic beverage wine and a fine wine Yet when tasting the two side by side almost always they preferred the fine handcrafted wine

A fine wine can make an ordinary day something special and turn a moment into an occasion with friends family and business associates Our mission is to share the story behind the fine wine you will be enjoying empowering you to make the best selection for any occasion Joining A Womanrsquos Palate Wine Club takes the hard part out of selecting wine We provide not only the background of each wine but food pairings as well You also have the confidence of knowing that if we do not love it we will not offer it

Being women winemakers winery owners wine writers wine professionals and wine lovers we will choose wonderful wines by women for you to enjoy As these are wines that we love to open and drink with friends you should also feel confident about every AWP bottle

Celebrating during the holiday is a perfect time to join A Womanrsquos Palate Wine Club exclusive to WBENC for yourself or as a gift for someone special First you choose the club or clubs you are interested in joining ndash Red White or Splurge Then you decide the quantity of bottles (three or six) that you would like to receive per shipment and how often you would like to receive them at your door (quarterly or bimonthly) In each shipment you will receive information about the woman behind the wine information on the wine itself and also how to serve it You will also receive food and wine pairing suggestions You can join and manage all aspects of your club by clicking here wwwawomanspalatecomWBENC

A WOMENrsquoS PALATE

A Womanrsquos Palate Wine Club exclusive to WBENC is the only wine club developed for women by women and the men who support them We focus on helping women in the wine industry share their stories and promote their beautiful wines We have access to limited production hard-to-find wines that are typically not available at your local store and we carefully curate them into seasonal or holiday collections


CESCO is a printing equipment solutions provider specializing in managed print

services and sales of office equipment spanning multi-functional devices printers

copiers scanners and related supplies It is a certified service provider that works

with the majors ndash Xerox Lexmark Hewlett Packard Brother Epson and Ricoh

To out-compete the printer technology industry Bryant Schultz had to think outside the

traditional product box To do that she created a business model providing her clients

with unbiased recommendations on several of the best product suites to meet their

needs as well as strategies for configuring and managing those products to achieve

cross-organization efficiency and savings

She points out that the Gartner Group reports ldquo90 percent of companies do not know

how many printers they have or if they are properly using their print assetsrdquo We not

only help them choose the right kind of equipment but we also show them how to

use it Our consultative services and training help them save energy internal labor

maintenance and supply costs while reducing their carbon footprint

CESCOrsquos Managed Print services include assessment and right-sizing of equipment

recommendations on equipment selection and placement

Today this approach is more valuable than ever for companies seeking to promote

sustainable and cost-saving business practices CESCO builds these practices into

its full range of services from selecting printer systems that best conserve materials

to creating a software document management system to track and control usage to

providing consulting and real-time correction services via CESCOrsquos DocuCare

on-site program

FOCUS ON THE FORUM

WBE SUCCESS STORY BILLIE BRYANT SCHULTZ PRESIDENT amp CEO CESCO INCBuilding a Better Business Model for Sustainability with Managed Print Services

For most of her career as a woman business leader Billie Bryant Schultz has been on a mission to show just how powerful women-run companies can be in driving productivity and sustainability for multinational corporations and government entities Judging from the success of CESCO Inc where she has been President and CEO since 1985 and her recognized contributions to WBENC since the organizationrsquos founding in 1997 she is succeeding



As a result Bryant Schultz has built an enviable client list including Energy Future

Holdings Raytheon JC Penney and UPS as well as federal and regional government

entities from the US Department of Defense to the City of Dallas and numerous

independent school districts

Bryant Schultz has also developed innovative ways to deliver those services For EFH

CESCO partnered with Xerox to create an optimal terms pricing and service package

that according to EFH Vice President of Supplier Diversity and former WBENC Board

Chair Cheryl Stevens resulted in ldquooutstanding service quality workmanship and a

commitment to excellence and innovative processes for our companyrdquo

CESCO has proven that partnering with the equipment manufacturer can both reduce

costs and increase customer satisfaction for our clients

A passionate believer in the ability of women to learn from and help each other she

created the concept of a WBE Best Practices Think Tank Initiative for women business

owners which along with other similar models are being used by the Regional Partner

Organizations today

WBENC has been a source of WBEs partners for Bryant Schultz After she spoke on a

panel at the 2012 WBENC Summit and Salute sharing her Best Practices in Managed

Print Services she was approached by a woman business owner who provides high

quality toner cartridge manufactured in the US ldquoThis would be a natural resource

for CESCO she says and now they are exploring ways to partner From the beginning

women have been critical to my companyrsquos successrdquo Bryant Schultz says

She continues to explore the WBENCLink database where she has been successful in

finding other WBEs who have assisted in expanding the capacity for CESCO in serving

corporate WBENC members

Bryant Schultz is a long-time visionary activist for women entrepreneurs She is a

founding Board Member of WBENC and the North Texas Womenrsquos Business Council

now the Womenrsquos Business Council Southwest She is Chair Emeritus of the Womenrsquos

Enterprise Leadership Forum was a 2006 WBE Star and received the 2001 Applause

Award In 2010 she was honored with the Inaugural Induction into the Womenrsquos

Business Enterprise Hall of Fame at the Womanrsquos Museum in Dallas

Bryant Schultz isnrsquot resting on her laurels By keeping her sights fixed on her business

credo ldquoSolving business challenges by providing cost-cutting sustainable solutions

through partnering relationshipsrdquo she is demonstrating just how valuable WBEs can

be to each other and corporate members of WBENC

To learn more about CESCO Inc visit wwwcesco-incnet

BILLIE BRYANT SCHULTZPresident amp CEOCESCO Inc

CERTIFICATION

WBE SUCCESS STORY CHRIS SCHLESINGER FOUNDER amp CEO BEST FINISHING INC

2012 Award Winner Times Two

Best Finishing Inc (BFI) an industrial distribution and applications engineering company located in Tucson Arizona has grown significantly over the past three years adding customers and products

Chris Schlesinger founder amp CEO of the company is passionate about her business and upholds a business model that offers each customer the best possible solution for their

needs and not just a product

ldquo If it drives flies or rides has a polished finish or gleaming components Best Finishing has a money-saving solution and a product to help it shine brighterrdquo Schlesinger said ldquoQuality and image are everything in the metal finishing industry We consistently give our customers what a lot of larger companies canrsquot customized application expertise solution-focused service broad inventory managed tool cribs and reliable distribution and delivery systemsrdquo

Schlesinger attributes much of BFIrsquos success to their intellectual capital and focus

ldquo Collectively Best Finishing (BFI) has what is likely the deepest and broadest brain trust for a company of its size in this industryrdquo according to Schlesinger ldquoAnd itrsquos focused on developing innovative products and regional distribution solutions that are reducing operating costs and creating superior value for our customersrdquo

Accompanying impressive strides in growth during a major recession Best Finishing Inc is a 2012 award winner ldquotimes twordquo 2012 Arizona Master Success Award and 2012 Minority and Small Business Alliance Distributor of the Year Award

Schlesinger was recognized with top honors at the 2012 Arizona Success Awards and Legislative Lunch by winning the Master Success Award which was presented by the Arizona Small Business Development Center (AZSBDC) Network and the US Small Business Administration (SBA) The event was held on March 29 at the Arizona State Capitol where Schlesinger was congratulated by Arizona governor Jan Brewer The AZSBDC Network is Arizonarsquos largest and most accessible source of assistance for small business



Best Finishing Inc was chosen because of owner Chris Schlesingerrsquos ability to identify and fulfill an important market need in an industry where the needs of customers had always taken a backseat to distribution strategies

ldquo The Success Awards provide an annual opportunity to recognize and applaud the achievements of Arizona small businessesrdquo said AZSBDC State Director Janice Washington ldquoChris rewrote the book on selling and serving metal finishing customers in a sector that had always been manufacturer driven Her dedication to providing customer solutions was a real game changer for her companyrdquo

BFI went on to be named 2012 Minority and Small Business Alliance (MSBA) Distributor of the Year of Southern Arizona in July The Minority and Small Business Alliance presented awards to outstanding minority-owned businesses for demonstrating success as business owners and commitment to their communities This yearrsquos event honored local minority-owned businesses from six business areas

Schlesinger is a veteran in an industry that has traditionally been lacking female success stories She founded BFI in 2000 with $500 and a personal line of credit A dozen years later she runs an expanding award-winning finishing products company with a global customer base and a fast-track future ahead Revenues doubled from 2009 to 2011 which resulted in adding new jobs The business continues to have impressive growth in 2012 Schlesinger expects to add even more employees in 2013

BFI has been Womenrsquos Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) certified for 10 years Schlesinger is a graduate of the TUCK-WBENC Executive Program which focuses on increasing the competitive advantage and robustness of the participantrsquos own business Schlesinger works with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in her region and the SBArsquos Office of Women-Owned Small Businesses to pursue new procurement opportunities

Best Finishing Inc anticipates a bright future According to Schlesinger

ldquo Innovation and teamwork are directly responsible for BFIrsquos enterprise performance and momentum We consider it our job to make our customers and their products look good to their customers around the globe It is their satisfaction and success that has made Best Finishing one of the fastest growing companies in the metal finishing industryrdquo

To learn more about Best Finishing Inc visit wwwbestfinishingcom

CHRIS SCHLESINGERFounder amp CEOBest Finishing Inc

OPPORTUNITIES

2013 SUMMIT amp SALUTE INTRODUCES NEW WORKSHOP TRACKS

The Program Committee chaired by Ruby McCleary Director of Supplier Diversity United Airlines in collaboration with WBENC staff has developed new tracks for the workshop sessions that will debut at the Summit amp Salute March 13-14 2013 in Baltimore The new tracks are focused on delivering sessions that are relevant and interactive highlighting challenges trends and opportunities for all of our constituents while underscoring our theme of ldquoJoin Forces Succeed Togetherrdquo The three new tracks are

BUILDING amp HONING SKILLSThis track will focus on skills across procurement marketing and other relevant areas in order to enable attendees to continually build their skill sets refine their business strategies and gain an in-depth understanding of the clients that they currently serve or want to serve in the future

LEVERAGING EXPERTISEThis track will capitalize on the collective expertise of the Corporate and Government members and certified WBEs bringing their knowledge and experience to the attendees in interactive settings

BUILDING CAPACITYThis track examines growth opportunities from multiple perspectives giving an array of choices to align with business plan strategies for expanding your business

This yearrsquos Summit will feature the following workshops to choose from

DEVELOPING DIVERSE SUPPLIERSDeveloping diverse companies helping them navigate a large company and provide opportunities for proteacutegeacute companies to collaborate with one another and explore ways in which they can team This workshop will be presented by Accenture

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTINGThe advanced session will have two themes best practices to win subcontracting opportunities with Prime Contractors and how to win more prime contracts by leveraging set-aside programs and like EDWOSB 8(a) and key contract vehicles



ROI OF SUPPLIER DIVERSITYThis session is intended for the Supplier Diversity (SD) professional looking for facts to support the case for SD in hisher organization or the WBE looking for a glimpse into the corporate world Join to learn how our leading corporations approach SD and analyze the value it brings to them in innovation and marketing

PRESENT YOUR POSITION Learn the keys to ensure your strategic advantage is crystal clear and actionable for your target customers when you present your position This workshop will be presented by Ernst amp Young LLP

THE ROAD TO ldquoSTARrdquoDOMThe WBE Stars are the ldquobest of the bestrdquo ndash listen and learn about their journeys to success This is the opportunity to get your questions answered be inspired and leverage the knowledge and expertise of WBE Stars

In addition to this workshop that will feature past and present Stars you will be inspired at the Salute celebration as you get an up close and personal view of each of the 14 Womenrsquos Business Enterprise Stars for 2013

Americarsquos Top Corporations for Womenrsquos Business Enterprises will be featured in two 90 minute workshop sessions that will be open to all attendees The first session will focus on business trends and the second will look at supply chain challenges and opportunities We are excited to have three hours of insights and dialog from executives representing these prestigious companies

Complimenting the rich selection of workshops will be many networking opportunities including

Multi-Tier Opportunity Connection All WBEs who register for the Summit by January 24 2013 will have the opportunity to choose whether or not they want to participate in the Multi-Tier Meet amp Greet and have their profiles included for review to potentially be selected for one on one meetings

Our 2013 Summit amp Salute theme of ldquoJoin Forces Succeed Togetherrdquo will come to life with the rich agenda we have in store for all of our attendees Our Program Committee has been working diligently to deliver outstanding programming for all If you have not yet registered you may do so by visiting wwwwbencorgsummit-salute We look forward to seeing you in March

GOVERNMENT OPPORTUNITY EXPERIENCE WBENC presents the 2012 Government Opportunity Experience featuring Moe Vela former Director of Administration for Vice President Joe Biden

This exciting program provides knowledge of and access to the government procurement process through meetings with high-level decision makers from both the public and private sectors

WHEN March 2013WHERE Washington DCLIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE $1500 secures your spot in this meaningful intimate experience

Donrsquot miss out on this invaluable opportunity email padamswbencorg or cwatermanwbencorg to sign up TODAY

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

THE WBENC STAFF WISHES ALL OF OUR READERS A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON AND A NEW YEAR FILLED WITH HEALTH AND PROSPERITY

WE LOOK FORWARD TO DELIVERING INFORMATIVE AND EXCITING CONTENT IN FUTURE ISSUES OF THE PRESIDENTrsquoS REPORT

SEE YOU IN 2013

RECOGNITION

ANNETTE TADDEO-GOLDSTEIN 2012 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENT

Congratulations to Annette Taddeo-Goldstein Founder amp CEO of LanguageSpeak Inc

for receiving the 2012 International Business Woman of the Year (IBWOY) Award which

was presented by the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) ndash South

Florida The award was presented to Taddeo-Goldstein at OWITrsquos annual awards event

which was held at the Intercontinental Hotel Doral Florida on November 14 2012 This

event recognizes female leaders in South Florida for outstanding contributions made to

their communities The proceeds of this event are typically used to award scholarships

to young women enrolled in international business programs at local universities

Taddeo-Goldstein and LanguageSpeak Inc represented the SmallMedium-size

Company business category

LanguageSpeak Inc is a comprehensive language services company that offers a

broad range of solutions which include complete document and website translations

conference interpretation on-site language instructions in more than 240 languages

and private tutoring in over 100 languages Taddeo-Goldstein has run her enterprising

business for over 15 years and has proven that hard work and dedication do pay off

Since its inception in 1995 LanguageSpeak Inc has attracted a notable roster of blue-

chip clients including ATampT Citigroup Humana ING Standard and Poorrsquos SunLife

and Rooms to Go

Taddeo-Goldstein has been a leader since an early age who has always stood up for

doing what was right She worked to bring people together by organizing toy drives for

needy children and volunteering at local orphanages Taddeo-Goldstein got her first

taste of the entrepreneurial spirit when she was 13 There was an abundant orange

grove on her familyrsquos property Annette saw the potential to meet the needs of her

community She went door to door around her neighborhood selling oranges The

response was overwhelming and influenced her lifersquos direction

Her story is classic building on a diverse background to achieve success and prepare

for the challenges of the future



ldquo I am committed to public service and want to use my personal experience to help solve the challenges our communities face As a small-business owner myself every day I work to improve peoplersquos lives and stand up for families and small business ownersrdquo

Taddeo-Goldsteinrsquos community activities and practices promoting strong business

leadership have resulted in numerous honors and awards which include but are not

limited to ldquo2012 International Business Woman of the Year Awardrdquo presented by

Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) ldquo2011 Top-500 Hispanic Business in the USrdquo

by DiversityBusinesscom and ldquoTop-100 Small Business in Floridardquo Business Leader

Magazine honored Taddeo-Goldstein with the ldquo2009 South Florida Movers amp Shakers

Awardrdquo She was named ldquoBusinesswoman of the Year Women Impacting Public

Policy (WIPP) Entrepreneurial Diversity Awardrdquo in 2007 selected by Small Business

Administration (SBA) as the ldquo2005 Minority Business Champion of the Yearrdquo and

received the ldquoLatina Excellence Awardrdquo from Hispanic Magazine In addition May 9 was

proclaimed to be ldquoAnnette Taddeo Dayrdquo by Miami-Dade County Commissioners for her

exemplary contributions and accomplishments which lead to lasting impressions on

the countyrsquos residents She served on the Executive Board of Women Impacting Public

Policy (WIPP) and currently is the Finance Committee Co-Chair on the Executive Board

of the Womenrsquos Campaign Fund

LanguageSpeak Inc has been WBENC certified since 2001 Taddeo-Goldstein served

as the Chair of the Womenrsquos Enterprise Leadership Forum and was recognized as a

ldquoWomenrsquos Business Enterprise Starrdquo by WBENC in 2002

Taddeo-Goldstein holds strong to her mission to enhance the status and interest

of women and men in the field of international trade through the establishment of a

worldwide network of international business contacts to encourage and stimulate

the exchange of views ideas and information concerning foreign commerce and

international relations to establish educational programs conventions and other

activities to promote the employment worldwide of women in international trade and

to promote professional growth education and leadership among women employed

worldwide in foreign trade and commerce in both the public and private sectors

For information on LanguageSpeakrsquos range of services visit

wwwLanguageSpeakscom

ANNETTE TADDEO-GOLDSTEINFounder amp CEOLanguageSpeak Inc

RECOGNITION

FORD MOTOR COMPANY NAMED ldquo2012 CORPORATION OF THE YEARrdquo BY NATIONAL MINORITY SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL INC (NMSDC)

The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) honored Ford Motor

Company as the ldquo2012 Corporation of the Yearrdquo The award was presented at the

NMSDC Annual Conference and Business Fair Awards Banquet which was held in

Denver Colorado in October 2012 This is the fourth time in nearly 25 years Ford has

received this prestigious honor which recognizes the companyrsquos commitment to

economically empowering minority women and veteran-owned businesses and job

creation NMSDCrsquos Annual Conference and Business Fair is the nationrsquos benchmark

forum addressing the trends and issues on purchasing international markets

strategic sourcing and access to capital for Asian Black Hispanic and Native American

business owners

ldquo Our suppliers are a key part of our One Ford team and we are committed to building a supplier base that reflects our employees our customers and our shareholdersrdquo said Alan Mulally Ford president and CEO ldquoHaving a broad and diverse supplier base reinforces our commitment to the communities where we live and work and enables us to serve customers with a full family of vehicles offering the very best quality fuel efficiency safety smart design and valuerdquo

The ldquoCorporation of the Yearrdquo award is bestowed annually to the selected prestigious

organization in recognition of their exemplary achievements in the area of minority

supplier development It is the most sought-after honor for major corporations that

are dedicated to improving the overall participation of Asian Black Hispanic and

Native American suppliers in the global corporate supply chain Receiving this award

is regarded as the most significant honor to a major organization for the utilization of

this group of minority suppliers In order for a company to be considered for this award

they have to had demonstrated exceptional strength in areas critical to maintaining a

solid minority supplier development process



ldquo Presenting this award to Ford is a fitting way to continue celebrating our 40th anniversaryrdquo said NMSDC President Joset B Wright ldquoFord has been a true supporter of NMSDCrsquos supplier diversity initiatives for more than 30 years In 2012 Ford took its efforts to a new level embodying an absolute model of minority supplier development and collaboration with its company policies supplier investment technology support and creation of joint ventures and strategic alliancesrdquo

Ford has steadily regained its presence among the worldrsquos leading automakers

since the adverse impact of the 2007 economic downturn In 2011 Ford purchased

a company record $508 billion in goods and services from more than 400 certified

minority business enterprises (MBEs) a 31 percent growth over 2010 Prior to 2011

Ford facilitated 13 joint venturesstrategic alliances to increase MBE-to-MBE business

opportunities as well as MBE and major corporations Ford Motor Company has spent

more than $50 billion with certified MBEs since 1996

Ford embraces NMSDCrsquos ldquobest practicesrdquo for minority

supplier development to enhance its corporate

supplier diversity processes and build capacity for

MBEs In support of NMSDC and its network of 36

affiliate councils in 2011 the company volunteered

more than 5000 hours for more than 36 committees

and events The automaker sponsored three MBEs for

membership in NMSDCrsquos Corporate Plus Program and

participates on NMSDCrsquos International Program Advisory Committee Additionally Ford

procurement and supplier diversity executives hold leadership roles on the NMSDC

board and the board of the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council

ldquo 2012 has been a banner year for us for supplier diversity developmentrdquo said Tony Brown group vice president Global Purchasing Ford ldquoFord is the first automaker to win WBENC and NMSDC top corporation awards in one year These awards recognize the hard work of our Ford team and confirm our One Ford plan is working to deliver vehicles people truly want and value with industry-leading quality fuel efficiency safety and smart technologyrdquo

For more information about Ford Motor Company Supplier Diversity Programs visit

their website httpwwwfordsddcomsdd_programsdd_programhtm

NMSDC President Joset B Wright (center black dress with white collar) presented the 2012 Corporation of the Year Award to Ford Motor Company at its the conclusion of its annual conference and business opportunity fair in Denver Colorado on October 31 Pictured directly to her right (front row) is Carla Preston of Ford and NMSDC Vice Chairman Shelley Stewart Jr of DuPont Also celebrating the award are Tony Brown group vice president Ford global purchasing (6th from the right) Ford purchasing and supplier diversity executives and a group of the companyrsquos minority suppliers

RECOGNITION

WBE SUCCESS STORY LILY OTIENO Lily Otieno President amp CEO Infinity Business Solutions (IBS) Consulting Services

Otieno recognized as a ldquoNational Supplier of the Yearrdquo in the ldquoClass Irdquo category by National Minority Supplier Development Council Inc (NMSDC) for distinguishing herself and services provided by ldquoInfinity Business Solutionsrdquo successfully demonstrating growth in sales and employment consistently providing high quality products and services at competitive prices offering innovative approaches and cost savings ideas continuously growing MBE-to-MBE purchases and significantly contributing to the growth and development of society and her community

The National Minority Supplier Development Council Inc (NMSDC) awarded the top Minority Supplier of the Year winners at the awards banquet which was held on Wednesday October 31 2012 closing the four day 2012 Conference and Business Opportunity Fair which was held in Denver Colorado Regional Minority Supplier of the Year awards were bestowed to 16 outstanding Asian Black Hispanic and Native American-owned businesses representing a broad range of industries including constructiongeneral contracting creative services facilities maintenance information technology security systems staffing and professional services and transportation services

ldquo NMSDC is proud to honor this yearrsquos regional supplier of the year winnersrdquo said NMSDC President Joset B Wright ldquoThey represent the best-of-the-best among our 16000 certified minority businesses providing innovative products and exemplary service to their corporate customers in support of the global supply chainrdquo

The National Supplier of the Year Award is an additional acknowledgment which was awarded to four of the Regional Minority Supplier of the Year winners The National Supplier of the Year Award includes four levels of achievement based on annual sales Regional winners are nominated by their corporate customers to be considered for the National Supplier of the Year Award NMSDC-certified minority-owned businesses are evaluated on the basis of business growth development and performance community service and the ability to overcome challenges brought on by the company ownerrsquos heritage or background

Infinity Business Solutions (IBS) located in Buena Park California was nominated for the National Supplier of the Year Award by two of their customers Southern California Gas Company and Los Angeles World Airport for outstanding work in developing customized business training modules for their organizations IBS won the Class I category for their region

LILY OTIENOPresident amp CEO Infinity Business Solutions


Lily Otieno is the President and CEO of IBS which was established in 2005 The minority-owned performance management consulting firm works with five training consultants and focuses on supplier development training contractoperational readiness and serves as a liaison for diverse business enterprises The companyrsquos annual sales experienced a 50 percent leap since 2011 resulting from Otienorsquos inspiration to retool IBSrsquos original ldquoEmployee Development and Growthrdquo training modules to those focused on ldquoLeadership and Supplier Development Trainingrdquo This strategic redirection greatly enhanced IBSrsquos value to corporations which in turn created lucrative opportunities for growth IBS offers supplier procurement training and leadership development strategies based on sourcing requirements Training includes technical assistance capacity building and professional development to diverse suppliers enabling them to be strategic in the market place

Along with receiving these NMSDC awards Otienorsquos work has been recognized by other organizations which have also honored her success including ldquo2012 Minority Champion of the Yearrdquo by the US Small Business Administration Region IX 2012 WBE Supplier of the Yearrdquo by Womenrsquos Business Enterprise Council West and the ldquo2011 WBE Advocate of the Yearrdquo by Womenrsquos Business Enterprise National Council-West

Otieno has been WBENC Certified since 2007 She was one of 51 WBENC Certified WBEs who participated in the 2012 TuckndashWBENC Executive Program this past Fall Otieno is a Womenrsquos Business Enterprise Council (WBEC)-West Region Los Angeles Forum Chair who volunteers her time liaising between WBEs and WBEC-West locally and nationally supporting women business owners in their quest to be knowledge leaders Otieno attributes much of her success as a result of helping others

ldquo WBENC certification has influenced my growth tremendouslyrdquo said Otieno ldquoI serve as the LA Forum Chair and in collaboration with WBEC-West President amp CEO Pamela Williamson and the vice chairs lead the Los Angeles forum in designing the strategic plan and implementing the forum programs in LA region We have developed several WBE programs that focus on corporate procurement and leveraging certifications My involvement with WBEC-West has greatly influenced my success along with learning from and helping other WBEs to succeedrdquo

When Otieno is not preparing for training programs she is engaged in supporting the Boys amp Girls Club of Buena Park and the Asian Business Association of Orange County (ABAOC)among other non-profits In addition to spending several years helping organizations meet their performance demands through leadership and development training IBS has developed the Supplier Development workshop series for MWBEs who are looking to increase the chances of winning contracts

To learn more about Infinity Business Solutions please visit httpibsconsultingservicescom


RECOGNITION

APRIL DAY NAMED AS PRESIDENT WOMENrsquoS BUSINESS ENTERPRISE ALLIANCE (WBEA) ndash SOUTH TEXASThe Womenrsquos Business Enterprise Alliance (WBEA) Board of Directors selected April Day as WBEArsquos new President effective October 5 2012

Day is the former director of the WBEArsquos Houston Galveston Womenrsquos Business

Center a federally funded U S Small Business Administration resource center Since

the centerrsquos origin she has worked with over 500 women business owners providing

business solutions and technical support for sustainability and growth strategies

Ms Day brings over 13 years of financial oversight program development business

development and non-profit experience to WBEA Prior to Dayrsquos WBEA role she served

as director for the US Department of Education TRIO programs which are federal

outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for

individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds Merging business practices from her

experiences Day strives to increase the capacity of small businesses

ldquo When I review the growth of women-owned business I see a powerhouse in job creation and a source of economic growth Texas ranks second in women-owned firms yet so few take advantage of the many resources and networks available for sustainability and capacity building WBEA is poised to provide the connective links through networking mentoring and capacity building programsrdquo remarked April Day

ldquo I look forward to serving the small business community with a vision rooted in advocacy and sustainability With our cooperative agreement with the US Small Business Administration and our strong supplier diversity relationships WBEA aims to level the playing field for women-owned businessesrdquo

As an affiliate of the Womenrsquos Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) the

WBEA serves as a third-party certifying organization for women-owned business

enterprises (WBEs) in South Texas



Headquartered in Houston the Womenrsquos Business Enterprise Alliance serves over 94

counties in Texas with scholarship and mentoring programs networking activities and

educational opportunities designed to spark growth and new business opportunities

for members and their companies Whether a governmental agency corporation or

women-owned business of any size the WBEA helps to diversify businesses The

Womenrsquos Business Enterprise Alliance a nationally recognized purchasing council is a

pacesetter in helping women business enterprises grow and develop WBEA is strongly

committed to increasing opportunities for women-owned businesses and providing

qualified suppliers to corporate and government purchasers The WBEA is one of 14

regional partner organizations across the US under the WBENC national umbrella

ldquo April Day brings an intimate knowledge of the current WBEA organization and has had great success leading the WBC organization for us This along with her strong background in running non-profits and grant management positions April will help WBEA achieve our vision of the futurerdquo stated Kelly Mortensen Chevron Upstream amp Gas Supply Chain Advisor and WBEA Board Chairman

WBENC extends our heartfelt wishes to April Day for continued success We look

forward to working with Day and WBEA as we jointly strive to expand awareness of the

benefits and values which are inherent in WBENC certification creating opportunities

for women-owned business to flourish while being recognized as sustainable resources

for corporations to attain supplier diversity objectives

To learn more about WBEA and the nationally recognized WBENC certification for

women-owned businesses please visit httpwwwwbea-texasorg

APRIL DAYPresident WBEA

WOMEN ON WELLNESS

THE BEST YEAR OF YOUR LIFE

Are you ready to embark on a journey that can lead to ldquoBest Year of your Liferdquo If so stay tuned to this column throughout 2013 as Women on Wellness offers you the tools to transform your life into an amazing one Our approach during this first year of our column was to focus on YOU the Entrepreneur the Woman Business Owner Next yearrsquos focus will be related to the ways in which the health of you and your employees impacts the overall success of your business A specific focus will address the issue of employee health as a marker for maintaining a competitive advantage for your business

The bottom line to foster success is Your health which has a direct impact on the

health of your company As you know it all starts at the top Our hope is that each

of you will gain valuable wellness information that can further support your efforts

towards having the ldquoBest Year of Your Liferdquo Each month we will focus on one

health topic or issue that serves as an aspect of total well-being which will address

the different ldquoDimensions of Wellnessrdquo the physical mental emotional social

intellectual spiritual and environmental Our desire is to make this column a very

interactive and informative one We will be asking you to do some work and take time

each day to focus on some aspect of your health It is our belief that your health needs

to be the 1 priority in your life

In order to put things into perspective take a moment to reflect on your daily priorities What is important to you and

how do you gain 100 percent of the energy that you use each day to meet your priorities What percent of your energy

do you devote to each of your priorities How do you divide your time and energy to meet those priorities

100 Percent Energy Worksheet (click here) Write down your priorities Next to each one write the percent of the time

energy that you give to each of those priorities It is that simple

I hope you will take a moment to evaluate your Energy Worksheet how did you divide the amount of time and energy

amongst your priorities The next obvious question is What do you need to change give up put on the back burner or

modify in order to satisfy your desire to ldquoHave the Best Year of Your Liferdquo Understanding your priorities and which are

most important to you is an excellent beginning

Next take a moment to rate your overall health

To get started we must first be aware of our health condition and how you rate your own health status How

healthy are you From 1-10 what number would you give yourself 10 being the healthiest Based on your own self

assessment what would be just one action that you can incorporate into your life right now today to improve your

overall health


For each dimension of wellness how would you rate yourself from Low (1) to High (10) Level of Wellness

Use this worksheet (click here) to track your ratings and goals The definitions of each dimension are at the end of

this article for your reference

We want to make this process of 2013 being the Best Year of Your Life easy and achievable for each of you We are

here to help you achieve that one new health habit that will change your life forever

Take a moment now and write down what this health habit is Write it down share it with a close friend or family

member If you want you can share it with us by contacting Brenda Loube at bloubecorporatefitnessworkscom

We are excited to take the journey to the Best Year of Your Life with each of you


WELLNESS DIMENSIONS

Physical wellness encourages regular physical activity It encourages you to spend more time each week building endurance flexibility and physical strength It also encourages good nutrition and discourages the use of tobacco drugs and excessive alcohol consumption Other activities include medical self-care and appropriate use of the medical system

Emotional wellness emphasizes an awareness and acceptance of onersquos feelings Emotional wellness allows you to be aware of and accept a wide range of feelings in yourself and others Yoursquoll be able to express feelings freely and manage them effectively Yoursquoll be able to arrive at personal choices and decisions based upon the synthesis of feelings thoughts philosophies and behavior

Intellectual wellness encourages creative stimulating mental activities An intellectually well person uses the resources available to expand onersquos knowledge in improved skills along with expanding potential for sharing with others Yoursquoll discover a natural interest in keeping abreast of current issues and ideas As you develop your intellectual wellness curiosity yoursquoll actively strive to expand and challenge your mind with creative endeavors

Spiritual wellness involves seeking meaning and purpose in human existence It includes the development of a deep appreciation for the depth and expanse of life As you begin to take the wellness path yoursquoll start asking what is meaningful in my life

Social wellness is having positive interactions with and enjoying being with others It is having comfort and ease during work and leisure situations and communicating feelings and needs to others It involves developing and building close friendships and intimacy practicing empathy and effective listening caring for others and for the common good and allowing others to care for you It includes the pursuit of harmony in onersquos family

Environmental wellness is about leading a lifestyle that is respectful of our environment This includes respecting nature and those species living in it Respect for others living in our environment as well as respecting the physical environment itself It is about leading a lifestyle that ensures the purity of our water air and living conditions Help prevent littering and support the efforts of recycling in your community and business

We invite you to shop on our newly designed website and feel free to contact our exclusive provider for even more creative ideas on how to brand your businessbusiness

We are excited to launch our premier line of WBENC products to engage our community and bring awareness to the WBENC brand


WBDC Webinar Getting a GSA Schedule ContractDecember 19 2012Virtual WebinarClick here for details

WBEC-West 1st Annual Supplier Diversity SummitJanuary 8 2013Arizona Science CenterPhoenix ArizClick here for details

WBEC-West Corporate Dine AroundJanuary 10 20131130 The Restaurant at the Arizona CenterPhoenix ArizClick here for details

NGLCC 6th Annual Financial Services Diversity Leadership AwardsJanuary 14 2013New York Stock ExchangeNew York NYClick here for details

WBDC Procurement Meeting Hosted by Minneapolis Public School DistrictJanuary 30 2013Minneapolis Public School DistrictMinneapolis MinnClick here for details

WBCS 2013 Parade of Stars Awards GalaJanuary 31 2013Omni HotelDallas TexasClick here for details

ISM Women Executive Supply Management Summit February 5-7 2013Doubletree by Hilton New OrleansNew Orleans LaClick here for details

WBEC-PA-DE-sNJ Listening to Your BusinessFebruary 27 2013Womenrsquos Business Enterprise CouncilPhiladelphia PaClick here for details

WBEC-Great Lakes 2013 Leadership Institute for Women February 28 2013Location TBAClick here for details

EDITORIAL TEAMEDITOR-IN-CHIEFPat Birmingham

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTAllison Gibson

PRODUCTION AND DESIGNLimb Design

PHOTOGRAPHYLinda JohnsonVisionista

WRITERSPaige AdamsSenior Director Development amp Corporate Relations

Kim JonesManager Corporate Member Services

Brenda LoubePrincipalFounder of Corporate Fitness Works

Jean PolingContributing Writer

Pamela Prince-EasonPresident amp CEO

Lynthia RomneyRomneyCom LLC

Candace WatermanChief of Staff

LaKesha WhiteSenior Compliance Manager

CALENDAR OF EVENTSTHIS CALENDAR INCLUDES EVENTS HOSTED BY WBENCS REGIONAL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS VISIT WBENCS ONLINE CALENDAR FOR MORE EVENTS


























FEATURES

















FEATURES


Decision Makers








































































of 6 percent




























wwwsbagovdisaster





OPPORTUNITIES









































on-site program

FOCUS ON THE FORUM



















Organizations today






















CERTIFICATION






















OPPORTUNITIES























HAPPY HOLIDAYS



SEE YOU IN 2013

RECOGNITION



















and Rooms to Go










































RECOGNITION











business owners




































RECOGNITION
















RECOGNITION






































WOMEN ON WELLNESS


























overall health











WELLNESS DIMENSIONS


































FEATURES

















FEATURES


Decision Makers








































































of 6 percent




























wwwsbagovdisaster





OPPORTUNITIES









































on-site program

FOCUS ON THE FORUM



















Organizations today






















CERTIFICATION






















OPPORTUNITIES























HAPPY HOLIDAYS



SEE YOU IN 2013

RECOGNITION



















and Rooms to Go










































RECOGNITION











business owners




































RECOGNITION
















RECOGNITION






































WOMEN ON WELLNESS


























overall health











WELLNESS DIMENSIONS









FEATURES


Decision Makers








































































of 6 percent




























wwwsbagovdisaster





OPPORTUNITIES









































on-site program

FOCUS ON THE FORUM



















Organizations today






















CERTIFICATION






















OPPORTUNITIES























HAPPY HOLIDAYS



SEE YOU IN 2013

RECOGNITION



















and Rooms to Go










































RECOGNITION











business owners




































RECOGNITION
















RECOGNITION






































WOMEN ON WELLNESS


























overall health











WELLNESS DIMENSIONS




































































of 6 percent




























wwwsbagovdisaster





OPPORTUNITIES









































on-site program

FOCUS ON THE FORUM



















Organizations today






















CERTIFICATION






















OPPORTUNITIES























HAPPY HOLIDAYS



SEE YOU IN 2013

RECOGNITION



















and Rooms to Go










































RECOGNITION











business owners




































RECOGNITION
















RECOGNITION






































WOMEN ON WELLNESS


























overall health











WELLNESS DIMENSIONS









OPPORTUNITIES









































on-site program

FOCUS ON THE FORUM



















Organizations today






















CERTIFICATION






















OPPORTUNITIES























HAPPY HOLIDAYS



SEE YOU IN 2013

RECOGNITION



















and Rooms to Go










































RECOGNITION











business owners




































RECOGNITION
















RECOGNITION






































WOMEN ON WELLNESS


























overall health











WELLNESS DIMENSIONS







































on-site program

FOCUS ON THE FORUM



















Organizations today






















CERTIFICATION






















OPPORTUNITIES























HAPPY HOLIDAYS



SEE YOU IN 2013

RECOGNITION



















and Rooms to Go










































RECOGNITION











business owners




































RECOGNITION
















RECOGNITION






































WOMEN ON WELLNESS


























overall health











WELLNESS DIMENSIONS

























Organizations today






















CERTIFICATION






















OPPORTUNITIES























HAPPY HOLIDAYS



SEE YOU IN 2013

RECOGNITION



















and Rooms to Go










































RECOGNITION











business owners




































RECOGNITION
















RECOGNITION






































WOMEN ON WELLNESS


























overall health











WELLNESS DIMENSIONS









CERTIFICATION






















OPPORTUNITIES























HAPPY HOLIDAYS



SEE YOU IN 2013

RECOGNITION



















and Rooms to Go










































RECOGNITION











business owners




































RECOGNITION
















RECOGNITION






































WOMEN ON WELLNESS


























overall health











WELLNESS DIMENSIONS




















OPPORTUNITIES























HAPPY HOLIDAYS



SEE YOU IN 2013

RECOGNITION



















and Rooms to Go










































RECOGNITION











business owners




































RECOGNITION
















RECOGNITION






































WOMEN ON WELLNESS


























overall health











WELLNESS DIMENSIONS























HAPPY HOLIDAYS



SEE YOU IN 2013

RECOGNITION



















and Rooms to Go










































RECOGNITION











business owners




































RECOGNITION
















RECOGNITION






































WOMEN ON WELLNESS


























overall health











WELLNESS DIMENSIONS









RECOGNITION



















and Rooms to Go










































RECOGNITION











business owners




































RECOGNITION
















RECOGNITION






































WOMEN ON WELLNESS


























overall health











WELLNESS DIMENSIONS









































RECOGNITION











business owners




































RECOGNITION
















RECOGNITION






































WOMEN ON WELLNESS


























overall health











WELLNESS DIMENSIONS


































RECOGNITION
















RECOGNITION






































WOMEN ON WELLNESS


























overall health











WELLNESS DIMENSIONS

















RECOGNITION






































WOMEN ON WELLNESS


























overall health











WELLNESS DIMENSIONS






























WOMEN ON WELLNESS


























overall health











WELLNESS DIMENSIONS



















WELLNESS DIMENSIONS









wbenc december president's report

Documents

best year

corporation best practices

best finishing

international business

wbecwest corporate

marriott international

government spotlight

sbas government