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Women Adding Value Every Day
About Us
About GWBC® | Started in 2000, the Greater Women’s Business Council (GWBC®) is a non-profit organization for certified women business enterprises (WBEs) in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina interested in promoting, developing and maintaining business relationships with major corporations, government agencies and other women business enterprises.
GWBC® increases the competitive advantage of women in business through:
- Certification of bona fide WBE
- Education and development programs and informational resources on women in business and supplier diversity
- Opportunities for networking and events involving WBEs, major corporations and government agencies
GWBC® is a certifying partner organization of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and in 2007 was named WBENC’s “Partner Organization of the Year” for being the premier third-party certification agency for WBEs in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolinaand a model for the nation.
GWBC® provides the WBENC certification that is the nation’s leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America’s corporations. It is because of WBENC and GWBC’s commitment and expertise to apply the highest possible certification standards in the industry so that our corporate members and partners have access to quality WBEs nationally and regionally. WBE certification is known and accepted throughout corporate America and is the benchmark for all other supplier diversity programs.
Our Certified WBEs
Currently, GWBC® has 900+ certified WBEs in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina who are benefiting from certification, educational information and networking opportunities with major corporations, government agencies and fellow WBEs.
Programs
GWBC®’s guiding principles include investing in the people and the community. It’s important that our programs and events such as our Power of Partnering Marketplace provide a return on investment to our corporate members and equip our certified WBEs with educational business tools that provide them with a competitive edge in the marketplace. Our certified WBEs have access to several education programs and scholarship opportunities, including The Dorothy B. Brothers Scholarship and Tuck programs through WBENC and the FastTrac program through the Kaufman Foundation.
Through the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), Certified Purchasing Supply Management (CPSM) and Certified Professional Supplier Diversity (CPSD) can earn continuous education hours (CEH) by attending our learning labs and Lunch & Learns.
Greater Giving Information
The GWBC Greater Giving program continues the mission of investing in the communities where our WBEs and corporate members live and work. We kicked off this year’s program by partnering with Newell Rubbermaid for the United Way Shoebox program in Atlanta, Georgia and Lowe’s 20th Anniversary Women’s Build, Habitat for Humanity in Charlotte, NC. In 2012, we will expand our Greater Giving program in all three states of the GWBC region.
Mentor Protégé Program
The Greater Women’s Business Council Mentor Protégé Program was developed in 2008 to help certified women-owned businesses move to the next level of success.
development of their business through one on one contact, bi-monthly meetings and constant evaluation. With a focused yet flexible framework, mentoring teams are able to follow an EASI process. EASI is a four step process that enables mentoring teams to track the protégé’s process during the mentoring cycle. It’s EASI for our protégé’s to prepare for the next level of their business as they Explore, Accept, Solve and Implement their strategies for success!
As the mentor guides the protégé through the EASI process, it is the goal of the program to enable participants to develop an internal resource for future business partnerships and reposition companies to optimize opportunities for growth.
GWBC’s commitment to developing women business enterprises is the cornerstone of its existence. The staff of GWBC and the Mentor Protégé Program Committee wish participants business success that will go beyond the scope of the program.
FastTrac® Program (Scholarship Program)
The FastTrac program is a practical, hands-on, scholarship program designed to help entrepreneurs hone the skills needed to create, manage, and grow a successful business. But FastTrac participants don’t just learn about business; they live it. They work on their own business ideas or budding ventures throughout the program. Through the FastTrac Program, WBEs move from working in their business to working on their business. Visit http://fasttrac.org/ for FastTrac Program in your area.
Our Corporate Members
GWBC® is partnered with dozens of major companies who are committed to providing the financial foundation to make education, training and the standardization of national certification a reality, ultimately increasing opportunities for women business enterprises in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. GWBC’s corporate members help implement new programs and strengthen existing programs that provide opportunities for WBEs. These corporations are the driving force behind GWBC® and have partnered with women’s business organizations throughout Georgia, North Carolina, and SouthCarolina and WBEs who represent the strengths, needs, and challenges of women-owned businesses. A list of our corporate members is available online.
Recognition – Celebrating Our People
The vision of the GWBC® is to be the premier organization for women businesses, major corporations and government entities. Our board of directors and staff are the foundation of our organization and along with our committees and volunteers; we are proud of their commitment to mentor, and partner to build a community of sustainable women businesses.
We bring our mission to life through our programs and signature events that are the cornerstone of GWBC®, but our people truly make it happen. We deeply appreciate the belief our HEROs and SHEROs have in our mission, and their commitment to lean forward to the future of our success.
GWBC Smartphone Apps
Has Your Smartphone Been Certified? Download the GWBC® App on your iPhone and Blackberry today! Our app is on iPhone and Blackberry – search our acronym – GWBC Mobile.
