WPEO Announces Big Increase In Value Of Done Deals With Women-owned Businesses And Corporate Members In Washington, D.C. Region

NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A significant increase in the total value of Done Deals™, representing contracts completed between certified Women's Business Enterprises (WBEs) and corporate members in the Washington, D.C. region, was announced today at the Women Presidents' Educational Organization (WPEO) annual Breakthrough Breakfast in Washington, D.C.  A total of 4,628 contracts worth $62,189,671 were completed between the region's certified Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) and Corporate Members during the challenge period, from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016.

WPEO provides WBENC certification, the most widely-recognized and respected third-party national certification in the U.S. for WBEs. WPEO serves two northeast regions: WPEO-DC (Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia) and WPEO-NY (New York State, Northern and Central New Jersey -- through Trenton -- and counties on the Southern Connecticut shoreline – including Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex and New London).

Being officially certified as a woman-owned diverse supplier can result in opportunities previously inaccessible to women's businesses. The Done Deals™ program publicly recognizes the successes of WBEs and Corporate Members. It also helps measure the impact WPEO has achieved in increasing business opportunities and contracting activity between WBEs and WBEs, as well as between WBEs and WPEO Corporate Members.

Dr. Marsha Firestone, WPEO President and Founder, said, "We are witnessing a dramatic escalation in WPEO corporate members doing business with a wide range of certified WBEs. Building a diverse supplier base is a critical component of building strategically sound procurement programs."

The 2016 WPEO Done Deals award winners in the WPEO-DC region are:

• WBE Done Deals Connection Award – AdNet/AccountNet, Inc.
  • WBE that reports the most Done Deals with other WPEO-certified WBEs
• Done Deals Corporate Champion Award – Freddie Mac
  • Corporate Member with the highest cumulative value of Done Deals with WPEO certified WBEs
• WBE Done Deals Champion Award – Soft Stuff Distributors, Inc.
  • Certified WBE that reports the largest number of Done Deals with WPEO Corporate Members
• Done Deals Corporate Opportunity Award – Capital One Financial
  • WPEO Corporate Member that reports the most Done Deals with WPEO-certified WBEs

WPEO Board Chair Eliseo Rojas, Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer, The Interpublic Group, said "This year's Breakthrough Breakfast theme focuses on how WBEs are responding to trends that will drive future innovation in building their businesses. Building relationships with diverse suppliers helps harness innovative ideas and processes, while gaining a competitive advantage."

Sandra Eberhard, Executive Director of the WPEO branch in the Washington, D.C. region, said "We are extremely impressed with the significant escalation in the value of contracts completed between WBEs and Corporate Members in our territory during this challenge period. These results offer compelling evidence illustrating the profitable business opportunities that can result for all parties."

About The Women Presidents' Educational Organization:
The Women Presidents' Educational Organization (WPEO) is a regional affiliate of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation's premier third-party certification organization for women-owned businesses. The mission of the WPEO is to create increased access to business opportunities for WBEs. Its programs develop skills and knowledge for WBEs, advocate in the public and private sectors, foster relationships between WBEs, corporations and the government, and provide certification services.

WPEO provides full service third-party certification to women entrepreneurs in the New York, Northern New Jersey, Southern Connecticut and the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas.  WPEO is incorporated in the state of New York and is recognized as a 501(c) (3) organization. For more information please visit www.wpeo.us. Follow us on Twitter@wpeonydc; like us on Facebook@TheWPEO.

Contact: Susan Johnson
[email protected]  
212-688-4114 Office
917-601-5778 Mobil

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SOURCE Women Presidents' Educational Organization

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