WPEO Annual Awards Acknowledge Significant Achievements By Accomplished Women Business Owners, Innovative Corporations And Influential Advocates

NEW YORK, March 9, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- What better time than Women's History Month to salute the success of distinguished women's business enterprises (WBEs) and the corporations who champion them. These accolades, announced today by the Women Presidents' Educational Organization (WPEO) at the Annual Awards breakfast, reflect singular achievement and accomplishment by a dynamic community of certified women-owned businesses and companies with which they do business. This year's theme focuses on "Changes and Opportunities on the Horizon." Awardees are all located in two Northeast regions – 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) and WPEO-DC (Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia).

A significant number of Fortune 1000 companies require that vendors be officially certified as women-owned entrepreneurs, in order to participate in their supplier diversity programs. WPEO confers the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) third-party certification, the nation's premier accreditation for companies that are at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by women. WPEO helps its Corporate Members tap into a pool of high caliber vendors and connects WBEs in a variety of industries with each other.

Winners of the Outstanding Corporation Awards meet stringent criteria. This includes significant accomplishments in support of WPEO women's business enterprises and the women's business community, as well as innovation, participation in the proprietary Done Deals™ challenge and overall commitment to the WPEO mission. Advocate awardees are selected based on significant involvement with WPEO and support of women-owned businesses. The President's Award winners, selected by Marsha Firestone, Ph.D., WPEO President and Founder, and Sandra Eberhard, Executive Director, WPEO-DC, have gone above and beyond in their service to the WPEO.

The 2018 award winners include:

DC

• Outstanding Corporation – Aetna
• Outstanding Business Advocate – Marcia Foose, the Americas Government and Public Sector Director, EY
• Star Award – Kay Hamilton, The Hamilton Group
• President's Award – Carol Muszynski, President, Eighth Day Design and Kathy Benson, Co-Founder, Office Remedies, Inc.

NY

• Outstanding Corporation – Morgan Stanley
• Outstanding Business Advocate – Shendora Pridgen, Executive Director, Global Head of Supplier Diversity, Morgan Stanley
• Star Award – Hetal Parikh, Rangam Consultants
• President's Award – Linda Hamilton, Linda A. Hamilton, CPA, LLC and Judy Robinson (retired)

"The disruptive influence of technology is evident in many industries – financial, engineering and utilities. The theme of this year's awards program charges us to look at the challenges and opportunities on the horizon -- posed by technology and many other influences -- and how they will impact women business enterprises in the ongoing effort to provide better products and services for their clients," said Eliseo Rojas, Founder & CEO, ETR Business Solutions, Inc. and Chair, WPEO Board.

Dr. Marsha Firestone, WPEO President and Founder, said "The possibilities for women entrepreneurs are at a tipping point. The changes currently underway in today's dynamic business landscape have ignited unprecedented opportunities and are translating into greater contracting potential for women business owners."

Sponsors for the 2018 Annual Breakfast include:

• Platinum Level: Dominion Energy
• Diamond Level: Ampcus, Inc.; Avis Budget Group; Capital One; Interpublic Group; Microsoft Corporation; Wells Fargo
• Corporate Lead: AIG; Bank of America; Consolidated Edison Company of NY; Microsoft Corporation
• WBE Lead: ADCO Electrical Systems; Daystar Promotions; Raare Solutions; The Studio; HighRoad Press, Progressive Promotions

About The WPEO
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's Business Enterprises (WBEs). 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 full service, third-party certification to women entrepreneurs in areas that include New York, Northern New Jersey, Southern Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. 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  or call (212) 688-4114. Follow us on Twitter @WPEONYDC. Like us on Facebook @TheWPEO.

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

SOURCE Women Presidents' Educational Organization

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