Women in Business 2007

Dates: 25-28 June, 2007

Location: Los Angeles, California

WIB 2007 will be WBENC’s 8th annual conference. It’s not too early to start thinking about sponsorships for this great event. WIB 2006 had over 2,500 participants. We anticipate that WIB 2007 will be bigger and will build on the success of WIB 2006.

Have you filled out the survey sent from WBENC? This gives you an opportunity to participate in the planning for next year’s conference because WBENC reviews what worked and what did not work for the attendees and corporate sponsors. Click the link to answer the survey: WIB2006 Post-Conference Evaluation

Please be on the look out for WIB 2007 Sponsorship opportunities – WBENC will send those out starting 16 August 2006. Take a look at the sponsorship opportunities from WIB 2006 http://www.wbenc.org/wib2006/sponsorships/index.htm to get an idea of what might be available…. Hurry (!) the sponsorship opportunities go fast.  Questions? Contact Nancy Allen at nancyallen@womensbusiness.info

A Day In The Life:  A First Time Attendee's Perspective on WIB 2006

by Rachelle Stone

As I begin to draft this, I am preparing to leave for WIB2006 which is being hosted here in our very own back yard, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. I have been mulling over which angle I should approach this article from and am still not 100% on how to proceed. So, that being said, I think I will take you with me as I journey to Miami Beach, a posh room at the Delano where I will be staying with other members of the Miami Host Committee.

By now, oh educated reader, you must be wondering, ‘what is WIB2006 and what does it have to do with the meetings industry?’ Allow me an opportunity to fill in some of the blanks for you.

My name is Rachelle Stone, DMCP (Destination Management Certified Professional) and I am one of the owners of Advantage Destination & Meeting Services. We are one of the many fine DMC’s you will find here in South Florida to assist you with your in-bound meeting needs to Miami (OK that was my gratuitous self-promoting plug, no more I promise!). About 2 years ago, I received a call from one of my competitors, Lynn Griffith with Welcome Florida.

“Rachelle” she said “I know you are a woman owned business and you should check out WBENC (the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council)”. I had many questions for Lynn and she answered what she could before pointing me in the direction of Nancy Allen, President and CEO of the WBDC (Women’s Business Development Center) office in Coral Gables, a WBENC partner. Nancy furthered my education in the definition of, and process to, become a woman-owned minority-certified business.