Chicago Women Entrepreneurs Win OPEN from American Express Make Mine a $Million Business Awards at Local Event.

NEW YORK -- OPEN, Count-Me-In and Women's Leadership Exchange Enlist "Dream Team" of Mentors to Grow Winning Businesses into Million-Dollar Enterprises

Three fast-track women entrepreneurs from Chicago are now poised to break through the million-dollar barrier after winning OPEN from American Express Make Mine a $Million Business(TM) Awards at yesterday's Women's Leadership Exchange (WLE) conference in Chicago. Just 3% of women-owned U.S. businesses generate more than a million dollars in annual revenue, compared to 7% of men-owned businesses in the same category. The new Awards are designed to help propel women entrepreneurs to seven-figure success.

Business owners Dr. Amelia Case, of Universal Health Institute, LTD; Cynthia Ivie, of White Space Inc.; and Maribeth Vander Weele, of Vander Weele Group won the Awards after delivering powerful pitches to a panel of judges at yesterday's WLE event for women business owners. The trio will work with a "dream team" of business coaches from the WLE network in Illinois to create business plans that will help them reach $1 million in annual revenue.

Each winner will also receive a loan up to $45,000 from Count-Me-In to finance growth. Three runners-up will receive loans up to $20,000.

Make Mine a $Million Business is a collaboration among Count-Me-In for Women's Economic Independence, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing women's access to credit and capital; the Women's Leadership Exchange (WLE), an educational and networking company that conducts five annual conferences for women business owners across the United States; and OPEN from American Express.

Women-owned businesses total more than 459,000 in Illinois, representing 50% of all privately held firms in the state, according to the Center for Women's Business Research. The recent OPEN Small Business Network Monitor survey of women-owned businesses in the Chicago area indicates that women entrepreneurs in Illinois are optimistic about their business future - 68% have a positive outlook on the economy and business growth. Despite this optimism, women entrepreneurs face real barriers to growth, particularly when attempting to finance their businesses.

"More than 40% of women entrepreneurs we surveyed in Chicago tell us they have trouble accessing the financing needed to fund their business growth," said Alexa Brownell, director, Advocacy Marketing, OPEN from American Express. "The Make Mine a $Million Business program can help women overcome these and other growth barriers. By combining forces with Count-Me-In and WLE, both long-time OPEN partners, we can provide women entrepreneurs with not just the money they need, but also the coaching and contacts that will help them thrive."

"These driven and highly motivated entrepreneurs set an excellent example for all women who have a dream and who won't take 'no' for an answer," said Nell Merlino, co-founder, president and chief executive officer, Count-Me-In. "We are proud to equip them with the mentoring, money and marketing to fuel their businesses past a million dollars in revenue."

Leslie Grossman and Andrea March, co-founders of the Women's Leadership Exchange, said, "By attending a WLE conference, applicants and nominees are exposed to a wide range of successful women who can offer them the advice and support they need to get past what are often self-imposed plateaus."

Winners Matched with Chicago Area Dream Team

The three Make Mine a $Million winners represent a variety of industries -- Dr. Case's Universal Health Institute is a holistic pain relief facility; White Space Inc., owned by Ivie, helps clients organize everything from garages to living rooms to office spaces; and the Vander Weele group specializes in security and investigation services for private and public clients.

Three highly successful business women will constitute the dream team that will contribute time and know-how to help Case, Ivie and Vander Weele build million-dollar enterprises. These women are also Women's Leadership Exchange advisory board members and attendees of previous WLE conferences.

Make Mine a $Million coach Ginny McGarrity is a Vice President at Kensington International, a privately held provider of Retained Search, Outplacement and Executive Coaching. Cheryl Mayberry McKissack is Founder, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of NiaOnline(R) which provides database solutions and marketing intelligence related to African-American women entrepreneurs and their families. Hedy Ratner is founder and Co-President of the Women's Business Development Center, the largest, oldest and most comprehensive women's business assistance center in the United States.

The Make Mine a $Million Business program will continue to roll out across the United States until 15 winners and 15 runners-up are chosen. Three winners were selected at the WLE Dallas conference in March and are already working with their local mentors. The next slate of winners will be chosen August 2 at a WLE conference in Southern California, followed by WLE Atlanta on September 21 and WLE New York on November 3. Interested women business owners who would like to break the million-dollar barrier can learn more about the award criteria and apply at www.count-me-in.org.

About Count-Me-In

Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence designed, produces and administers the new Make Mine a $Million Business (TM) program. A nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, Count Me In champions women's entrepreneurship and economic independence. Dedicated to increasing access to credit and capital, the organization provides online nationwide access to micro business loans, business consultation and education to women who have been turned down by the system. We are changing the way women do business! For more information, visit www.count-me-in.org.

About Women's Leadership Exchange

The Women's Leadership Exchange (WLE) is a New York City-based multimedia company founded by and for female entrepreneurs that features educational conferences in five cities annually (Chicago, Southern California, Atlanta, New York and Dallas) for already established businesses poised for major growth. Offering women entrepreneurs access to the tools and connections that drive business growth, the WLE mission is to help develop more women leaders in business and other areas of human endeavor by connecting women with top business experts, corporate leaders and with each other. The WLE also offers its e-newsletter, "The Exchange," its online New Women's Network Directory and its women's business spa retreats. The WLE presenting sponsor is OPEN from American Express. For more information, visit www.womensleadershipexchange.com, or call 1-888-937-5800.

About OPEN from American Express

OPEN is the division of American Express that provides small business owners access to an enhanced set of products, tools, services and savings designed to help meet their evolving needs, including charge and credit cards, convenient access to working capital, robust online account management capabilities and savings on business services from an expanded lineup of partners. To obtain more information about OPEN, visit OPEN.americanexpress.com/women, or call 1-800-471-0028 to apply for a card or loan. Terms and conditions apply.

American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a world leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, business services, insurance and international banking.