Michigan's Largest Conference for Women Business Owners on September 26 and 27 at Rock Financial Showplace in Novi.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Studies Indicate Women Business Owners Are Increasing at Twice the Rate of Male Counterparts, and Michigan Ranks Sixth in the Nation for the Number of Women Business Owners

According to the Center for Women's Business Research in Washington, D.C., Michigan ranks sixth nationally in the number of privately-held, 50% or more women-owned firms. Additionally, studies indicate that the numbers of women business owners are increasing at twice the rate of their male counterparts. Thus, Michigan women business owners and those who imagine becoming a business owner are invited to Michigan's largest conference for women business owners, the Michigan Women's Business Council's (MWBC) 6th Annual Michigan Women's Business Conference and Expo. This two-day event sponsored by General Motors Corporation and LaSalle Bank will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 26-27 at the state-of-the-art Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Mich.

The Conference is designed to create opportunities for women business owners to form strategic alliances and business-to-business opportunities with major corporations and other women business owners. MWBC, a program of the Center for Empowerment and Economic Development (CEED) committed to educating and promoting the ownership and certification of women-owned businesses, first introduced this Conference in 2001. It realized women business owners' lack of opportunities in meeting with corporate purchasers/decision-makers and other women-owned businesses.

Key conference highlights -- Women's Summit Luncheon, meeting corporate purchasers, and workshops/presentations by local and national professionals.

"Our conference addresses the needs of both aspiring and established women business owners and delivers strategies for succeeding in a highly-competitive market," said Michelle Richards, Executive Director of CEED and MWBC President. "The conference provides huge value and opportunities for women business owners," she said of this conference that has experienced approximately 20-percent growth in attendance each year. Some 550 individuals attended last year, and based on the exciting offerings this year, MWBC envisions 700 attendees this September.

Conference Highlights

Awards Luncheon Featuring Bo Andersson of General Motors - Bo Andersson, Vice President, Global Purchasing & Supply Chain at General Motors Corporation, represents the keynote speaker for the Awards Luncheon. He will be recognized in Minority BusinessNews USA Magazine as one of the 100 Men Impacting Supplier Diversity. GM always supported women-owned businesses under its Supplier Diversity Program and recently reaffirmed its commitment and recognized the inclusion of women-owned businesses in its formal supplier diversity program. Purchases from women-owned businesses will be included in GM's minority spending total starting next year. Bo will discuss GM's ongoing commitment to minority suppliers and what they need to do to become suppliers to GM. The luncheon also will honor MWBC WBEs and corporate award winners.

2nd annual Women's Leadership Forum -- The MWBC conference officially begins with a new collaboration with NAWBO. A panel discussion and Q&A will discuss how these leading business organizations are working to advance the interests of women business owners and WBEs, and will discuss the national landscape and trends for women business owners. Panelists -- Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) National President and Executive Director Susan Bari, NAWBO national president and Chicago-based business owner Carol Kuc, and Executive Director of the Center for Women's Business Research (CWBR) in Washington, DC, Sharon Hadary.

Workshops (descriptions, presenters, interviews available upon request) -- Smooth Sales Strategies for Selling Success, Marketing Boot Camp, Gaining Efficiency at a Cost You Can Afford, Networking for Success, Building a Foundation to Success, WBEs in a Flat World, The Power of the Purse, Selling Beyond "No", Business Planning: A Blueprint for Success.

Silent Auction -- benefits MWBC programs and includes Power Lunches auctioned from such high-power individuals such as Bo Andersson, Vice President, Global Purchasing & Supply Chain, General Motors Corporation, and Tony Brown, Vice President, Global Purchasing, Ford Motor Company.

Networking Reception with women-owned businesses and corporations.

Expo Hall - On day two of the conference, purchasing professionals from more than 75 corporations, such as Ford, GM, Volkswagen, Honda, Chrysler, Kellogg, University of Michigan, Herman Miller, TCF Bank, LaSalle Bank, National City, and Key Bank, will meet WBEs and women business owners for possible future business.

Michigan-Based Statistics on Women-Owned Businesses

(From Center for Women's Business Research, www.womensbusinessresearch.org)

Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the Center projects the following statistical portrait of privately-held, women-owned businesses in Michigan in 2004:

--An estimated 357,298 privately-held, 50% or more women-owned firms in Michigan, accounting for 50.1% of all privately-held firms state-wide, including:

--An estimated 236,862 privately-held, majority (51% or more) women-owned firms in Michigan, accounting for 33.2% of all privately-held firms in the state

--An estimated 120,437 privately-held, equally (50-50) women- and men-owned firms in Michigan, accounting for 16.9% of all privately-held firms in the state

--The 357,298 firms generate more than $78 billion in sales and employ 611,791 people

--Between 1997 and 2004, the number of privately-held, 50% or more women-owned firms in Michigan are estimated to have increased by 20.4%, employment grew by 23.2%, and sales increased by 43.8%

--Among the 50 states and Washington, DC, Michigan ranks 6th in the number of privately-held, 50% or more women-owned firms in 2004, 8th in employment, and 8th in sales

--Michigan ranks 18th in the growth in the number of privately-held, 50% or more women-owned firms between 1997 and 2004

For more information and to register for the MWBC Conference and Expo, please visit www.miceed.org or call 734-677-1400.

To arrange a news story, interviews and photography/b-roll, please call Anahid Lisa Derbabian at Integrity Communications, at 248 202.0583.