WBDC Chicago celebrates another successful year

The Women’s Business Development Center Chicago held its 21st annual Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference at Chicago’s Navy Pier Sept. 26 and 27. The conference opened with the Woman-to-Woman Power Mentoring Breakfast on Sept. 26, and featured some of Chicago’s top women business owners and past WBDC

Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year award recipients who hosted mentoring roundtables. Following the breakfast was the Women’s Business and Buyers Mart, which featured over 200 government and corporate exhibitors who are committed to buying products and services from women business enterprises. In addition to the buyer’s mart, a vast array of topics at general sessions,workshops and roundtable discussions covered issues such as expanding a business through corporate and government contracts, international trade, taking your business “green,”and obtaining business financing.

Martha Stewart, founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, delivered the keynote address. Stewart’s keynote presentation coincided with the annual Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon, held Sept. 26, honoring women in various stages of business growth, as well as advocates for women’s economic development and supplier diversity.

Those receiving awards were:
Dee Robinson Reid, president and CEO of Robinson-Hill Group, Inc., in Chicago – 2007 Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year; Mary Skipton, president of Energon, Inc., in Chicago – 2007 Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year – Women’s Business Enterprise Success Award; Sarah Stopek Hirsch, president of Sublime Promotions, Inc., in Chicago – 2007 Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year – Rising Star Award; Beth Kieffer Leonard, managing partner of Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Company, LLP, in Minneapolis – 2007 Advocacy Award; and Sandra Rand, director of supplier diversity for United Airlines – 2007 Corporate Support Award.

“We at the Women’s Business Development Center are thrilled with the success of our 21st annual conference with over 2,200 participants and wonderful sponsors, presenters, and speakers, including Martha Stewart who was both fascinating and motivating,” said Hedy M. Ratner,WBDC co-president.

On Sept. 27, several nationally recognized women business owners headlined the annual Women’s Forum Luncheon. Always a lively,candid discussion,the speakers shared their business success as well as the greatest challenges they have faced, and offered advice for overcoming challenges. Moderated by author and Chicago Sun-Times financial columnist Terry Savage, this year’s panelists included Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun, founder and president, Good Food Organics, Inc. ™; Mercedes LaPorta, of Miami, president and CEO, Mercedes Electric Supply, Inc.; Katrina Markoff, of Chicago, owner and chocolatier,Vosges Haut-Chocolat; and Dr.Taryn Rose, of Culver City,Calif., president and founder,Taryn Rose International.