Microsoft Boosts Support of Woman-Owned Small Businesses

Tami Reller, corporate vice president of the Microsoft Business Division at Microsoft Corp., today announced a software donation worth $150,000 for the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s leading advocate of woman-owned businesses as suppliers to corporate America. The technology donation from Microsoft will help WBENC meet the organization’s goal of expanding opportunities and eliminating barriers in the marketplace for female business owners.

“As WBENC enters its second decade of operation, we understand the important role technology plays in the success of our organization to address the needs of woman-owned businesses across America,” said Linda Denny, president of WBENC. “As a result of Microsoft’s generosity, WBENC and our 14 organizational partners will have the technology necessary to enhance our wide array of programs that range from providing a national standard of certification for woman-owned businesses to providing our corporate members and certified women’s business enterprises with better access to our programs.”

The donation was announced at WBENC’s eighth national conference and business fair, an event designed to unite female business owners with senior corporate and nonprofit executives, supplier diversity and procurement professionals, and government representatives.

The $150,000 worth of software will be distributed to WBENC over the next year to enhance programs that target woman-owned businesses. “Technology is clearly key to the continued growth and development of a strong woman-owned business community,” Reller said. “Microsoft recognizes the importance of a strong technology infrastructure. We are honored to add this donation to our ongoing support of WBENC and its organizational partners. We hope that this technology infusion will help drive forward our shared goals of expanding the success of woman-owned businesses.”

About WBENC

Founded in 1997, WBENC is the nation’s leading advocate of woman-owned businesses as suppliers to America’s corporations. It also is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States. WBENC works to foster diversity in the world of commerce with programs and policies designed to expand opportunities and eliminate barriers in the marketplace for women business owners.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential