Women's Enterprise Council South

Providing WBENC Certification...advancing opportunities for women-owned businesses

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About Us

Our mission is to advance and enhance business opportunities between women-owned businesses and corporations through a reputable certification program, education, and professional growth opportunities.

The Women's Business Enterprise Council South(WBEC South) is an organization for women business owners interested in promoting, developing and maintaining business relationships with other women business owners, major corporations and governmental agencies. We are a non-profit organization with a mission to certify bona fide women-owned businesses and to promote the activities directed at the development, establishment, expansion and encouragement of businesses owned by women. WBEC South is a certifying partner organization in the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Through our partnership with WBENC, our WBE certification process is a nationally recognized and accepted certification. WBE certification is required by numerous private-sector companies and governmental agencies.

The Women's Business Enterprise Council South includes numerous WBEs and corporate partners located in all regions of the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.

Contact Us

Looking for more specific information on certification or recertification? Interested in finding out about how WBEC South can benefit your business? Please give us a call or send us an email!

Women's Business Enterprise Council South
400 Poydras Street, Suite 1730
New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: (504) 680-6497
Fax: (504) 680-6412
e-mail: info@wbcGulfCoast.org

Women's Business Enterprise Council South
Birmingham, AL
Phone: (205) 317-9WBE (9923)

WBEC South Staff
Blanca E. Robinson
Executive Director
e-mail: blanca@wbecsouth.org
Phone: (504) 680-1886

Evelyn E. King
Director of Certification
e-mail: evelyn@wbecsouth.org
Phone: (504) 680-6497

Jennifer Rezvan
Business Development Assistant
e-mail: jennifer@wbecsouth.org
Phone: (504) 680-6473

Michelle Linton
Director of Marketing & Communications
e-mail: michelle@wbecsouth.org
Phone: (504) 680-6473

Certification and Recertification

Ready to apply for WBE certification? Need to get recertified? We've made our online process simple and straightforward...here's how to get started.

Through the Women's Business Enterprise Council South, your business can be certified as a nationally recognized Woman Business Enterprise (WBE). WBEC South is affiliated with the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Once certified, your business is listed in the WBENC national database, which is accessed by hundreds of corporations throughout the United States. Many corporations require that you be certified before they will extend a contract to you as a WBE.
You may use the online application for certification. Read the application instructions and the listing of mandatory attachments you'll be required to submit before WBEC South can process your application. For more information about the certification process, please contact our Certification Director at (504) 680-6497.

New Applicants

WBE Membership Criteria:
1. All prospective members must provide clear and documented evidence that at least 51% or more of the business is women-owned, managed, operated and controlled.
2. The business owner must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident alien.
Evidence must indicate that:
• The contribution of capital and/or expertise by the woman business owner is real and substantial, and in proportion to the interest owned.
• The woman business owner directs or causes the direction of management, policy, fiscal, and operational matters.
• The woman business owner shall have the ability to perform in the area of specialty or expertise without reliance on either the finances or resources of a firm that is not owned by a woman.
• The woman business owner holds the highest officer position in the company.
The Women's Business Enterprise Council South maintains a stringent screening process, which ensures that all firms in our membership are legitimately owned, managed, and controlled by women.

After you submit the required online application, you will receive an e-mail from WBENC instructing you to submit your documents, plus a non-refundable processing fee to us at:
Evelyn E. King
Director of Certification
Women's Business Enterprise Council South
400 Poydras Street, Suite 1730
New Orleans, LA 70130

Recertifications

All WBEs will be notified via e-mail approximately three months before their expiration date with a link to log in to their WBENC profile to complete the Recertification Form. If you are due for a site visit, please have all documentation in at least a month and a half before your expiration date. If you are not sure whether you will need a site visit, you may contact Evelyn E. King at (504) 680-6497 for the status of your file. Remember, recertification is not automatic and the process may take approximately 30 to 60 days, depending on whether a site visit is needed.

All documentation, along with the processing fee, should be sent to:
Evelyn E. King
Director of Certification
Women's Business Enterprise Council South
400 Poydras Street, Suite 1730
New Orleans, LA 70130

Questions? evelyn@wbcgulfcoast.org
Phone: (504) 680-6497
Fax: (504) 680-6412

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