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Hedy
Ratner and Carol Dougal are the co-founders and
co-presidents of the Women's Business Development
Center (WBDC), the largest, oldest, and most comprehensive
women's business assistance center in the United
States.
The
WBDC has offered a full service approach to launching
emerging businesses and strengthening existing businesses
owned by women in the Chicago area. Services of
the WBDC include workshops and one-on-one counseling
on all aspects of business development. Under Hedy
and Carol's direction, the WBDC has taught more
than 40,000 women entrepreneurs practical business
skills. Since opening its doors in 1986, it has
helped women-owned businesses win over $250 million
in government and private sector contracts and has
facilitated over $35 million in loans.
Hedy
Ratner has been an advocate and activists on women's
issues for 30 years. She was appointed to the National
Women's Business Council by President Clinton, and
created and was appointed by Illinois Governors
Edgar and Ryan to the Illinois Women's Business
Ownership Council and the Governor's Commission
on the Status of Women in Illinois. Her committee
and council appointments are vast.
Carol
Dougal has also been recognized with numerous awards
for her outstanding contributions to the development
of women-owned businesses. She received the Women's
Business Advocate 2000 Award from the Governor's
Small Business Summit, and the WBENCApplause and
Advocacy Award in 2000. She was named 1993 Entrepreneur
of the Year by Ernst & Young and Merrill Lynch.
She is a founding board member and a member of the
executive committee of the Women's Business Enterprise
National Council.
Hedy
Ratner and Carol Dougal have devoted their lives
to supporting and empowering women entrepreneurs
in Illinois and nationally.
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