WBDConnect Event Offers Access to Big Business Opportunities

Women’s Business Development Center Hosts Opportunity and Connection-Creating Event September 13

CHICAGO, August 8, 2016 – Connecting powerhouse women business owners with Fortune 500 Companies is the focus of WBDConnect, a procurement, matchmaking and networking event to be presented by the Women’s Business Development Center’s (WBDC) as part of its 30th anniversary celebration on Tuesday, September 13, 1 to 6:30 p.m., in the Skyline Ballroom, Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Rd., in Rosemont.

Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) and veteran owned businesses will have a unique opportunity to pitch their products, services, and solutions directly to Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Participating WBDC partners include Abbvie, Allstate, American Airlines, AT&T, BP, Cargill, CDW, ComEd, Express Scripts, Federal Reserve Bank, General Mills, Monsanto, Navistar, Nicor, Northwestern Mutual, PepsiCo, Target, United Airlines, U.S. Bank University of Chicago, US Dept. of Energy, and Walgreens.

The afternoon is filled with opportunities for fueling businesses forward. Looking to access capital? There’s lender matchmaking session for that. Seeking information on becoming a subcontractor? Attend the Pathway to Prime seminar. A Fireside Chat featuring successful women business owners sharing their secrets of success will round out the informational and educational part of afternoon. A networking dinner at 6 p.m., will be followed by complimentary access to a WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx.

WBDConnect is the first of two WBDC signature 30th Anniversary events. On November 15, WBDCelebrate, a celebratory soiree honoring 30 years of progress of women in the marketplace, its advocates, achievers and accelerators will be held at Wintrust Grand Banking Hall in downtown Chicago.

Cost to attend WBDConnect is $100 per person for all the afternoon sessions, dinner and the game, or $50 for just the Fireside Chat, dinner and game. Tickets will be available at the door based on availability. For information and to purchase tickets for WBDConnect, visit (www.wbdc30.org) or call (312) 853-3477.

A nationally recognized economic development center, the Women’s Business Development Center, headquartered in Chicago, provides a continuum of business development services to prospective and established women entrepreneurs including counseling, training, financial, certification and procurement assistance in Spanish and English.