WBENC and NGLCC Sign Historic Memorandum of Understanding; Agreement to Promote Organizational Cooperation and Dual Certification of Eligible Women Owned Businesses

Contact:  Aditi Dussault   202.419.0440 (office)  

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 15, 2007) — Earlier this month the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) signed a historic memorandum of understanding (MOU), designed to increase opportunities for lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LBT) women-owned businesses. The partnership will allow WBENC and the NGLCC to provide more opportunities for dually certified businesses looking to secure vendor contracts with America’s top corporations. “This collaboration not only supports our corporate members by enriching the supply chain diversity that gives them a competitive edge, but it also streamlines the certification process for our women’s business enterprises. Now they can leverage their WBENC certification to access the benefits of the NGLCC,” said WBENC President Linda Denny.

"Through this partnership, the NGLCC has not only formalized an already strong working relationship with WBENC, but we will also have a broader reach into businesses owned and operated by LBT women," said NGLCC President and co-founder Justin Nelson. “This is good news for our organizations and its good news for businesses!”

The main tenants of the agreement center on certification and will allow LBT women owned businesses that are WBENC certified to submit their certification in good standing and additional LGBT status qualifiers to attain their NGLCC certification. “This agreement will expedite the process of NGLCC certification and gives qualified businesses an additional tool to make the connection with corporate partners,” said NGLCC CEO and co-founder Chance Mitchell on the partnership.

In addition to the certification component, the organizations have pledged to inform their respective members about one another and the partnership as well as to identify co-venture opportunities, share programming, cross market, and participate in one another’s annual conferences and signature events.

About WBENC

Founded in 1997, WBENC is the nation’s leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, and the leading advocate of women’s business enterprises (WBEs) as suppliers to corporate America.

About NGLCC

The NGLCC represents the interests of an estimated 800,000 to 1.4 million LGBT owned businesses. Through its affiliated network of 45 state and local chambers and business organizations as well as 8 internationally, the NGLCC is the largest LGBT business development and economic advocacy organization in the world.