Worktank Creative Media in Seattle, Washington was one of 100 women-owned businesses to participate in a national “Share the Business” matchmaking event, as part of WBENC’s (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council) national conference and business fair held in New Orleans, June 22 –24, 2004.

    Seattle, WA -- Worktank Creative Media in Seattle, Washington was one of 100 women-owned businesses to participate in a national “Share the Business” matchmaking event, as part of WBENC’s (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council) national conference and business fair held in New Orleans, June 22 –24, 2004.

The matchmaking event, planned and hosted by Lasertone Corporation of Littleton, MA, and sponsored by IBM Corporation and W. W. Grainger, paired women entrepreneur buyers with women entrepreneur sellers to promote a “Share the Business” philosophy.

    “Women should be doing business with women and other minority-owned businesses. We need to share best practices and form strategic alliances to respond more effectively to an ever-increasing competitive business environment,” said Nancy Connolly, President of Lasertone.
         
Moderator, Angela Archon, Director, Global Procurement Services, IBM, kicked off the matchmaker event with a panel discussion centered on “How to Develop, Implement, and Manage a Successful Supplier Diversity Program.” Panel members included: Nancy Conner, Supplier Diversity Manager, W.W. Grainger, Ella Koscik, President, MDI Careers, and Nancy Connolly.

Women entrepreneurs were paired according to their buying and selling requirements, resulting in new alliances and in several cases, firm contracts. "In addition to making corporate contacts at the conference, the matchmaking event between women business enterprises provided great opportunities for us to do business with each other", said Melinda Partin, Worktank CEO and Co-founder.

“Women business enterprises (WBE’s) now number over one million businesses nationwide. One hundred women doing business with each other is the beginning of 100 successful supplier diversity programs – that’s 100 success stories from a two-hour workshop,” concluded Connolly.

Contact: Melinda Partin/CEO and Co-founder
Email: melinda@worktank.tv
Phone: 206-254-0950 (o)/206-931-7991 (m)
Nightline: 206-725-6830