Media Release: Canadian Women Owned Businesses Join Trade Mission To Baltimore
Women Business Enterprises Canada Council (WBE Canada) partnered with Business Women In Trade (BWIT), branch of Global Affairs Canada and other women organizations on a recent Trade Mission to Baltimore. The Trade Mission was organized around WBENC’s (Women Business Enterprise National Council) Annual Conference, the largest event for women owned businesses connecting them to corporate buyers globally.
As part of the Trade Mission, Canadian women-owned businesses had the opportunity to connect at Government of Canada’s “Meet and Mingle” event on June 23rd and meet corporations, trade commissioners and others at Canada Day, an invitation only event hosted by BWIT on June 24th. Government of Canada also hosted a booth to represent and promote Canadian women owned businesses at WBENC’s Tradeshow.
On June 25th, WBE Canada hosted Breakfast with Brands: Cross Border Connection as our kick-off to WBENC. Over 90 business women were able to connect with corporate buyers from Accenture, BDC, BMO, City National Bank, CTDI, Ericsson, FCA, Flex N’ Gate, Ford, GM, Magna, RBC, TD Bank, Toyota. Those in attendance also had the opportunity to speak to EDC, BWIT and representatives of the Embassy of Canada to the United States in Washington.
“It is wonderful to hear the buzz in the room when our WBEs promote their businesses to the corporate buyers,” said Silvia Pencak, President of WBE Canada. “We are always happy to provide opportunities, especially in the US, to showcase Canadian women owned businesses. Our event is designed to help our community of Canadian women owned businesses build important connections with Canadian and US based corporations and each other before the official WBENC conference begins to ensure that nobody is lost in the crowd. Cross-Border Connection event is all-time favourite for all our WBEs and sells out quickly. This year was no exception.”
As with all Breakfast with Brands events, the focus is on education, learning and access to procurement networks and opportunities in corporate supply chains. Those in attendance heard from Silvia Pencak, President of WBE Canada, Josie Mousseau, Deputy Director, BWIT, Jason LaTorre, Senior Trade Commissioner and Minister-Counsellor (Commercial Policy) at the Embassy of Canada in Washington, and Jennifer Cook, Women in Trade Strategy at EDC.
WBE Canada’s Breakfast with Brands continues to be a highlight for Canadian business women when attending WBENC’s conference. A very special thank you to our sponsors: ABC Technologies, EDC, Global Affairs Canada, Magna and RBC.
Women business owners also had the opportunity to participate in WBENC’s conference, which connects large corporate and government buyers to certified women owned businesses. From inspiring keynotes, through informative breakout sessions to a full-day tradeshow, it was great to hear the buzz about the Canadian delegation and positive feedback on innovative solutions they offer.
Congratulations to Rosa Turchio, President, Cargo Partners International, Inc., WBE Canada certified business owner, on her “WBEs Who Rock” award by MBE Magazine. She was the only Canadian business recognized during WBENC’s conference and our WBE community was there to cheer for her.
If you missed these events check the Event Page on our wbecanada.ca website regularly to make sure you’re up to date on all upcoming events. If you haven’t registered yet for our Annual Conference and Gala, November 14th go to www.wbeconference.ca. Our Annual Conference attracts women owned businesses from across Canada selling to large corporations and government and buyers from large corporate and government organizations looking for new innovative suppliers. It is the largest supplier diversity event of its kind in Canada.
About WBE Canada
Women Business Enterprises Canada Council (WBE Canada) is a Canadian non profit organization with a mandate to bridge the gap between Corporate and Government buyers and Women Business Enterprises (WBEs). WBE Canada certifies majority-owned, managed, and controlled women’s businesses and provides a range of programs and services to assist WBEs in better accessing business opportunities with major corporations. This includes training and education, through an annual conference, workshops and webinars; mentoring programs and networking. events with like-minded businesswomen and corporate members. WBE Canada also provides its corporate members with forums, tools and techniques to broaden and strengthen their goals.
This event was sponsored by
