ANN ARBOR ? Michigan ranks sixth nationally in the number of privately-held women owned companies. So to help these women CEOs meet their counterparts and hook up with major corporations, the Michigan Women’s Business Council is hosting an expo Sept. 26-27 at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi.

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The event, sponsored by General Motors Corporation and LaSalle Bank, will create opportunities for women business owners to form strategic alliances and business-to-business opportunities with major corporations and other women business owners.

?Our conference addresses the needs of both aspiring and established women business owners and delivers strategies for succeeding in a highly-competitive market,? said MWBC President Michelle Richards. ?The conference provides huge value and opportunities for women business owners.?

Richards said attendance last year was 550, and she expects 700 this year.

MWBC, a program of the Center for Empowerment and Economic Development committed to educating and promoting the ownership and certification of women-owned businesses, first introduced this Conference in 2001. It realized women business owners? lack of opportunities in meeting with corporate purchasers and decision makers.

Conference highlights for 2006 include a Women?s Summit Luncheon, Tune-Up Clinic, opportunities to meet with corporate purchasers, and a wide variety of workshops and presentations by local and national professionals.

Conference Highlights

Awards Luncheon Featuring Bo Andersson of General Motors ? Bo Andersson, Vice President, Global Purchasing & Supply Chain at General Motors Corporation represents the keynote speaker for the Awards Luncheon. Bo will speak about GM’s ongoing commitment to minority suppliers and what they need to do to become suppliers to GM.

The luncheon also will honor MWBC WBEs and corporate award winners.

2nd annual Women?s Leadership Forum. The MWBC conference officially begins with a new collaboration with NAWBO. A panel discussion and Q&A will discuss how these leading business organizations are working to advance the interests of women business owners and WBEs, and will discuss the national landscape and trends for women business owners.

Panelists are Women?s Business Enterprise National Council National President and Executive Director Susan Bari, NAWBO national president and Chicago-based business owner Carol Kuc, and Executive Director of the Center for Women?s Business Research in Washington DC.

Silent Auction – The silent auction benefits MWBC programs, and among various products and services, Power Lunches will be auctioned from such high-power individuals such as Bo Andersson, Vice President, Global Purchasing & Supply Chain, General Motors Corporation, and Tony Brown, Vice President, Global Purchasing, Ford Motor Company.

Networking Reception

Expo Hall ? Purchasing professionals from more than 75 corporations, such as Ford, GM, Volkswagen, Honda, Chrysler, Kellogg, University of Michigan, Herman Miller, TCF Bank, LaSalle Bank, National City, and Key Bank, will be available to meet WBEs and women business owners for possible future business.

For more information, registration or to inquire about the MWBC Conference and Expo, click on MICEED.Org