HOUSTON (Nov. 18, 2008) - Today, on the heels of its signature program - the Pinnacle Awards, the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce (HCCC) launched its new 2009 enterprising program to support women-owned businesses called EmpowerWomen.

EmpowerWomen is a six-month breakfast conference series to be held November 2008 through April 2009 at the Omni Houston Hotel, Four Riverway (Woodway Drive @ I-610 Loop), Houston, TX 77056. The conference kicks off on Friday, November 21, 2008 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. Online registration is open on the HCCC Web site, www.hccoc.org.

"We took a fresh approach when designing the format of EmpowerWomen," said HCCC President and CEO Jeffrey L. Boney. "We opted to nurture a small group of 150 to 200 women entrepreneurs over six months to create a powerful environment of trust and camaraderie while delivering an entrepreneurial development program to equip, empower and educate. Program participants will be dazzled monthly by our keynote speakers during breakfast and then delve deeper into the topic during our strategy session tracks, one each for new and seasoned women entrepreneurs."

"Additionally, EmpowerWomen is for all women- owned businesses; however, because the HCCC exists to equip, empower and educate African- American businesses, there is a special focus on issues facing African-American women in business," said Boney.

HCCC has tapped a diverse group of keynote speakers, industry experts and top entrepreneurs to deliver the six-month curriculum to include topics relevant to the growth and sustainability of women in business such as business and life planning, marketing, networking, IT, work/family balance, venture capital, insurance, taxation and certification to name a few.

Dr. Carolyn Clansy Miller, November 21, Keynote Speaker
EmpowerWomen keynote speakers are: Dr. Carolyn Clansy Miller (pictured), co-owner, Charis Psychological Associates (November 21 topic: Business Planning from the Inside Out); Karen McCullough, award-winning speaker/branding expert; Alfred Edmond Jr., SVP and editor-in-chief, BlackEnterprise.com; Marilyn Logan, "The Money Lady," speaker/author; Cheryl Lynch, president, LifeSkills Institute; Carla Lane, president/CEO, DiverseStaff a Lane Staffing Company; and Edwin Graves, area market manager, AT&T Yellow Pages.

HCCC has a goal to prepare African-American women entrepreneurs for success during any economy. African-American women businesses comprise a larger share of all African-American owned businesses. Additionally, women entrepreneurs in the United States are the fastest growing economic trend growing at twice the rate of all U.S. firms. Harris County is fifth in the nation for the number of women- owned businesses growing at an annual rate twice that of the national average for all businesses. Women-owned businesses generate more than $2 trillion in sales nationally.

Registration fees are $50 per individual conference and $250 for the conference series. HCCC member and group discount rates are available. Visit www.hccoc.org for EmpowerWomen registration and information.

Corporations and businesses seeking to support women-owned businesses are invited to sponsor EmpowerWomen. For underwriting, program advertising, gift bag marketing and exhibitor table details, visit www.hccoc.org or contact Margo Williams Handy, MWH Public Relations, at 281.213.9554 or margo@mwhpublicrelations.com.

EmpowerWomen presenting sponsors include Shell, Comerica Bank, Omni Houston Hotel, Fox 26, Black Enterprise and Womentality magazines, and partners are HP, Capital One Bank, Wells Fargo, Merrill Lynch, and DiverseStaff a Lane Staffing Company.

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About Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce
Established in 1935, the HCCC mission is to help secure business opportunities for African-American business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals and provide them with programs and forums to educate, equip and empower the growth and prosperity of their businesses. Its vision is to be the premier business advocate for African-American business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals in the Greater Houston area. For more information, log onto www.hccoc.org or call 713.522.9745.

Margo Williams Handy, Principal
MWH Public Relations
email: margo@mwhpublicrelations.com
phone: 281.213.9554