WOMEN’S BUSINESS ENTERPRISE ALLIENCE RECEIVES $10,000 GRANT FROM COMERICA BANK
Women’s Empowerment Leadership Symposium established to elevate local women
HOUSTON, TX – (FEB. 24, 2020) – The Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance (WBEA) received a $10,000 grant from Comerica Bank in December 2019 to host the first Women’s Empowerment Leadership Symposium.
The Women’s Empowerment Leadership Symposium (WELS) was crafted to educate women business owners and leaders on economic trends, access to capital, utilizing one’s purpose and best practices to overcoming adversity. WELS will consist of three insightful sessions centered on business adaptability and sustainability. Attendees will be encouraged to foster relationships with each other through open discussions and workshops.
“As a leader surrounded by women leaders, entrepreneurs and business owners, I see first-hand how critical it is to have a space for women to uplift each other,” WBEA President April Day said. “Partnering with Comerica Bank in the wake of Women’s History Month maximizes our intention to increase connectivity, speak our truth, and facilitate transformations while strengthening our impact together in the business, education, political, and community arena. WELS is positioned as a growing foundation of personal and fiscal empowerment in the community.”
A study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that high-performing women commonly have a diverse network of women they rely on for help and support in navigating obstacles in the business environment. Women with a close inner circle have a job placement level two-and-a-half times higher than those without. Having beneficial relationships with women could improve work ethic and decrease competition amongst women in the workplace.
“Comerica Bank is proud to partner with the WBEA to support one of the fastest growing demographics currently fueling economic growth nationally, women-owned businesses,” said Vanessa Reed, Comerica Bank Regional External Affairs Manager. “As a business bank for the more than 170 years, helping small owner-managed businesses has been the cornerstone of our success. Our partnership with WBEA and support of the Women’s Empowerment Leadership Symposium is in alignment with the goals and priorities of Comerica Business $ense, a national program designed to educate and empower small businesses. It reflects our commitment to the Comerica Promise, to “raise expectations” in the communities we serve.”
WELS will precede the WBEA’s annual Thought Leaders Luncheon on Thursday, February 27, 2020 held at the DoubleTree by Hilton - Greenway Plaza. This panel luncheon is geared to provide success stories and trade secrets from women-business owners and corporate leaders. To learn more about the WBEA and their engaging events, visit wbea-texas.org.
ABOUT WOMENS BUSINESS ENTERPRISE ALLIANCE
The Women's Business Enterprise Alliance (WBEA), a nationally recognized purchasing council, is a pacesetter in helping women-owned business enterprises grow and develop. WBEA is strongly committed to increasing opportunities for women-owned businesses and providing qualified suppliers to corporate and government purchasers. Since its inception in 1995, the organization has established scholarship and mentoring programs, and has become one of the nation's leading certifiers of women-owned businesses.
ABOUT COMERICA BANK
Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Business Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $70.8 billion