Women's Business Development Center Press Release - Fredrikson ...

FOR: Women’s Business Development Center-Minnesota
CONTACT: Chris Ruys, (312) 337-7746; e-mail: chris@chrisruys.com
Mia Delano, (303) 691-0821; e-mail: mdelano@wbdc.org
Natasha Fedorova, (612) 259-6584; e-mail: nfedorova@wbdc.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, March 2012
Women’s Business Development Center–Minnesota Sixth Annual
Celebration of Success Was Held on March 8
The Women’s Business Development Center –Minnesota (WBDC-MN) honored the achievements and
success of its members and supporters of women’s economic development at its Sixth Annual Celebration
of Success on Thursday evening, March 8, beginning at 5 p.m., at the Calhoun Beach Club, 2925 Dean
Parkway, in Minneapolis.
Sponsored by the organization’s founding partners, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., Lurie Besikof Lapidus &
Company, LLP and M&I, A part of BMO Financial Group, as well as a number of women-owned
companies and corporate partners, the event was attended by over 200 women entrepreneurs, corporate
supplier diversity representatives, and local community partners.
Since its launch in 2003, the WBDC-Minnesota has undergone tremendous growth, creating a powerful
network of over 300 women’s business enterprises (WBEs). With combined revenues of over $3.2 billion
dollars, this growing network of women-owned businesses is finding success by targeting Fortune 500
corporations as clients, as well as doing business with each other.
This year’s honorees are:
WBE of the Year Award to Ideal Printers, Inc. and its president Lana Siewert-Olson and vice
president Joan Siewert-Cardona, who were recognized for their company’s success in leveraging
its WBE status to secure business, and for their outstanding contributions to the community and
WBDC-MN, especially their dedication to supporting other women business owners. Since
Siewert-Olson and Siewert-Cardona took over the family business in 2002, the company has
nearly doubled the number of employees, and sales have grown by 145% – a tremendous
accomplishment during difficult time for the printing industry. Since becoming WBE certified in
2005, the company’s revenues have grown by 22%, and total employee count – by 27%.
Corporate Partner of the Year Award to Cargill as a corporation that has shown an outstanding
commitment to supplier diversity and the utilization of women-owned businesses in its supply
chain. Cargill’s director of Supplier Diversity John Taylor, who accepted the award on behalf of
the corporation, has produced exemplary results in the area of diverse supplier development by
increasing procurement opportunities. Taylor and his supplier diversity team have also
demonstrated a deep commitment to the WBDC-MN, and its growing number of certified WBEs,
through their consistent support of its programs and mission.
Giving Back Award to Kathy Benson, president & CEO of Twin River, LLC, for her
extraordinary contributions to the success of the WBDC-MN, its certified WBEs, and the
women’s business community.

Advocacy Award to Lindsay J. Sokolowski, shareholder with Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., for her
strong commitment to women’s economic development and long-standing, generous support of
the WBDC-MN.
Established in 2003 by the Women’s Business Development Center in Chicago (WBDC-Chicago), the
WBDC-MN provides a national certification for Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), through its
partnership with the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), and facilitates
networking and business development opportunities to women-owned businesses in Minnesota, Western
Wisconsin, and the Dakotas.
For more information on the programs and services of the WBDC-Minnesota, please visit our website at
www.WBDC.org/mn or call 612-259-6584.
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