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About the GWBC | Key facts and figures about women in business and supplier diversity | Staff | Governance- Biographies

About the GWBC | Started in 2000, the Georgia Women's Business Council (GWBC) is a non-profit organization for certified women's business enterprises (WBEs) in Georgia interested in promoting, developing and maintaining business relationships with major corporations, governmental agencies and other women business enterprises.

The GWBC increases the competitive advantage of women in business through:

• Certification of bonafide WBEs
• Education and development through programs and informational resources on women in business and supplier diversity
• Creation of opportunities for networking between WBEs, major corporations and government agencies through events

GWBC is a certifying partner organization of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and in 2007 was named WBENC's "Partner Organization of the Year" for being the premier third-party certification agency for WBEs in the state of Georgia-and a model for the nation.

Through the affiliation with WBENC, GWBC provides certification that is nationally recognized and accepted by over 700 major corporations . It is because of WBENC and GWBC's commitment and expertise to apply the highest possible certification standards in the industry so that our corporate members and partners have access to quality WBEs nationally and regionally. WBE certification is known and accepted throughout corporate America and is the benchmark for all other supplier diversity programs.

Our Certified WBEs | Currently, the GWBC has 500+ certified WBEs in Georgia who are benefiting from certification, educational information and networking opportunities with major corporations, governmental agencies and fellow WBEs. Learn more about what GWBC can do for you here and how our WBEs make their certification work for them. Join the WAVE! Women Adding Value Everyday!SM.

Our corporate members | The GWBC is partnered with dozens of major companies who are committed to providing the financial foundation to make education, training and the standardization of national certification a reality-ultimately increasing opportunities for women's business enterprises across Georgia. GWBC's corporate members help implement new programs and strengthen existing programs that provide opportunities for WBEs. These corporations are the driving force behind GWBC and have partnered with women's business organizations throughout Georgia and WBEs who represent the strengths, needs and challenges of women-owned businesses. Our corporate members include the following companies:

GWBC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks and accepts donations from corporations, foundations and individuals. These groups support its mission and programs.

Key facts and figures about women in business and supplier diversity | As women's business enterprises continue to be the fastest-growing segment of the entrepreneurial economy, large companies and governmental agencies are looking to diversify their supplier base. Organizations like GWBC and the WBENC help these businesses gain a competitive advantage by creating opportunities for women to grow their businesses through contact with these purchasing entities and informational resources. But women are not just suppliers, they also make up a significant portion of these large companies' consumer bases. Smart companies actively seek relationships with WBEs so their supplier base reflects their consumer base-giving them a competitive advantage in the marketplace. We hope you find these facts and figures inspiring as you grow your business through certification and membership in the GWBC

Governance - Biographies | The Georgia Women's Business Council vision is supported by the Board of Directors, volunteer committees and staff who implement daily the mission of the organization.

Staff |

Roz Lewis, Executive Director
Key focus: Directing development and execution of strategic planning for fiscal affairs, marketing, brand management, public relations and engagement of the organization's constituents who are certified WBEs, corporate, non-profit and government entities.

Biography: Roz Lewis is the Executive Director of the Georgia Women's Business Council (GWBC), a partner organization of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). As the day-to-day leader of the organization, her goals are to ensure that corporations embrace women-owned businesses as strategic partners to ensure value is attained for the stakeholders of their companies by engaging women-owned businesses to become loyal customers. After one year as leader of this Georgia based organization, GWBC was recognized as "Partner Organization of the Year" by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Lewis is one of the founding members who spearheaded the growth and development of this 7-year-old organization. As founding chair, she led the Board of Directors and staff to ensure that the overarching goals bridged the gap between corporate America and women-owned businesses as well as become sustainable and profitable relationships.

Lewis recently retired from Delta Air Lines where she held several positions that included Program Manager, Corporate Supplier Diversity. She spent several years advocating procurement opportunities for small, minority and woman-owned businesses and ensuring corporate awareness of the Corporate Supplier Diversity business case and strategy.

In 2006, Lewis was featured as one of the 100 Women who impacted Supplier Diversity by the Women's Enterprise WE USA magazine. Additional recognition consisted of being awarded the 2003 "Trailblazer" Award from the Georgia Women's Business Council and the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Counci's 2000 "Advocate of the Year" Award. She has been quoted and written featured articles on supplier diversity for Minority Business Enterprise, The Atlanta Tribune, WE- USA, and Minorities and Women in Business magazines.

Currently she is a member of the Board of Curators, A diversity consortium for Delta Air Lines and former leadership roles include: Chair of the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council's MBE Coordinator sub-committee, Co-Chair of the Atlanta Business League "Super Tuesday" conference, member of the 2001 National Minority Supplier Development Council Conference Host Committee and panelist for conferences such as The Atlanta Tribune's Department of Economic Development "Moving Your Business Forward" Conference.

Roz Lewis received her Bachelor of Science from Florida International University, Miami, FL and received her Certified Purchasing Managers (CPM) certification from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) in 2001. She has additional training and certificates in the following areas of Supplier Diversity and Procurement: Diversity Leadership Academy of Atlanta (DLAA), Spring Class of 2005, NMSDC Supplier Diversity Program Managers Seminars, Procurement Resources, Inc. TRYUS, Negotiations, Supply Management Strategies and Analytical Purchasing.

Parri Womack, Certification Manager
Key Focus: Certification process and WBENCLink management for potential and certified WBEs. Educational planning and programs Breakfast & Answers, Orientation

Biography: Parri Womack is the Certification Manager of the Georgia Women's Business Council (GWBC), a partner organization of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Since joining the GWBC Staff in January of 2007, Parr's goal has been to continue the integrity of the certification process provided by the GWBC and to further the organization's goal of ensuring that corporations embrace women-owned businesses as strategic partners. Parri has been involved with GWBC since its inception, serving voluntarily as its first Program Manager. Parri has more than 25 years experience as a purchasing, procurement, supply chain, strategic sourcing and supplier diversity. She has experience with several companies including General Electric, American Express, Scientific-Atlanta and Equifax. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University and attended the University of Denver, College of Law. She has additional training and certificates in areas of ISO 9000, CPM (Certified Purchasing Manager), Six Sigma, Program Management, Inventory and Logistic Management, Supplier Diversity and Procurement. Ms. Womack currently resides in the Atlanta Metro Area and is the proud parent of one son.  

Executive Administrative Assistant: Key Focus: Supports Executive Director & Certification Manager with day to day operation and event management.

Board | The GWBC Board of Directors represent the best in class in their respective areas of expertise as major corporate representatives and women business enterprises. The goal of the board is to ensure that the economic landscape for WBEs become a level playing field and sustainable value to all stakeholders. According to GWBC board chair, Eyvon C. Austin, "Indeed, it is an honor for me to serve alongside the many corporate and women-owned business members of GWBC who are committed to the development of businesses owned, operated and controlled by women. It is also rewarding to assume a leadership role that will enhance the commitment to improve and expand business relationships to achieve success!" Board of Directors Eyvon Austin, Chair of the Board, The Coca-Cola Company Kay Tyson, 1st Vice Chair, Coca-Cola Enterprises Sharon Burton, 2nd Vice Chair, The Robart Companies Nancy Williams, Treasurer, ASAP Staffing LLC Barbara Goldman, Secretary, BG Search Associates Cara Kass-Shelton, Parliamentarian, Hi-Tech Imaging Dwan Armstrong, Past Chair, AT&T LaSonya Berry, McPherson, Berry & Associates Melissa Evans, Georgia Power Scott Guttman, Office Depot Bill Haley, Aflac Kathy Homeyer, UPS Tarece Johnson-Hassell, AGL Resources Marlene Kelly, Exhibits South Vernell Mosley, Weldon Productions Mary Parker, All-N-1 Security Kanchana Raman, Avion Systems Lisa Rovinsky, Nokia