Virginia Names Leading Staffing, Consulting Firm As Womens Business Enterprise"

Although government and corporate procurement officers increasingly seek greater supplier diversity, the number and variety of programs supporting women- and minority-owned firms can confuse the vetting process. To clarify the issue, VIP Staffing and its consulting and training division VIP Innovations have sought and received certification as a Womens Business Enterprise (WBE) by Virginias Department of Business Assistance (DBA).

CONTACT:     Eva A. Jenkins

VIP Innovations, LLC

1717 K Street, NW

Suite #600

(202) 973-0179

evaj@vipinnovations.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Virginia Names Leading Staffing, Consulting Firm

As Womens Business Enterprise"

WASHINGTON DC (PRWEB) September 30 2003--- Although government and corporate procurement officers increasingly seek greater supplier diversity, the number and variety of programs supporting women- and minority-owned firms can confuse the vetting process. To clarify the issue, VIP Staffing and its consulting and training division VIP Innovations have sought and received certification as a Womens Business Enterprise (WBE) by Virginias Department of Business Assistance (DBA).

WBE certification program was launched in 1993, in response to demands from womens organizations and procurement professionals, to accurately identify and support women-owned companies. The program dovetails with Governor Mark Warners July 2002 Executive Order 29 regarding Equal Opportunity in State Procurement.

    It is a testament to womens progress in the marketplace that WBE members number in the hundreds, not just the dozens," says VIP Innovations founder Eva A. Jenkins. However, given the alphabet soup of acronyms and frequent overuse of the word diversity," its important to help businesses independently verify that particular companies are truly 'woman owned. Im both proud and excited to have received this certification."

    Virginia WBE members must be located in Virginia; be at least 51% owned by a woman or women; perform day-to-day operations under the direction of women owners; and demonstrate that control of the company is real and continuing. To qualify, firms must also be independently owned, and may not be a branch or subsidiary of a foreign corporation. Most WBE members provide business-to-business products and services to state government and private sector companies.

    Procurement officers and others seeking to do business with Virginia WBEs can search the member database at www.dba.state.va.us./mwbusinesses/search/index.asp.

    Founded in 2001, VIP Staffing, LLC is a full-service recruitment and staffing company that specializes in placing technology professionals, especially hard-to-fill mid- and senior-level management positions.

VIP Innovations, LLC serves new and existing businesses with products and services that include:

•    Workshops on 30 different topics, with a focus on personal effectiveness and productivity

•    Multi-module high-performance training programs focused on leadership, sales and team building

•    Management consulting, using tools provided by VIP Innovations Texas-based affiliate, 360 Solutions

•    Employee assessments that evaluate personnel in various career stages.

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    For more information on VIP Staffing or VIP Innovations, call (202) 973-0179 or e-mail: evaj@vipinnovations.com.