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Think Big Yes, you can win big contracts-with a bit of help.

By Aliza Pilar Sherman

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Companies can grow significantly when they land large contracts. So how can you hook up with a major corporation as a subcontractor? We spoke with several women entrepreneurs about cultivating a corporate clientele, doing the big deals and being certified as a Women's Business Enterprise-a designation accepted by over 700 major corporations and several government agencies.

"When I got certified, it was a gateway to major corporations," says Mercedes LaPorta, president and CEO of Miami-based Mercedes Electric Supply Inc., which has been a certified WBE for four years through the Women's Business Enterprise National Council. "I got involved with [the WBENC] on the national level and joined their forum to have meetings with major corporations such as UPS, Office Depot and PepsiCo."

Brenda Newberry, CEO of The Newberry Group, a $20 million-plus IT consulting firm in St. Charles, Missouri, believes a business should be judged on the quality of service and value it delivers. "Our WBE status simply affords [our company] the opportunity to be considered [for contracts]" explains Newberry, 53. "Once selected, our talents, capabilities, capacity and reputation take over."