Knock, Knock Certification of women suppliers opens procurement doors.

In 1997, one-third of all U.S. businesses were owned by women,yet most major corporations had no concrete strategies for workingwith these entrepreneurs.

In fact, when the Women's Business Enterprise NationalCouncil (WBENC) polled 765 companies about their supplier programsfor women, only 7 percent of those surveyed responded, and only 55percent of that percentage reported how much business theyconducted with women entrepreneurs. Of that total, 65 percent spentless than 5 percent of vendor dollars with women; 13 percent spent5 to 10 percent; and 22 percent spent more than 10 percent.

More education will improve these numbers, says WBENC presidentSusan Phillips Bari, whose organization is one of those attemptingto change the status quo. WBENC was founded in 1997 to enlargeopportunities in major U.S. business markets for women'sbusiness enterprises. Two of its key achievements have been thedevelopment of a national certification program for, and a databaseof women business owners. Since its founding, the council hasgained pledges from 46 corporate members and amassed a list of morethan 245 companies and state and local government entities thataccept WBENC's certification.