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

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."