Opportunity for Businesswomen is Meeting Focus

GSA #9661

March 27, 2000
Contact: Peg Strain
202-501-1231

Washington, DC -- Widening opportunities for women business owners is the focus of a Thursday General Services Administration program featuring speakers including Rep. Constance A. Morella, GSA Administrator David J. Barram and women's group representatives.

"Access to Opportunities 2000" is a program aimed at assisting businesswomen who want to do business with the federal government and will include a panel moderated by Debbi Jarvis, Channel 4 news anchor. Panel members include: Susan Phillips Bari, president of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council; Denise Lloyd, businesswoman and past president of the DC Chamber of Commerce.

Jackie A. Robinson, associate administrator for Enterprise Development; Marcia Riley-Elliot of EA Inc. and leaders of women's organizations will share information about how their organizations assist women entrepreneurs.

The panel also features: Sherrye Henry, assistant administrator of the Office of Women's Business Ownership in the U.S. Small Business Administration and Mary Ann Mitchell, chairperson of the National Black Business Council, Inc. Additionally, Amy Millman, executive director of the National Women's Business Council; Hilary Cohen, regional director of the Women Presidents' Educational Organization and Cristina Caballero, president and chief executive officer of the Dialogue on Diversity in Washington are panelists.

Representatives from GSA and other federal agencies will provide business counseling during the forum, which is hosted by GSA's Small Business Program. During the last fiscal year, the office awarded more than $3 million in contracts to small, disadvantaged and women-owned businesses. GSA is second only to the U.S. Department of Defense in contracting to small businesses.

WHAT: Access to Opportunities 2000
DATE: March 30, 2000
TIME: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
LOCATION: U.S. General Services Administration, 1800 F St., NW, first floor