Thirteen is lucky number for inclusion and diversity at Target

Target for the first time this year was named to the annual listing of America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises compiled by the organization Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

The group said the listing is the only national award honoring corporations for world class programs that level the playing field for women’s business enterprises to compete for corporate business. This year, WBENC recognized 29 corporations for developing and driving innovative best practices across their organizations that result in productive business partnerships with women entrepreneurs and valuable products and services for their customers.

“Our Top Corporations know that women’s businesses drive innovation and competitiveness in today's marketplace,” said Pamela Prince-Eason, president and CEO of WBENC. “That’s why they are deeply committed to strategic business development programs that span their organizations and achieve measurable results,” Prince-Eason added.

WBENC was founded 15 years ago and created the recognition program 13 years ago. In addition to Target, Staples and Office Depot, other companies on this year’s list included: Accenture, Alcatel-Lucent, Avis Budget Group, AT&T, BP America, Bank of America, Chevron, The Coca-Cola Company, Dell, Inc., Energy Future Holdings, Ernst & Young,

Exxon Mobil Corporation, Ford Motor Company, IBM Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Kelly Services, Inc., Manpower Group, Marriott International, Inc., Pacific Gas and Electric Company, PepsiCo, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Pitney Bowes Inc., Shell Oil Company, United Airlines, Inc., UPS and Verizon.

In conjunction with the list, WEBNC will host an awards presentation at the Landmark Theatre in Baltimore, MD on Thursday, March 22, 2012. The event will occur during WBENC's 2012 Summit & Salute to Women's Business Enterprises. The Summit program features thought leadership and business development opportunities, and the black tie Salute celebrates 14 Women's Business Enterprise Stars, exemplary WBEs from across the country.

Founded in 1997, WBENC is the nation's leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, with nearly 11,000 WBENC-certified WBEs. WBENC certification is accepted by more than 1,000 corporations.