Serving Women Business Owners and Managers

The Eugene Chamber’s Women Business Leaders exists to provide women business owners and managers the opportunity to meet, advise, support and mentor one another in order to promote the success of their businesses. WBL is a program of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce and is sponsored by KeyBank and Jones & Roth CPA’s & Business Consultants.

Bonnie Larson, SELCO Community Credit Union, 2009 WBL Chair

Mission
To promote the growth and success of businesses owned and/or managed by women through peer networking and customized programs.

Vision
Women Business Leaders is a group where accomplished women who are leading the success of a local firm can advise, inspire, educate and support one another and gain information to help their business succeed and grow.

Purpose
To stimulate the local economy (jobs, new investment, etc.)

Audience
Women business owners and managers who actively oversee the operations of a local firm and are responsible for the success of the business’s growth and development.

Meetings: Bi-monthly
Meetings are currently held the second Thursday of every other month, 11:45am – 1:15pm. Check calendar of events at www.eugenechamber.com.

Leadership Committee
Meets the 2nd Thursday every other month, 8:30-10:00am.
The committee consists of women business owners/managers and plans activities and services to support the mission of WBL. Committee members must be current members of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce.

Background
The Chamber’s mission is to promote a healthy local economy by influencing business success. Businesses led by women are and will continue to have a noticeable impact the local economy and the chamber believes there is an opportunity to support them.

• Women-owned companies in Oregon have increased five-fold since 1992.

• Nationwide 420 women start businesses every day. Female entrepreneurs are now starting businesses at twice the rate of men.

• Currently more than 9 million businesses (40% of total businesses) are owned by women across the country.
  (Statistics from the Small Business Administration)

Questions? Call Kim Clark, Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, 242-2354,  email Kim Clark or Chair, Bonnie Larson, SELCO Community Credit Union, 726-9422 or  email Bonnie Larson.