Dallas, Texas - December 1, 2003: Traveling Coaches, a national provider of IT products and services, announced today that the company has been certified as a Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women’s Business Council – Southwest (WBCS). While Traveling Coaches has been 100% women owned and operated since its inception, the nationally recognized WBE certification provides third-party verification of that status. This is a valuable tool in accessing corporate supplier diversity programs within corporations and governmental procurement programs.

The certification process is comprehensive and extends far beyond verification of legal ownership by women. Business owners seeking certification must provide clear and documented evidence that at least 51% of the company is women-owned, controlled and operated. Specifically, the contribution of capital and expertise by the women owners must be substantial and in proportion to the interest owned. The women business owners must further direct policy, fiscal, and operational matters for the company. Finally, the women business owners must have the ability to perform in the company’s area of specialty without reliance on the finances or resources of a non-women owned entity.

Many corporations and government entities have supplier diversity initiatives requiring that a certain percentage of their procurement dollars be spent with WBEs. The events, networking opportunities, and membership database of the Council provide its Sustaining Members with access to a pool of certified WBEs offering a myriad of goods and services to meet their procurement needs.

In addition to its WBE-certified member organizations such as Traveling Coaches, the Women’s Business Council – Southwest also supports a large sustaining membership which includes corporations, businesses, government entities, institutions and other organizations. These entities are dedicated to buying products and services from women-owned business enterprises and hold a membership in the Council to further that goal.

Beyond substantial procurement opportunities, Traveling Coaches’ WBE certification also provides a national information and referral network; access to a variety of educational and training programs; and a mentoring program that matches sustaining members with WBEs for short-term, goal specific mentoring.

Gina Buser, Traveling Coaches President and one its three female owners, expressed her thoughts about the company’s recent certification. According to Ms. Buser, “We are very excited about the opportunities and recognition that this national certification brings to our company, and look forward to establishing long-term, mutually rewarding relationships with the Council’s membership.”

Traveling Coaches, Inc. is a nationally recognized training, integration and consulting partner to law firms and corporations throughout the country. As a full-service provider of technology solutions, Traveling Coaches works closely with a variety of solution providers including Compaq, Esquire Innovations, Hummingbird, iManage, Interface Software, Levit & James, Microsoft, Microsystems, Novell, Payne Consulting Group, SoftWise, Support Solutions, Wertheim and Workshare Technology. .