Tuesday, April 12, 2022 from 10:00am - 4:30pm CST Irving Convention Center - Irving, Texas

Connections to Contracts

Signature Procurement Event

Connecting WBEs and Corporations

Overview
Connections to Contracts is a procurement-focused event connecting women-owned businesses with corporations and each other. It features a welcome reception, corporate roundtable procurement discussions, a c-suite executive keynote address, corporate industry-focused sessions, WBE success stories, and a closing networking reception. All are welcome to attend.

The goal of this event is to provide access to business opportunities between our members that eventually lead to contracts, therefore helping women-owned businesses achieve parity.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact WBCS Senior Director of Programs, Elizabeth Garner.

Agenda (central time)
Monday, April 11 (Texican Court - Chapel Room)
4:00 - 6:00 pm ... Regional Reception

Tuesday, April 12 (Irving Convention Center)
10:00 - 11:35 am ... Corporate Roundtable Discussions (4th floor)
11:35 am - 12:00 pm ... Networking Break (4th floor)
12:00 - 1:30 pm ... Keynote Luncheon (4th floor)
1:30 - 1:45 pm ... Networking Break (4th floor)
1:45 - 2:30 pm ... Corporate Industry Insights Sessions (3rd floor)
2:30 - 2:45 pm ... Networking Break (3rd floor)
2:45 - 3:30 pm ... WBE Success Stories (3rd floor)
3:30 - 4:30 pm ... Networking Reception (4th floor)

Regional Reception
There will be a complimentary, come-and go reception the evening before the event, April 11, from 4:00 - 6:00 pm CST at Texican Court's Chapel Room. All are welcome to attend, especially WBEs and corporations from outside the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. Cash bar. Appetizers provided.

Texican Court is located at 501 W. Las Colinas Blvd in Irving.

Accommodations
The evening before the event, April 11, a discounted room block is available at Texican Court - a hotel across the street from the Irving Convention Center. Our discounted price is $139 plus tax. To reserve a room, click here or call (833) 839-4226 and let them know you're with the Women's Business Council - Southwest. The reservation deadline is Monday, March 28 at 6:00 pm CST.

Corporate Roundtable Discussions (attendees choose 4 tables to visit)
A corporate representative leads WBEs in a discussion on his or her company’s procurement process and shares insights on how potential suppliers can differentiate themselves.

How It Works
There are roundtables of 8. One seat is for the corporate member host; the other seats are for WBEs interested in learning about that company’s procurement process. WBE seats are open on a first-come, first-served basis.

Corporate members stay at their table. WBEs rotate and have the opportunity to visit a total of four tables.

Timeline
Each discussion is 20 minutes followed by a 5 minute transition.

• 10:00 - 10:20 ... Discussion round 1
• 10:20 - 10:25 ... Transition
• 10:25 - 10:45 ... Discussion round 2
• 10:45 - 10:50 ... Transition
• 10:50 - 11:10 ... Discussion round 3
  
• 11:10 - 11:15 ... Transition
• 11:15 - 11:35 ... Discussion round 4

List of Roundtable Hosts (as of 4-11-22)

Alcon
American Airlines
AmeriHealth Caritas
AT&T
Austin ISD
Bank of America
Blue Cross Blue Shield
BNSF Railway
City of Dallas
Dallas College
Dallas County
Dallas ISD
DFW International Airport
Ericsson
Nokia
North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA)
Oncor
Parkland Health
PepsiCo
Raytheon Technologies
Shell USA
Southwest Airlines Co.
Tarrant Regional Water District
Texas Instruments
The Container Store
Toyota Financial Services
Toyota Motor North America
UPS
Vistra

Keynote Luncheon

• With the exception of sponsored tables, luncheon seating is open.
  
• During the luncheon, we will recognize all companies who submit their WBE Spend, honor two WBEs with the Women Working Together Award, and highlight the corporation with the highest percentage Spend increase with the Momentum Award.

Spend Reporting
If you spent any money with WBEs in 2021, we want to hear from you. No amount is too small! Recording these dollar amounts helps us to measure our success and provides valuable insights as to who is spending and promoting supplier diversity. To submit your Spend, email WBCS Marketing Manager, Natalie Groff, with your three data points:

• # of WBEs you did business with in 2021
• # of dollars you spent across all WBEs in 2021
• % of 2021 Total Spend that your 2021 WBE Spend represents

Corporate Industry Insights (attendees choose 1 out of 2)
During these sessions, panelists from corporations will provide insights into industry trends and what consumers and vendors can anticipate. The featured industries are construction and technology.

Construction Panelists

• Austin Commercial - Bianca Sandoval
• JE Dunn Construction - Stephanie Long
• McCarthy - David Cutlip

Keynote

Agenda

Pricing

This event is open to everyone.

There are several admission options to meet your needs.

Member

$100

Available through Tuesday, April 5

$25 more on-site

Sponsor

$

Last day to sponsor is Friday, March 18

Each sponsorship level includes event admissions and branding. Contact Lindsay Pittard at lpittard@wbcsouthwest.org to secure a sponsorship. Review options in our 2022 sponsorship catalog

Non-member

$125

Available through Tuesday, April 5

$25 more on-site

Registrant List

Sponsors

Companies that support us