Wednesday, April 23, 2025 from 1:00 pm - 6:30 pm CST Irving Convention Center - Irving, Texas

Connections to Contracts

Overview

Connections to Contracts is a procurement-focused event connecting women-owned businesses with corporations and each other. It features networking, a workshop, corporate roundtable procurement discussions, and an awards 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.

Join us Wednesday, April 23 from 1:00 - 6:30pm at Irving Convention Center - fourth floor (500 W. Las Colinas Blvd Irving, TX 75039) for our signature procurement event of the year.

Agenda
1:00 – 1:30 pm … Check In/ Networking
1:30 – 2:15 pm … Workshop
2:15 - 2:45 pm ... Networking
2:45 – 4:20 pm ... Corporate Roundtable Discussions (4 rounds)
4:20 – 5:00 pm … Networking
5:00 - 6:30 pm ... Awards Reception 

Parking
Self-parking in venue garage - $15 plus tax

Arrival
Head to the fourth floor to check in and get your name badge.

Awards Reception Seating
All registrants are assigned to a table. All who register together are seated together. If you'd like to sit with someone you are not registered with, contact Lindsay Pittard. WBCS will do its best to accommodate.

Attire
Business casual

Registration
The last day to register online at early bird pricing is Wednesday, April 16. After that, on-site registration is available at a higher fee.

Room Block
The evening of the event, April 23, a discounted room block is available at Texican Court for $189 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’s Connections to Contracts event. The last day to reserve a room is Friday, March 28.

Sponsorship Opportunities
Each sponsorship includes admissions and branding on event materials. Some levels also include the opportunity to address the audience and/or get additional branding in front of our network of 8.500+ contacts. The last day to sponsor and receive full benefits is Friday, April 4. Available options include:

• Champion Circle - Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, or Ruby
• Presenting
• Roundtable Discussions
• Awards
• Networking
• Collaborator
• Contributor
• Roundtable Host

Contact Lindsay Pittard to secure your sponsorship. Check out our catalog for full benefits.

Workshop Description - Responding to RFPs
Led by: Meredith Melecki, Dell Technologies and Rachel Sanchez, Prestige Maintenance USA

Hear best practices from a corporate member and WBE perspective so you get a well rounded view and practical tips for improving your responses.
 

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.

• 2:45 – 3:05 ... Discussion round 1
• 3:05 – 3:10 ... Transition
• 3:10 – 3:30 ... Discussion round 2
• 3:30 – 3:35 ... Transition
• 3:35 - 3:55 ... Discussion round 3
• 3:55 - 4:00 ... Transition
• 4:00 - 4:20 ... Discussion round 4

List of Roundtable Hosts as of April 21, 2025

Workshop Presenters

Pricing

This event is open to everyone.

There are several admission options to meet your needs.


What If I Register and Can’t Attend?

Substitutions Welcome
If you have a conflict arise and can’t attend the event, another person may attend in your place at no charge. If you can’t find someone to attend in your place, you may cancel and receive a refund, less a processing fee.

Cancellation and Refund Policy
The last day to cancel and receive a refund is Wednesday, April 16, 2025. General admission refunds are subject to a $10 cancellation fee per registrant. Sponsorship refunds are subject to a $50 cancellation fee. Refunds will be issued in the same form payment was made. Please allow two weeks for processing. Registrants who cancel will not receive event materials.

Substitutions and cancellations may be submitted in two ways:
1. via the Modify button at the top of this page and reference # that is provided in your confirmation email
2. via email request to WBCS VP of Operations & Strategy, Lindsay Pittard

Member

$125

Available through Wednesday, April 16

$25 more on-site
 

Sponsor

$

Last day to sponsor is Friday, April 4

Each sponsorship level includes event admissions and branding. Contact Lindsay Pittard at lpittard@wbcsouthwest.org to secure a sponsorship. Review options in our 2025 sponsorship catalog

Non-member

$150

Available through Wednesday, April 16

$25 more on-site
 

Registrant List

Sponsors

Companies that support us