Microsoft Honored for Commitment to Women Business Enterprises

Microsoft Honored for Commitment to Women Business Enterprises

Astra Women's Business Alliance Presents World Wide Software Leader with 'Top Corporation' and 'Done Deals' Awards

SEATTLE, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Astra Women's Business Alliance, a West Coast partner of Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), announced today that Microsoft Corp. has been presented two prestigious awards for their commitment toward creating more opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Microsoft was named "Top Corporation," for its dedication of time, talent, and resources to women business enterprises in a seven-state region Astra serves, which includes Washington, Northern California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. Microsoft also received the "Done Deals" award, for creating the most contracts with Astra-certified businesses since November 2003 in the same geography.

"Microsoft is a great example of a corporation that values the creative supply chain solutions women-owned businesses deliver," said Diane McClelland, co-founder and President of the Astra Women's Business Alliance. "Microsoft gets it, they not only recognize the value a diverse supply base brings to the table, but they also respond to the market women represent, as investors and consumers who vote with their dollars and are loyal to companies that provide opportunities to them."

The "Top Corporation" and "Done Deals" awards recognize Microsoft's commitment to increasing measurable results through contracting with WBENC certified women-owned businesses.

Nationally, Microsoft and WBENC, which was formed to increase corporate business access for women business owners, are working with partner organizations to develop and implement targeted programs that will fuel the success of women-owned businesses; level the playing field and create more equitable opportunities for all small businesses, which will bolster the American economy. In the Northwest, Microsoft has stood behind its commitment to provide increased opportunities for women-owned businesses by providing online interactive training sessions using Live Meeting(R) to potential candidates for WBENC certification and referring vendors to Astra and WBENC programs. Microsoft has also worked to inform corporations and women business owners of the importance of third-party certification through these organizations.

Last year, Microsoft committed to creating at least five contracts, known as "Done Deals," with Astra women business enterprises during the subsequent 12 months. To date, Microsoft has more than exceeded its goal, and has created more contracts with Astra than any other partner Fortune 500 company. With Microsoft's help, Astra and WBENC have received increased support from other corporate members such as Starbucks, Boeing, and Weyerhaeuser, as well as increased the overall number of certified women business enterprises during the past year.

Microsoft's partnership with the Astra Women's Business Alliance serves as an example of the corporation's commitment to building a diverse supplier base.

"Microsoft is thrilled to have received these distinguished awards from Astra, an organization that has made tremendous strides towards the advancement of female entrepreneurs," said G. Winston Smith, Microsoft's director of supplier diversity.

Smith continues, "At Microsoft, we strongly believe in Astra's mission to enhance opportunities for women business owners to gain greater access to business. These awards assure us, as a corporation, that our support is having a quantifiable impact in the women business owner community, and encourages us to continue to seek avenues to further assist in the future."

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

About Astra

Astra Women's Business Alliance, based in Lake Oswego, Oregon, is a partner of Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Astra provides third-party certification and training for women-owned and operated businesses in Washington, Northern California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. Each year, Astra showcases companies who are committed to providing contracting opportunities for woman- owned firms. Founded in 1996 by Diane McClelland and Suzanne Lackman, Astra partners with corporate diversity executives to create contracting opportunities for WBENC certified businesses. For more information, go to www.astrawba.org.

CONTACT: press only: Rolando Rodriguez of The Caraway Group, +1-202-965-2810 or rolando@thecarawaygroup.com, for Microsoft; or Diane McClelland of Astra Women's Business Alliance, +1-904-204-0220 or dimac@astrawba.org.


Source: Astra Women's Business Alliance

CONTACT: press only: Rolando Rodriguez of The Caraway Group,
+1-202-965-2810 or rolando@thecarawaygroup.com, for Microsoft; or Diane
McClelland of Astra Women's Business Alliance, +1-904-204-0220 or
dimac@astrawba.org

Web site: http://www.astrawba.org/

NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp.

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