Michelle S. Butler, President and CEO of the Women's Business Center of California (WBCC),...

Prominent NAWBO BRAVO! Award Presented to Butler for Successful Launch of Revamped Women's Business Center in San Diego

SAN DIEGO -- The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), San Diego Chapter, named Michelle S. Butler, co-founder and president/CEO of the Women's Business

The BRAVO! Awards celebrate outstanding San Diego women business leaders for their accomplishments, leadership, innovation and integrity, and this year benefited the Armed Forces YMCA.

"Founding a non-profit organization is a huge undertaking," says Butler. "And while I am proud to be named Advocate of the Year by such a prestigious organization, this award is shared with the entire founding Board of Directors of the WBCC."

Butler began working with the WBCC in January 2006 as its Program Director. At the time, the WBCC was a small program of National University partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Seeing the need for expanded services, she called upon supporters in the community to help her transform the program into its own, independent, non-profit organization.

Butler is active in the community and serves on numerous boards and committees:

* San Diego Regional/Metro Revolving Loan Fund Advisory Board Member

* San Diego Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Small Business Incubator Advisory Committee Member

* 2006 Best Small Business Advocate, San Diego Supplier Development Council

* Marketing Chair, Organization of Women in International Trade San Diego

Prior to joining the WBCC, Butler built her own business in international trade consulting, specializing in legal trade between the U.S. and Cuba, and is known for having led the way for the state of California to export directly to Cuba. "I know first-hand what it is like to build a business from scratch, and I enjoy making the process easier for other women entrepreneurs."

Other WBCC board members were recognized at the NAWBO event as well.

* Cecile J. Bereal - WBCC Affiliate Award for Woman of the Year; President/CEO of RMA Management Alliance, Inc. and WBCC Board Chair

* Kira Ramirez - WBCC/SDCHCC Joint Affiliate Award for Client of the Year; Owner of Serendipity Doo and WBCC client

* Amanda L. Mineer - Nominee for Woman Business Owner of the Year; Owner/Operator of the Legal Center for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs, Inc

The other NAWBO BRAVO! top awards went to:

* Patti Perez, President and CEO of Puente Consulting - Woman Business Owner of the Year

* Margot Kyd, SDG&E - NAWBO President's Award

* Jaymee Lomax, Sempra - NAWBO Supporter of the Year

This year's event was supported by BRAVO! Premiere Sponsor USA Federal Credit Union, as well as SDG&E, Union Bank and Metropolitan Water of Southern California.

About the WBCC

The WBCC is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization committed to assisting entrepreneurs starting, expanding or enhancing small businesses in San Diego County. The WBCC educates, mentors and cultivates entrepreneurial women and men of socially, ethnically and economically diverse backgrounds for success by providing access to the information, resources and support necessary to create and sustain successful businesses. The WBCC provides technical training via seminars and hands-on workshops, customized counseling, mentoring, education, networking, access to resources, and a number of signature services, events and programs.

Not just for women: WBCC serves both female and male entrepreneurs and small business owners, with a focus, understanding and unique approach toward the specific challenges and concerns of women - the fastest growing segment of entrepreneurs. To learn more, visit www.wbcc-sd.org.

About NAWBO San Diego Chapter

NAWBO is the only nonprofit organization dedicated to researching and meeting the needs of women business owners worldwide. It has 8,000 members worldwide; California NAWBO has nine chapters with over 1,000 members. Membership is open to sole proprietors, partners and corporate owners with day-to-day management responsibility. Active members who live in a chapter area automatically join both the chapter and national NAWBO.

NAWBO San Diego membership benefits include monthly meetings with educational speakers and networking with peers and prospects, award celebrations, training conferences, leadership and management training, local public relations exposure and access to a state and national network of women business owners.

NAWBO San Diego on the Net: www.nawbosd.org.