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