Our own Karen Sutter was recently honored by the Women Presidents’ Educational Organization as a Star! The Outstanding WBE Award recognizes someone “that has contributed to WPEO, has supported other women in business and has developed innovative solutions to doing business with Corporations.” Karen’s done all that and then some. We’re proud of you, Karen!

Here’s the full release:

WPEO Recognizes Outstanding Women Business Owners and Corporations

New York, NY (March 1, 2013)– The Women Presidents’ Educational Organization (WPEO) – which provides full service third party certification to women entrepreneurs in New York, Northern New Jersey, Southern Connecticut and the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas — recognized women business owners, corporations, and women’s business advocates at the Annual Awards Breakfast today at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

The 2013 award winners include:

• Pfizer, Inc, as the 2013 Outstanding Corporation from the New York region
• Pepco Holdings, Inc., as the 2013 Outstanding Corporation from the Washington, D.C. region
• Cathy Kane, Rosenberg & Associates, Inc., as the 2013 Outstanding Women’s Business Advocate from the New York Region
• Aline Presley, Exxon Mobil Corporation, as the 2013 Outstanding Women’s Business Advocate for the Washington, D.C. region
• Karen Sutter, The Sutter Group, as the WPEO Star
• Judie McCloskey, Johnson & Johnson, as the winner of the New York region’s President’s Award
• Ronnette Anderson, Dominion Resources, Inc., as the winner of the Washington, D.C. region’s President’s Award

Criteria for the winners of the Outstanding Corporation awards include efforts in support of women business owners and the women’s business community, innovation, Done Deal™ participation, and overall commitment to the mission of the WPEO. The Advocate awardees are selected based on involvement with WPEO, significant contributions to WPEO, and contributions in support of women owned businesses. The President’s Award winners have gone above and beyond in their service to the WPEO, and are selected by Marsha Firestone, Ph.D, President and Founder of the WPEO and Sandra Eberhard, Executive Director, WPEO–DC.

“It’s an honor to recognize and celebrate our outstanding WBEs, Corporate Members and women’s business advocates each year for their continuing support, participation and commitment to the WPEO,” said Marsha Firestone, Ph.D., President and Founder of the WPEO. “The success of these woman-owned businesses and of WPEO Corporate Members validates the mutually beneficial experience of working together to support the growth of WBEs.”

The Annual Awards Breakfast was sponsored by Bank of America, Microsoft, and Sanofi (WPEO corporate sponsors) as well as ADCO Electrical Corporation, Atrium Staffing, Big Apple Car, HighRoad Press, Progressive Promotions, and The Studio (WPEO/WBENC-certified Women Business Enterprises – WBEs).

About the WPEO

The Women Presidents’ Educational Organization (WPEO) is a regional affiliate of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s premier third party certification organization for women owned businesses. The mission of the WPEO is to create increased access to business opportunities for WBEs. Its programs develop skills and knowledge for WBEs, advocate in the public and private sectors, foster relationships between WBEs, corporations and the government, and provide certification services. WPEO provides full service third party certification to women entrepreneurs in the New York, Northern New Jersey Southern Connecticut and the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas. WPEO is incorporated in the state of New York and is recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information see the website at www.wpeo.us or call (212) 688-4114.