MarketPoint Receives National WBE Certification

Baltimore-based consulting firm MarketPoint LLC announced, today, that it has received national WBE (Women’s Business Enterprise) certification from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

“We are honored to receive recognition from the nation’s largest certifying body of women-owned businesses,” said Laura Pasternak, Principal and Chief Brand Strategist at MarketPoint, LLC. “And though we appreciate the visibility that WBENC certification provides, we are keenly aware that our continued success will rest not on our woman-owned status, but our commitment to driving results for clients.”

“I would never recommend that a firm distinguish itself on the basis of its ownership alone,” Pasternak continues. “Personally, I wouldn’t want to be known as a woman who happens to be a trusted business advisor, but rather a trusted business advisor who happens to be a woman.”

WBENC certification is a national standard that enables major corporations with active supplier diversity programs to demonstrate their commitment to conducting business with WBEs. The certification process is rigorous and includes a multi-faceted business application and review process designed to ensure the integrity of the program. Considered the gold standard in its field, WBENC certification is nationally accepted by thousands of major corporations and a select group of government entities.

A woman-owned business since 2001, MarketPoint is also certified MBE by the State of Maryland and DBE by the USDOT.

MarketPoint provides strategic branding and marketing services for clients in the business-to-business, education and non-profit sectors. Founded in 2001, the firm focuses on organizations in transition. Examples of transition may include changes in organizational leadership, introduction of new products and services, penetration of new markets, rebranding, or temporary vacancies inside the marketing organization.

Prior to establishing MarketPoint, Pasternak held senior marketing and strategic planning positions with such companies as Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc. and Thomson Corporation. In addition to her work at MarketPoint, she serves on the board of the Baltimore Regional Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), and speaks publically on various brand and marketing topics.