Mower, one of the country’s top independent and 100% employee-owned marketing, advertising and public relations agencies, has achieved Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) certification, the most widely recognized and respected national certification for women-owned businesses in the U.S.
WBENC certification validates that a business is majority-owned, controlled, operated, and managed by a woman or women. WBENC certification is accepted by thousands of corporations representing America’s most prestigious brands, in addition to many states, cities and government entities.
“WBENC certification affirms our longstanding commitment to a culture of belonging, validates the agency’s financial and operational excellence, and reflects our focus on differentiation that benefits our clients and our people,” said Stephanie Crockett, Mower’s president and chief executive officer. “For clients, WBENC certification also means that partnering with Mower now supports their supplier diversity goals. In fact, we’ve already seen a great response from clients and prospects about this differentiator that meets their needs.”
To become certified, businesses undergo a thorough vetting process, including review of business documentation and a site visit. As part of the approval process, Mower had to meet specific standards because it is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
WBENC-certified companies must undergo an annual review to ensure they continue to meet WBENC standards. The annual recertification requirement demonstrates financial discipline and strength for future growth and sustainability.