Mechanic Falls, ME — Auburn Manufacturing, Inc. (AMI), the industry leader in high performance textiles for extreme temperature applications, announces that it has been certified as a Women’ Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the leading certifier of women-owned businesses that sell to corporations and large government organizations.

“We are proud to be affiliated with such a prestigious organization,” said AMI President and CEO Kathie Leonard. “Women owned businesses are a key component of the continued strength of America’s economic landscape and WBENC provides national credibility and expanded marketing opportunities for growth. Certification is an important marketing tool for expanding our company’s visibility among decision makers in corporate supply chain diversity and procurements.”

WBENC certification is one of the most widely recognized and respected certifications in the country. It provides a national standard of certification and is recognized and accepted by the majority of the top corporations across the U.S. To be certified as a WBE, a company must be an independent business concern that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens or legal Resident Aliens, whose business formation and principal place of business is in the U.S. or its territories, and whose management and daily operation is controlled by one or more of the women owners.

WBENC (www.wbenc.org) is a coalition of corporations, regionally-focused women’s business organizations and representatives of the women’s business community whose ultimate goal is to foster diversity in the world of commerce. WBENC programs and policies are designed to expand opportunities and eliminate barriers in the marketplace for women business owners. WBENC is the only national organization that brings WBEs and corporations together to work toward the mutual goal of improving marketing opportunities for resourceful women-owned businesses as vendors and suppliers to the nation’s corporate and non-profit sectors.