Center for Entrepreneurship and Professional Training
Small Business Development Center
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Professional Education and Training
Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training
The Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training (WNET) at the Small Business Development Center, College of DuPage, appeals to women business owners interested in networking, learning from role models, supporting one another, and sharing information about resources so necessary to running a successful business.
Mission Statement
Current Program
History of the WNET Program
Guidelines for Participation in WNET
Contact Us
WNET at College of DuPage: Mission Statement
Our mission is to encourage, educate and support women in business to excel to new heights.
Click here for monthly topics and schedule.
Generally, monthly sessions are scheduled from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., during which there is continental breakfast and meeting from 7:30 to 8 a.m., program and discussion from 8 to 9 a.m., and additional networking until 9:30 a.m.
Please contact Bonnie at (630) 942-2600 or e-mail for membership opportunities and/or registration information.
The WNET program at College of DuPage began in September 1994 modeled after the Small Business Administration, Office of Women's Business Ownership's "Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training (WNET)" mentor/protege program. Pairs of women business owners, the mentor as the experienced "TEACHER"-business-owner and the protege as the "PUPIL"-business-owner, committed to a nine-month program of monthly meetings of individual pairs and Class Schedule meetings of the group at large. Goals were set and accomplished by those who took full advantage of the program.
Yet there was a missing piece to this program. Not every woman business owner who desired involvement in a women's program was able to commit to the requirements of the mentor/protege model. Nationally, other WNET groups were experiencing success with roundtables. Therefore, with the mentor/ protege program still a valuable option, the SBA Office of Women's Business Ownership now officially recognizes the roundtable (group mentoring) as a successful arm of the WNET program.
At the Small Business Development Center, we are excited about these avenues for helping women business owners. Fall 1998 heralded the start of the roundtable program, with options for informal mentor/protege pairs springing from relationships formed through this format. As with all our Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offerings, additional resources can be cited for those who wish to pursue a roundtable topic in more detail.
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Participants in the Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training program will generally conform to the following categories' descriptions:
Area Served
College of DuPage District 502
Participants
Designed with women business owners in mind, but not restricted to women. Home-based businesses are especially encouraged.
Years in Business
It is recommended that the owner be in business at the minimum of nine months. Part of the intent of the WNET program is to share information and expertise. Those with many years of experience can serve to help those with fewer.
Developed in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development, and College of DuPage as a service to Illinois businesses under cooperative agreement #SB-2M-00097-15.
Center Manager
David Gay
Voice: (630) 942-2771
Fax: (630) 942-3789
E-mail contactProgram Manager
Bonnie McLaren
(630) 942-2600
Location and Hours of Operation
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Guidelines for You: Working wih the SBDC
SBDC Seminars and Workshops
Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training (WNET)
