Industry Affiliations The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), founded in 1997, is the nation's leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America's corporations. It also is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States. Dedicated to enhancing opportunities for women's business enterprises, WBENC works in partnership with women's business organizations located throughout the country to provide a national standard of certification for women-owned businesses.         The Human Capital Institute (HCI) is a think tank, educator, and global professional association dedicated to the advancement of talent management practices for individuals and organizations. HCI serves as a catalyst for innovative thinking in integrated talent strategy, acquisition, development, engagement, management, and measurement.    Through research and collaboration, HCI programs collect original, creative ideas from a field of the brightest thought leaders in talent management. Those ideas are then transformed into measurable, real-world strategies that help its members attract and retain high-performing people, build a diverse, inclusive workplace, and leverage individual and team performance throughout the enterprise.         The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) is the leading housing and community development advocate for the provision of adequate and affordable housing and strong, viable communities for all Americans—particularly those with low- and moderate-incomes. Our members administer HUD programs such as Public Housing, Section 8, CDBG and HOME.         HRDQ is a trusted developer of soft-skills learning solutions that help to improve the performance of individuals, teams, and organizations. We offer a wide range of resources and services, from ready-to-train assessments, hands-on games, and programs to facilitator certification, custom development, and more.   Our primary audience includes corporate trainers, human resource professionals, educational institutions, and independent consultants who look to us for research-based solutions to develop key skills such as leadership, communication, coaching, and team building.   At HRDQ, we believe an experiential approach is best catalyst for adult learning. Our unique Experiential Learning Model has been the core of what we do for more than 30 years. Combining the best of organizational learning theory and proven facilitation methods with an appreciation for adult learning styles, our philosophy initiates and inspires lasting change.         A "Historically Underutilized Business":   · is at least 51% owned by an Asian-Pacific American, Black American, Hispanic American, Native American, and/or American woman,    · is an entity with its principal place of business in Texas, and    · has an owner residing in Texas with a proportionate interest that actively participates in the control, operations and management of the entity's affairs.    The statewide HUB Program facilitates the use of HUBs in state procurement and provides information on the state's procurement process to minority- and woman-owned businesses.         ASTD (American Society for Training & Development) is the world’s largest association dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals. ASTD’s members come from more than 100 countries and connect locally in more than 130 U.S. chapters and with more than 30 international partners. Members work in thousands of organizations of all sizes, in government, as independent consultants, and suppliers.       ASTD provides our members with world class content and events, identifies best practices, advocates for public policy, and facilities relationships among trainers, employers, and training suppliers. Over 40,000 members agree: ASTD is the voice of the training profession.