Washington, DC — On Wednesday, March 7th, the White House will honor Carol Attak as one of eleven local leaders being recognized as Champions of Change for outstanding leadership in entrepreneurial mentoring, counseling and training. These exceptional leaders support small business owners by helping them accelerate their path to growth.
"Entrepreneurial mentors help American business owners fulfill their dreams every day," said U.S. Small Business Administration Deputy Administrator Marie Johns. "Mentors volunteer their time to provide the counseling and expertise that small business owners need to succeed and create jobs. In turn, entrepreneurs and small businesses support their local economy and provide goods and services to their neighbors. These mentors are true Champions of Change, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to celebrate their success."
The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Obama's Winning the Future initiative. Each week, a different sector is highlighted and groups of Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders, are recognized for the work they are doing to serve and strengthen their communities.
Small businesses create two out of every three new jobs, and half the people who work in America own or work for a small business. Many of these entrepreneurs would not be where they are today without the help of a mentor to provide them with expert advice. Small business owners make up the fabric of our daily lives — from the shops on main streets to the high-growth innovative companies — and they are creating an economy built to last.
To learn more about our Champions go to www.whitehouse.gov/champions and to watch the event live, go to www.whitehouse.gov/live at 12:00pm ET on March 7th.
Carol Attak is the Supplier Diversity Program Manager for Accenture, a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with more than 244,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Carol helps manage Accenture's Diverse Supplier Development Program, a formal mentoring program in which Accenture executives team with selected minority-owned, women-owned, LGBT-owned, small and other diverse suppliers to help them develop and grow their businesses. The program also offers training symposia, knowledge exchange and networking opportunities. Accenture is now conducting the third class of this 18-month program. When this class graduates, the program will have mentored more than 50 diverse business entities, and Accenture has plans to enhance and evolve the program in the coming years.
