The Barbour Group Achieves Women’s Business Enterprise National Council Certification

The national champion for small businesses in the construction, commercial and government marketplace becomes the only surety bond focused agency in the Mid-Atlantic with this gold standard recognition

WESTMINSTER, MD – December 16, 2010- The Barbour Group, www.thebarbourgroup.com, Maryland’s first and leading 100% woman- owned surety bond broker, announces today that they have received the distinguished Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Certification for Women Business Enterprises (WBE), becoming the only surety bond focused agency in the Mid-Atlantic region to be recognized with this gold standard and identified as the agency of choice.

The WBENC certification will enable The Barbour Group, who provides surety and commercial insurance solutions to the construction industry and Fortune 1000 companies, to have exposure to WBENC’s Corporate Members, who include organizations from Accenture to Hewlett Packard to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and be listed as an approved and qualified woman-owned business that can met the needs of the Corporate Member’s contract. As The Barbour Group looks to continue to expand it’s presence within the construction, commercial and government marketplace this certification exemplifies both the team’s creative capabilities and knowledge as well as continues to demonstrate Karen Barbour’s, President of The Barbour Group, role as a pioneer in breaking down bonding barriers for small and minority businesses.

“The achievement of the WBENC certification could not have come at a better time,” said Karen Barbour, President of The Barbour Group. “My team and I have worked hard to build a reputation among small to mid-sized construction firms through our surety bonding expertise and services and would like to continue and expand our ability to be the champion for small businesses within the construction, commercial and government marketplace as well and this certification gives us the key to get in those doors.”

To learn more or get in contact with The Barbour Group, please visit www.thebarbourgroup.com or call (410) 876-9610. For media inquiries please contact Sandra Schwartzman at (301) 230 – 0045 x 100.