Our Mission
The mission of Astra is the relentless pursuit of leadership,
opportunity and diversity for women in business.

Astra is committed to the following goals and activities:

• Certify women business owners under WBENC standards and procedures
• Create contracting opportunities for women-owned businesses
• Provide qualified suppliers for corporations and agencies
• Train women to grow global companies
• Measure and report contracting results through the Done Deals™ program
• Develop role models and mentors
• Build collaborative relationships with organizations supporting women

Astra provides training and workshops for women business owners, corporate and agency procurement professionals in the states of Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Northern California.

History
Astra began as an outgrowth of Gateway to the Women’s Market™, a company owned by Diane McClelland, co-founder of Astra Women's Business Alliance. The company conducted research on women’s attitudes toward business, making financial decisions, running companies and print advertising. Annually, over the last ten years, women representing business owners, non-profit CEOs, corporate and agency leaders have received the Astra award for their acumen in international trade, community involvement, strategic alliances, technology and employee empowerment.

In 2000, Astra Women's Business Alliance was founded as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation by Diane McClelland & Suzanne Lackman, a serial entrepreneur, previously owning several companies. Later that year ASTRA became a partner of Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Through its partnership with WBENC, Astra acts as a third-party certifier of women-owned businesses in the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, Montana and Northern California.

In 2003, at its Annual Gala, Astra recognized the CEOs of major corporations for their leadership in diversity for women and minority suppliers. Those CEOs honored at its 8th Annual Awards were Steven Reinemund, PepsiCo; David O’Reilly, Chevron; Michael Eskew, UPS; and Daniel Edelman, Macy’s Northwest.

Also in 2003, Astra began to honor corporations and WBEs who have created the most contracts with WBEs in the Astra region through the Done Deals™ program.  Annually, corporations are recognized for the number of contracts or Done Deals™ in order to keep the main focus on increasing economic opportunities for women-owned businesses. Candi Phillips of BIO-MED Testing Service, Inc. received an award for the most WBE Done Deals™

Corporations who have been recognized for the most Done Deals™ are Microsoft Corporation, UPS and Washington Mutual. The Top Corporation Award is given to companies who support women-owned businesses, create contract opportunities, and participate in Astra programs. Previous winners include Microsoft Corporation and Enterprise Rent-a-Car.

Astra Networking Events
Each year, Astra has presented a variety of programs and events that bring women business owners together with other women business leaders and corporate and agency procurement executives.

Taking Care of Business™, a matchmaker event, provides an educational workshop and one-on-one appointments with corporate and agency buyers to explore contracting opportunities.

Attorneys, Accountants and Bankers Think-Tank
Monthly breakfast meetings will be held bringing business experts together to discuss success strategies for women-owned businesses. Oregon will kick off these series in October, 2006.

Corporate Supplier Diversity Professional Think-Tank
A Think-Tank for Supplier Diversity professionals was launched in September, 2006.  It is designed as a forum to share best practices. If you are a supplier diversity professional and want to participate, contact us to learn more.