WBDC Exec Appointed

To Business Council

For Peace

STAMFORD — Fran Pastore, CEO of the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC), has been appointed as a member of the executive committee for the Business Council for Peace (Bpeace) and to the Board of Directors of the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC). 

In October 2010 she was also appointed to the Governor’s Small Business Advisory Board, charged with promoting resources to small businesses.

Bpeace is a nonprofit international volunteer network of business professionals that believes more jobs means less violence and that the education of women leads to the education of an entire country. Bpeace focuses on the countries emerging from war, specifically Rwanda and Afghanistan.

Last May, Ms Pastore returned from an intensive and life-changing trip to Rwanda with Bpeace.  She collaborated with other Bpeace volunteers to deliver comprehensive training and support to 17 Rwandan women opening an ice cream shop called Sweet Dreams, as well as providing small business counseling to other Rwandan entrepreneurs.

The AWBC develops and strengthens a global network of women’s business centers to advance the growth and success of women business owners.

Ms Pastore said she is thrilled to have received these honors. 

“My lifelong passion has been to help women achieve economic self reliance; I am humbled and blessed to have a career which allows me to fulfill my personal and professional commitment to women locally, nationally, and globally,” she said.

For more information on Bpeace, AWBC, and WBDC visit Bpeace.org, awbc.biz, and ctwbdc.org.