IRVING, TEXAS (August 30, 2021)—The Women’s Business Council – Southwest (WBCS), after an extensive search, has announced that Bliss Coulter will become the new president & CEO. Prior to joining WBCS, she was the Chief Executive Officer for The Ladder Alliance, a non-profit that empowers women and gives them the tools to be self-sufficient and successful.
During her time at The Ladder Alliance, Coulter doubled the amount of operating cash, tripled the operating reserve, transformed the annual golf event, increasing new attendees by 80%, decreased expenses by 10%, as well as received the “Best Place for Working Parents” award from the Fort Worth Mayor. During this same time, she grew the fundraising budget by approximately 225%, making it the most successful fundraising period in the history of the agency.
For the past ten years, Coulter has been helping to improve operations and drive company growth and sustainability in the nonprofit sector. A Texas native, she is passionate about helping women advance and is excited to expand this opportunity through cultivating business opportunities between women-owned businesses and corporations.
“I am honored to have been selected for the president & CEO position serving women-owned businesses throughout the four-state region,” said Coulter. “Debbie Hurst has truly made an impact over her tenure leading the Council and I am excited to continue and build upon her work.”
Debbie Hurst, who will continue with the Council until early 2022 to ensure a smooth transition, has led the Council for the past 24 years. Over her time, the membership grew from 100 to over 1,200 women-owned businesses and 80 corporate members today.
“On behalf of the board of directors, the staff, and membership, I am excited to welcome Bliss into the WBCS family,” said Hurst. “In looking for the next president & CEO, we were fortunate to find someone with a successful non-profit management background who has worked to improve not only the impact of her organization but also the benefits for the staff. I am eager to see her leadership skills take this organization to even greater levels of growth and impact for women-owned businesses into future decades.”
McKinley Marketing Partners, a certified Women-Owned Business (WBE), took the lead in the recruitment efforts for this position.
About WBCS
In its 26th year, the Women’s Business Council – Southwest (WBCS) is dedicated to increasing the value of women-owned businesses by providing certification, education, advocacy, and mutually beneficial business opportunities for our members and affiliates. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, WBCS has more than 1,200 Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) Members and over 80 Corporate Members and administers the national certification on behalf of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) for north and central Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New Mexico. To find out more about WBCS, please visit www.wbcsouthwest.org.
