Los Angeles, Sept. 9, 2002 -- WorldLink has become the first global integrated media sales representation company to be awarded official certification from The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Founded by Toni Erickson Knight, WorldLink is one of the world’s fastest-growing full-service media sales firms and is the largest woman-owned firm in its field.

“The WBENC is a well-respected organization that works to ensure diversity while giving woman-owned businesses a strategic advantage in a competitive marketplace,” said Erickson Knight, the company’s president. “We are proud to have qualified under its rigorous application process and look forward to a productive relationship.”

In just five years, the company has organically grown from a five-person operation to a staff of more than 70 people. Based in Los Angeles with offices in New York, WorldLink represents in excess of 200 national, regional and international cable networks, broadcast stations and syndicators across the globe, while also enjoying extensive relationships with in more than 250 advertising agencies worldwide.

Created in 1997, WBENC is dedicated to enhancing opportunities for women’s business enterprises in America’s major business markets. With the goal to foster diversity in the world of commerce, WBENC’s programs and policies are designed to expand opportunities and eliminate barriers in the marketplace for women business owners.

WBENC’s nationally recognized and respected standard certification program has produced rigorous standards and procedures designed to assist companies in complying with state and federal government requirements to work with women and/or minority-owned companies. In order to receive WBENC certification, a company must undergo a comprehensive application process designed to verify the active involvement of a woman or women in the following areas: 51% ownership, effective overall management of the business, and day-to-day operational authority and control.

Among the many corporate members of the council that accept the WBENC certification are Aetna, Inc., American Airlines, American Express, AOL Time Warner, AT&T, Bank One, Chevron/Texaco, CitiBank, CNN, Coca Cola and Coca Cola Enterprises, Daimler-Chrysler Corp., EDS, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Hallmark Cards, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Kraft Foods, MetLife, Nextel, Pfizer, Sprint Corp., Texas Instruments, United States Postal Service and Wells Fargo, to name a few.