Bureau of Engraving Granted Women’s Business Enterprise Certification

MINNEAPOLIS—Oct. 14, 2010—The Bureau of Engraving, Inc., a 112-year-old national commercial printing and distance art instruction business, recently was granted the Women’s Business Enterprise Certification (WBENC) as a women-owned, -operated and -controlled business. WBENC’s national standard of certification is a meticulous process, including an in-depth review of the business and site inspection.

The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women. By including women-owned/operated businesses among their vendors, corporation and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier/vendor diversity programs.

“We are honored to be granted this certification and look forward to new opportunities to do business with like-minded national businesses and governmental agencies,” states Lynne Alexander, Chair and CEO, the Bureau of Engraving, Inc. “It reaffirms our long legacy of supporting women leaders at the Bureau of Engraving and our drive to continue this legacy many years into the future.”

The company appointed Lynne Alexander as Chair and CEO in 2009; she had served on the Board of Directors for 25 years. Three female board members were appointed in 2010, giving women majority control on the Board of Directors. Additionally, seven key management positions and nine new hires were announced this year, many of these positions went to highly qualified women and minorities.

“The company growth continues to exceed our plan with our focus on delivering outstanding customer service as we invest in new printing and marketing technologies and capabilities,” adds Alexander. “Customer interest in our point-of-purchase www.thebureau.com/pop/ and market tracking and intelligence www.thebureau.com/marketing_services capabilities continues to fuel additional growth.”

The company recently purchased and installed the 73˝ wide manroland XXL 900 press, which enables the company to help customers create compelling large-format point-of-purchase and other marketing materials. The addition of this press more than doubles The Bureau’s large format offset printing capabilities will maintaining quality and color control via inline color, a first for a press of this size.

About The Bureau of Engraving:
The Bureau of Engraving, Inc. is a privately held, women-owned, -operated and -controlled, national commercial printing business that has been in operation since 1898 and also includes the Art Instruction Schools, which has been in operation since 1914. The commercial print division is a national leader that offers the latest technology in point of purchase, packaging/label, commercial digital and offset printing, and marketing services. Some of the premier names in retail are customers. The Art Instruction Schools is a fully accredited school that provides distance-learning courses on a wide range of art, including fashion, cartooning, illustration and wildlife. Diversity is a core value, with women and minorities making up nearly 40 percent of the workforce. The Bureau is the print division of Bureau of Engraving, Inc. For more information about The Bureau and its services, visit www.thebureau.com.

About WBENC:
The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council is the nation’s largest third party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States. WBENC is a resource for the more than 700 US companies and government agencies that rely on WBENC’s certification as an integral part of their supplier diversity programs.

Source: Company press release.