Barbara L. Wrigley was
the first Director (now Executive Director) of the Women’s Business
Center of Northern Virginia and oversees all aspects of the Center’s
growth and operations as it provides training and support to women
seeking to start or grow their own businesses. A program of the
Community Business Partnership, Inc. (CBP), the Center is funded by a
grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration, receives matching
funds from Fairfax County’s Office for Women, and support from George
Mason University’s Mason Enterprise Center. In addition, Ms. Wrigley
serves as Vice President of Public Relations for CBP and was
instrumental in the establishment of its Business Incubation Center.
In May 2003, Ms. Wrigley
was named the “Women in Business Advocate of the Year” by the Washington
Metropolitan Area District Office of the U.S. Small Business
Administration. In 2006, the same group named her “Women in Business
Champion of the Year.” In May 2007, she was invited by Chairwoman Nydia
M. Velazquez to testify before the United States House of
Representatives’ Small Business Committee where she spoke on behalf of
the Association of Women’s Business Centers. Under her leadership
during the past six years, the Center in Northern Virginia has served
over 12,000 women, has assisted in over 1600 business start-ups,
conducted over 550 workshops, and provided over 1600 hours of free one
on one counseling.
Ms. Wrigley has more
than twenty years experience as a manager and advisor to women and
fifteen years experience as an organization development consultant and
adult educator. She was the founder and President of Bradwood Resources,
Inc., a firm that served clients in the U.S. and Canada, improving
managerial and organizational effectiveness. She received her Masters
degree in Human Resource Development/Organization Development with
honors at American University in 1985.
Ms. Wrigley serves on
the national board of directors for the Association of Women’s Business
Centers as Chair-Elect, as well as on the board for Rising Phoenix
Retreat Center in Maryland. In addition, she serves as a retreat leader
at Shalom Mountain Retreat and Study Center in Livingston Manor, New
York.
