REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Oct. 25, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Women's Empowerment Partnership, Inc. (WEP), a small, woman- and minority-owned general contracting firm in Bell Gardens, Calif., will work with Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) to grow by enhancing its business practices under the U.S. Department of Defense's Mentor-Protege program.
WEP will partner with facility and contracting professionals at Northrop Grumman's Space Technology sector to enhance business development and infrastructure management. An eight-employee, family-owned business, WEP holds contracts currently with the Federal Aviation Administration, Defense Department, Department of Veterans' Affairs, Department of the Navy, the Aerospace Corporation, as well as Northrop Grumman.
"Women's Empowerment Partnership is an important addition to our Mentor-Protege family, and we look forward to a growing, mutually beneficial relationship," said Bruce Gerding, vice president of business development and planning for Northrop Grumman's Space Technology sector.
Joan Pike Smay, who founded WEP in 2001, noted, "By working with Northrop Grumman to fully develop our processes, we will be able to pursue more government contract opportunities for small businesses. This creates a win-win relationship between our two companies."
Northrop Grumman has participated in the Mentor-Protege program since 1992. The company has assisted 90 small businesses under the Defense Department-sponsored program and currently is participating in 26 active Mentor-Protege partnerships.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $30 billion global defense and technology company whose 122,000 employees provide innovative systems, products and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.