Cary, NC.—April 2005 — Elaine Buxton, President of Confero, Inc. was profiled in the April edition of the North Carolina Journal for Women’s Winning Ideas from Winning Women. The series is written by Mary Cantando, a nationally recognized expert on the growth of women-owned businesses. The profile results from an interview with Ms. Buxton about how she got her start in business, who are her heroes and what was her most challenging business moment. “I am honored that my ideas would be considered valuable to other women business owners. I am keenly interested in helping others succeed in their business ventures”, said Buxton.

About Elaine Buxton:
Elaine joined Confero is 1986, after managing operations for Wedgwood China Marketing Ltd. In Frankfurt, Germany, a $12 million 31-store division which marketed Wedgwood products to NATO forces in Germany, Italy and Belgium. In 1987, she returned to the U.S. and joined Confero. She was named President of Confero in 1999. Elaine was deeply involved in the formation of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association, having served on the Operating Committee which formed the Association and then serving on its Board of Directors for five (5) years. She has also served on the Meredith College Board of Trustees, as President of the Raleigh Professional Women’s Forum, on the Cary Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and as Board Chair of the non-profit Life Experiences. Elaine earned a BSBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from Meredith College.

About Confero:
Confero, Inc. is a customer experience measurements firm specializing in mystery shopping services and customer satisfaction surveys for retail, automotive, banking and food service businesses. Formed in 1986, Confero conducts mystery shops in the U.S., Canada and Japan using its over 130,000 independently contracted mystery shoppers. The firm is a charter member of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA), is certified by Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) as a Woman-Owned business and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

About Mary Cantando:
As a member of the National Speakers’ Association, she speaks to women who want to grow their businesses, as well as to corporations who want to better understand the fast growing market of women business owners.