Overview
WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV’s mission to further the progress of women in business depends on the commitment of our WBEs, Corporate Members, volunteers and advocates.
We believe in the power of recognition to ignite impact. Our awards celebrate the visionaries, innovators, collaborators, and allies who are redefining what’s possible in business. These honors spotlight the individuals and organizations whose leadership, partnership, and purpose elevate our entire network. Together, we shine brighter.
WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV Impact Awards
The Impact Awards honor the extraordinary women business enterprises (WBEs), corporate partners, and ecosystem allies whose work drives transformational change. These eight awards represent our core values – vision, innovation, collaboration, and bold leadership – and uplift those who turn mission into momentum across our network.
Get Your Tickets for the Impact Awards Luncheons
The Emerging 10 (E10)
A celebration of ten women-owned businesses on the rise.
WBEC NY DMV is shining a spotlight on ten remarkable WBEs from WBEC NY and DMV whose financial growth reflects not only business excellence, but the unstoppable momentum of our community. These women-led enterprises are scaling revenue with purpose, redefining success, and fueling the collective power that drives our ecosystem forward. We salute their vision, tenacity, and transformative impact.
Innovation Award
For WBEs who don’t wait for the future—they invent it.
Recognizes Metro NY and Greater DMV WBEs who placed in the Top 4 of the Powerplay Pitch Competitions. Changemakers who transform industries through ingenuity. Whether through disruptive technology, inventive strategy, or a revolutionary business model, they prove innovation is not just an idea but a legacy.
Honorees:
- Are certified WBEs within the WBEC Metro NY or Greater DMV network.
- Demonstrate creativity and ingenuity in addressing business or community challenges.
- Have implemented an original idea, solution, or product with measurable success.
- Actively mentor or inspire other WBEs in adopting innovative practices.
- Embrace risk-taking and forward-thinking as core business values.
Champion Circle Recognition
For corporations that turn partnership into purpose.
Celebrates Corporations and WBE Sponsors that exemplifies synergy, integrating resilience, agility, and collaboration into its supplier and community engagement. This award honors corporation and WBE partners that go beyond transactions to foster transformational relationships.
Honorees:
- Are an active corporate or WBE sponsor of WBEC Metro NY or Greater DMV.
- Demonstrate integrated support across supplier, mentorship, and ecosystem engagement.
- Foster meaningful, reciprocal relationships with WBEs (beyond procurement).
- Invest in long-term strategies that elevate WBEs through education, access, or leadership opportunities.
- Exemplify the principles of resilience, agility, and collaboration in practice.
Power in Partnership Award
For Partner Organizations who build bridges to build power.
Celebrates a partner organization to WBEC NY DMV who models strategic collaboration, for long-term impact on small businesses. Our shared vision and collaborative work serves to solve problems, uplift communities, and expand business opportunities for all.
Nomination Criteria:
- Successfully collaborated with WBEC NY DMV or other organizations on a significant initiative benefiting small business owners.
- Demonstrates measurable results through partnership (e.g., new contracts, community impact, expanded reach).
- Actively promotes a culture of collaboration and inclusion
- Uses strategic alliances to scale innovation and elevate others in the ecosystem.
Outstanding Advocate Award
A champion whose courageous advocacy turns good intentions into powerful results for diverse suppliers.
This award honors a corporate, alliance partner, organization or institution champion whose commitment to equity is demonstrated through meaningful action—not just intention. Whether working behind the scenes or leading from the front, this ally serves as a vital bridge between advocacy and institutional transformation. Their efforts create tangible opportunities for entrepreneurs and foster a culture where inclusion thrives.
Nomination Criteria:
- A consistent track record of championing entrepreneurs within their organization or industry.
- Demonstrated, measurable outcomes resulting from their advocacy efforts.
- Instrumental in driving internal cultural shifts or advancing inclusive policies that benefit entrepreneurs.
- Actively supports and uplifts underrepresented business owners, modeling authentic and sustained allyship.
ICON Award
A bold leader who fuses resilience, innovation, and collaboration to spark transformative impact across the WBEC NY DMV network.
Honoring a bold WBE or Corporate leader who exemplifies the fusion of resilience, innovation, and collaborative spirit to ignite meaningful, systemic change across the WBEC NY DMV network. This award celebrates a visionary who not only adapts but leads—amplifying impact through inclusive leadership and forward-thinking action.
Nomination Criteria:
- Demonstrates the ability to synthesize diverse disciplines, practices, or sectors to drive innovative outcomes.
- Fosters strong partnerships and coalitions both within their organization and across the broader ecosystem.
- Embodies and advances the evolving themes and strategic direction of WBEC NY DMV, serving as a catalyst for progress.
- Makes exceptional contributions to building a thriving, interconnected community that supports and uplifts other WBEs.
Supplier and Corporation of the Year
The Supplier and Corporation of the Year are selected by the WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV Board of Directors and represent the highest honors we bestow each year. These prestigious awards recognize a standout WBE and a trailblazing corporation whose leadership and engagement exemplify the essence of synergy, impact, and sustained excellence.
Suppliers of the Year (Tiers I – IV)
Celebrating WBENC certified WBEs whose bold leadership and community spirit elevate the entire ecosystem through outstanding provision of services and modeled business practices.
These companies have a demonstrated track record of customer satisfaction and business growth. They also actively support other WBEs, meaningfully contribute to WBEC NY DMV programming and leverages certification to create economic opportunity for others. The honorees at each Tier demonstrate the true spirit of our organization where collective strength powers lasting impact.
Tier I: < $5 million in annual revenues
Tier II: $5 million < $10 million in annual revenues
Tier III: $10 million < $50 million in annual revenues
Tier IV: $50 million+ in annual revenues
Awarded to a WBEC Metro NY or Greater DMV certified WBE that is actively engaged in the WBEC NY DMV network, does business with corporate members and other WBEs, and champions diverse supplier ecosystems:
- Has a demonstrated track record and been nominated for outstanding service provision, customer satisfaction, and business growth
- Builds strategic partnerships across the network
- Champions other women business owners
- Leverages certification for business innovation and access
- Contributes meaningfully to WBEC NY DMV programs and events
- Has a testimonial and/or nomination from a WBEC NY or DMV corporate partner
Nominees must:
- Be an active certified WBE in good standing with WBEC Metro NY or Greater DMV
- Have done business with at least one WBENC corporate member or WBE
- Demonstrate innovative use of certification in marketing or procurement
- Show consistent involvement in regional WBEC events, sponsorships, or committees
- Actively support and uplift other WBEs (supplier engagement, referrals, etc.)
Corporations of the Year (Regional and National)
Saluting corporate powerhouses who visibly embraces the spirit of supplier inclusion, driving breakthrough growth and game-changing opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
The Outstanding Corporate Impact Awards honor one Regional and one National WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV Corporate Member that set the standard in championing women-owned businesses. These corporations go beyond compliance – developing innovative, inclusive procurement strategies, fostering access, and collaborating deeply with the WBE community.
Awarded to a corporation that is an advocate, investor, and ecosystem builder for supplier diversity and WBE engagement:
- Integrates supplier diversity into core procurement strategies
- Opens access to supply chains for certified WBEs
- Partners meaningfully with WBEC Metro NY programs and events
- Demonstrates leadership at all levels in support of women-owned businesses
Nominees must:
- Be an active corporate member of WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV
- Show significant engagement and support for WBEC Metro NY (e.g., sponsorship, event participation, committee service)
- Provide WBEs meaningful access to procurement opportunities
- Have active involvement in WBEC NY DMV
- Demonstrate measurable impact
- Have a WBE testimonial and/or nomination to support their application
Previous Award Winners
2024 WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV Award Winners
Metro NY
- Outstanding Corporation – Bristol Myers Squibb
- Outstanding Women’s Business Advocate – Dawn Wells, Northwell Health
- WBE Star – Darcy Flanders, Baseline Group NY
- President’s Award – Diana Domenech, Accelerator Consulting Experts LLC
- Corporate Opportunity Award – Capital One
- Corporation Champion Award – Pfizer Inc.
- WBE Champion Award – Stackable Sensations, Shari Verrone
- WBE Connection Award – Stackable Sensations, Shari Verrone
- Access New York Award – Coranet Corp, Margaret Marcucci
Greater DMV
- Outstanding Corporation – Dominion Energy
- Outstanding Women’s Business Advocate – Christine Walsh, Alpha Graphics, Inc.
- WBE Star – Theresa Proctor, Forward Moment Enterprises
- President’s Award – Rose Hatcher
- President's Award – Allison Kube
- Corporate Opportunity Award – Capital One
- Corporate Champion Award – AstraZeneca
- WBE Champion Award – Torchlight Hire, LLC, Heidi Parsont
- WBE Connection Award – Chantilly Mediation and Facilitation, LLC, Gina Weatherup
- Public Sector Award – AARP
2023 WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV Award Winners
Metro NY
- Outstanding Corporation – New York Life Insurance
- Outstanding Women’s Business Advocate – Sundari Pai Luts, Bristol Myers Squibb
- WBE Star – Linda Hamilton, Linda A. Hamilton CPA, LLC
- President’s Award – Sheri Shafir, AMC Networks
- Corporate Opportunity Award – Pfizer Inc.
- Corporate Champion Award – Pfizer Inc.
Greater DMV
- Outstanding Corporation – AstraZeneca
- Outstanding Women’s Business Advocate – Thobias Thornwell, MGM National Harbor
- WBE Star – Mary Fehlig, The Fehlig Group
- President’s Award – Angela Franco, DC Chamber of Commerce
- President’s Award – Jon Suber, MassMutual
- Corporate Opportunity Award – Dominion Energy
- Corporate Champion Award – AstraZeneca
- Public Sector - AARP
2022 WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV Award Winners
Metro NY
- Outstanding Corporation – Capital One
- Outstanding Women’s Business Advocate – Sandi Webster, Sandi Webster LLC
- Star Award – Dee Marshall, Diverse & Engaged
- President’s Award – Charlene Vickers, Johnson & Johnson
Greater DMV
- Outstanding Corporation – Dominion Energy
- Outstanding Women’s Business Advocate – Erica Small-Sisco & Deborah Gittens,
- Old Dominion University Women’s Business Center
- Star Award – Liz Whitehead, 12PointFive LLC
- President’s Award – Anna Hakobyan, AstraZeneca
2022 Done Deals Award Winners
Metro NY
- Corporate Opportunity Award – Pfizer Inc.
- Corporate Champion Award – New York Life Insurance
- WBE Champion Award – Stackable Sensations
- Done Deals Champion Award – Stackable Sensations
- Access New York City – Coranet Corp, Mrs. Paper, Eriksen Translations
- Access New York State – Coranet Corp, Mrs. Paper, Eriksen Translations
Greater DMV
- Corporate Opportunity Award – Dominion Energy
- Corporate Champion Award – AstraZeneca
- WBE Champion Award – Ampcus Inc., TorcheLight Hire LLC
- Public Sector Award – AARP