NYC Watch Party for the WBEC Greater DMV Pitch Powerplay Competition
September 23 | 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 pm EST | In-Person
Join us for an intimate NYC Watch Party as we tune in to the WBEC Greater DMV Pitch Powerplay Competition and cheer on the women business owners taking the stage to pitch their businesses.
Hosted by WBEC NY DMV FORUM members Sherene Strausberg of 87th Street Creative, Janette Gallardo of Vitta Solutions, and Lenore Horton of HLS, this gathering will bring our two regions together to support fellow WBEs as they push through the nerves that can come with putting themselves and their businesses in front of an audience.
The Watch Party is also an opportunity to spend time with fellow WBEs, make connections, and come together as a community to support the women who are pitching.
Space is limited to just 12 attendees, creating an intimate setting for conversation and connection while sharing in the Powerplay Pitch experience.
Event Details:
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
11:30 AM–2:30 PM
CHIEF Clubhouse | 13 East 19th Street, New York, NY
Coffee and tea will be provided, and attendees are welcome to purchase their own food and drinks at CHIEF.
RSVP by September 16 by emailing sherene@87thstreetcreative.com.
Meet Your Hosts
Janette Gallardo has 20 plus years of experience in business finance, specializing in Strategic Planning, Budgeting, Forecasting, Cost Analysis, Pricing Analysis, Financial Modeling, and Mergers & Acquisitions. She has managed up to $25 billion in revenue and gained international experience while working at the headquarters of ABN AMRO Bank in Amsterdam. Janette now focuses on Fractional CFO work, aiming to humanize finances for growth mindset entrepreneurs.
Sherene Strausberg is the founder and creative director of 87th Street Creative, a certified woman-owned animation and design studio specializing in women’s healthcare. With a multidisciplinary background spanning music composition, sound engineering, graphic design, and animation, Sherene has created work for clients including Healthline Media, Calendly, Womankind, and ProPublica, with her ProPublica work earning a News & Documentary Emmy nomination in 2021. Her award-winning creative work also includes an animated short that has screened at festivals globally.
Lenore Horton is the CEO and Managing Member of Horton Legal Strategies PLLC, an award-winning law firm providing fractional legal departments to growing businesses, and founder of Legal Training Studio LLC, a learning community with more than 2,600 enrollments. With over 20 years of legal experience, Lenore advises businesses on corporate, M&A, intellectual property, and employment matters, helping founders manage their legal needs from idea to exit and beyond. Her career includes experience at AmLaw 50 firms and as a partner at an AmLaw 200 firm, with recognition from Black Enterprise, Crain’s New York, and The Washington Business Journal.