Get Engaged. Be Seen. Stay in the Conversation.
The WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV FORUM is your local access to our national community of women-business enterprises. Launched in 2025, the FORUM creates space for certified WBEs to step up and stay connected, informed, and visible within the network. From casual Meet & Greet gatherings to meetings and conversations with FORUM leaders and peers, we want to ensure you feel you have a way to make your voice heard and to connect more deeply with our network.
The Forum is a volunteer committee that connects WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV with its local WBE communities.
Forum Leaders serve as ambassadors who help certified women business owners build relationships, learn from peers, understand available resources, and participate more actively in the WBEC and WBENC network.
They also share relevant business and industry insights with WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV to help the organization better understand the interests and needs of WBEs across the region.
2027–2029 Forum Leader Applications Are Now Open!
WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV is accepting applications for the 2027–2029 Forum Leader term through December 3, 2026.
Forum Leaders are certified women business owners who bring WBEs together locally, share practical knowledge, mentor fellow business owners, and help others become more active in the WBEC and WBENC network.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Hold an active WBENC certification and have been certified for at least three years.
- Have been in business for at least three years.
- Be the owner of their company.
Applications close December 3, 2026.
Meet the Forum Leaders
Each region, Metro NY and Greater DMV, has FORUM Leaders who are mentors that serve as your local touchpoints, who understand what it takes to succeed in business and take full advantage of what the WBEC NY DMV community has to offer. These woman CEOs are fully leveraging their certification, strengthening corporate connections, and learning from one another as they grow. They also provide us with valuable feedback from FORUM members to improve our programming and build stronger engagement opportunities.
| WBEC Metro NY FORUM Leaders | WBEC Greater DMV FORUM Leaders |
|---|---|
|
Darcy Flanders — Region 4 Elin Barton — Region 2 Geraldine Keogh — Region 6 Jessica Dapelo — Region 5 Laura Londin — Region 4 Lenore Horton — Region 6 Marta Sylvester — Region 6 Molly Bakewell Chamberlin — Region 1 Rochelle Cooper — Region 5 Samantha Williams — Region 7 Shari Spiro — Region 6 Sherene Strausberg — Region 5 Siobhan Ainsworth — Region 5 Stefanie Beach — Region 4 |
Ana-Maria McKessy — Region 3 Ashmara Lawrence — Region 4 Dr. Drena Valentine — Region 4 Jennifer Dumas — Region 4 Madia Brown — Region 1 Theresa Proctor — Region 4 Tiffany Hollin Wright — Region 8 |
Find Your FORUM Leader Territory
Use the maps below to identify which FORUM Leader territory covers your region, county, or ward within Metro NY and Greater DMV.
Who Should Join the FORUM
Forum Member
A forum member can be any WBENC Certified WBE within the WBEC NY DMV Territory.
- Must be an owner OR someone in a senior leadership position within the company.
- Members attend local forum meetings held by Forum Leaders.
- Members share pain-points with Forum Leaders to be shared with WBEC NY DMV Leadership.
- Members of the forum can be new or established business.
Forum Leader
Forum Leaders go through an application process to become a Forum Leader and WBEC NY DMV Ambassador. They serve a two-year volunteer term and are expected to:
- Participate in monthly Forum meetings of approximately 75 minutes.
- Personally participate in at least three WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV Signature Events each year.
- Host two in-person Forum events within their territory each year, for a total of four events during the term.
- Complete required Forum Leader training.
- Participate actively in Forum activities and communications.
- Support mentorship, speaking, facilitation, and volunteer activities when appropriate.
How To Engage
The FORUM offers multiple ways to get connected, engaged, and make your voice heard:
Join our Meet & Greets
Local Meet & Greets bring our community together for informal gatherings designed for connection. Open to certified and non-certified WBEs, as well as others interested in learning more about our network, these events are a great opportunity to meet fellow business owners and WBEC NY DMV staff in a low-pressure setting. In addition, Meet & Greets give WBEs a way to meet
hyper-local community agencies in attendance.
Become a FORUM Leader
FORUM Leaders serve two-year terms and play a pivotal role in strengthening our presence in the broader community. Beyond connecting and elevating the voices of fellow WBEs, FORUM Leaders gain exposure for themselves as influential business owners in our community.
The WBEC NY DMV FORUM is your avenue to engage with local certified WBEs, elevate your voice as a business owner, contribute feedback that shapes our programs and offerings, and stay in the know about what’s going in regionally and
nationally. Join the FORUM and get connected today!
Are you a certified woman business owner who enjoys connecting people, sharing knowledge, and taking initiative to bring your local business community together?
Applications for the 2027–2029 Forum Leader term are now open.
Application deadline: December 3, 2026.