Stacy Fritz Is Using Certification the Way It Was Meant to Be Used

That same practical mindset shapes how Stacy approaches her WBENC Certification through WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV. Certification, in her view, is a strategic business tool. But its value depends on how actively a WBE uses it.

“Certification is not magic on its own,” Stacy says. “It becomes powerful when you actively step into the community, relationships, and opportunities that come with it.”

That is the central lesson of Stacy’s certification story. Get certified, yes. But then show up. Learn. Follow up. Build relationships. Look for rooms where corporate partners, supplier diversity leaders, and other growth-minded WBEs are already having serious conversations about collaborations and opportunities.

From Wellness Entrepreneur to Workplace Well-Being Leader

Stacy describes herself as “a Maryland girl through and through,” grounded in family, movement, and a lifelong commitment to helping people feel better in their bodies and lives. Before starting FIT2order, she worked as an educator, trainer, and coach. That teaching instinct still drives how she leads. She helps people take something that feels overwhelming and make it feel possible.

Movement has also been part of Stacy’s personal discipline. She has completed 11 marathons and continues to teach yoga, indoor cycling, and weight training. For her, wellness is not a side topic. It is part of how leaders sustain the energy, clarity, and resilience required to build a business.

FIT2order began with that same belief. Stacy started the company alongside Pattie Sassano because they saw how often busy professionals put their well-being last. Their goal was to make health accessible, realistic, and woven into the workday. Over time, that mission expanded into a broader workplace well-being model that helps companies support their teams in practical, measurable ways.

Why Certification Mattered

Stacy found WBEC NY DMV while looking for ways to grow FIT2order with both credibility and community.

“We found WBEC NY DMV through our desire to grow FIT2order in a way that aligned with both credibility and community,” she says. “Certification felt important not just from a business development standpoint, but because I wanted to be part of a network of women who were building meaningful businesses.”

That distinction matters. For many women business owners, Certification is often viewed as a requirement for a bid or a checkbox for supplier inclusion. Stacy’s experience shows the broader value: Certification can create credibility, but engagement creates momentum.

Through WBEC NY DMV, Stacy has gained access to relationships, visibility, education, and business conversations that may not have happened otherwise. She points to the community itself as one of the most valuable parts of Certification: a network of women who understand the realities of entrepreneurship and the discipline it takes to keep growing.

This aligns with what WBEC NY DMV’s own research has shown. Growth-minded WBEs are looking for more than generic networking. They want access to corporate opportunities, trusted peers, procurement readiness, strategic matchmaking, and relationships that can turn into business outcomes.

Using Certification Actively

Stacy did not stop at getting certified – she used it.

She won the 2024 WBEC Greater DMV pitch competition, an experience she credits with helping her sharpen her message, share the mission behind FIT2order and the vidaBALL® on a larger stage, and build confidence in how she communicates the impact of her work. That visibility helped create momentum and opened doors to new conversations.

Through the WBEC NY DMV community, Stacy has also had the opportunity to work with organizations such as EY and Capital One, while building connections with fellow CEOs, corporate partners, and decision-makers who understand the value of women-owned businesses. For Stacy, those relationships are not transactional. They are part of a long-term business growth strategy.

“What has been especially meaningful is that the relationships often go beyond a single introduction or contract,” she says. “They become trusted connections, collaborations, and a network of women and partners who genuinely want to see one another succeed.”

That is what active Certification can look like: not waiting for opportunity to arrive, but using the network to become more visible, more prepared, and more connected.

From Participant to Peer Leader

Stacy’s involvement has also grown from participation to leadership.

A former SAGE Advice participant, she is now an advisor and supporter of the 2026 WBEC Greater DMV SAGE Advice program cohort. Her role reflects one of the strongest parts of the WBEC NY DMV community: women business owners do not only gain access for themselves; they also help build capacity for the WBEs coming behind and alongside them.

This year Stacy represents WBEC NY DMV as the WBEC Greater DMV WBE Star, an accolated that recognizes her business leadership, engagement, and contribution to the women-owned business community.

She will continue that leadership during Week of WBEC as the featured speaker for a virtual May 13 WeTalks session, “You Can’t Scale Depleted: The Flexible Strength Blueprint for Women Who Lead,” on May 13 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST. In the session, Stacy will share a simple, stackable framework for integrating healthy habits into the workday, especially for women leaders managing teams, clients, growth, and constant decision-making.

The message is directly connected to how Stacy leads FIT2order and how she supports other WBEs: health is not something to get to after the business slows down. Good health is a business strategy.

Why Recertification Still Matters

For Stacy, the value of Certification continues to grow because she continues to engage.

That is an important reminder for certified WBEs considering recertification. The question is not only, “Do I still need the Certification?” A stronger question is, “Am I using the Certification fully?”

Stacy’s experience points to what is possible when WBEs stay active. Certification can support credibility. Pitch opportunities can sharpen positioning. Programs like SAGE Advice can offer peer insight and accountability. And the WBENC Conference creates unique access to woman-owned firms and corporate partners from around the country that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.

Stacy is attending the 2026 WBENC Conference because she values that access: the chance to connect with women-owned firms and corporations in an environment designed for business development, visibility, and meaningful collaboration.

For women business owners who are not yet certified, Stacy’s story offers a clear reason to begin. For certified WBEs who have not fully engaged, it offers a practical challenge: use the Certification as a door opener, not a static credential. For WBEs approaching recertification, it reinforces the long-term value of staying connected to an ecosystem built around business growth, corporate access, and peer trust.

Stacy’s Advice to Other Women Business Owners

Stacy’s advice to women entrepreneurs is direct: start before you feel fully ready.

“Perfection is often just fear wearing a polished outfit,” she says. “The business you build in year one will not be the same business you lead years later, and that’s a good thing. Allow yourself to evolve.”

Her advice about Certification is just as clear. It is worth it, especially for women business owners who are ready to be visible and engaged.

Stacy has built FIT2order by helping people breathe better, move more, and work with greater strength and intention. She has built her WBEC NY DMV involvement the same way: with consistency, purpose, and a willingness to step into the opportunities available. Her story is a reminder that Certification is not the finish line. It is a starting point for visibility, relationships, and business growth.

Ready to use your certification more actively? Explore upcoming WBEC NY DMV programs, connect with the community, and look for the rooms where your next relationship, collaboration, or opportunity may begin.

Join Stacy during Week of WBEC:
WeTalks: You Can’t Scale Depleted: The Flexible Strength Blueprint for Women Who Lead
May 13th I 11:00 a.m. EST I Virtual