WBEC NY DMV

I’m Certified, Now What?
2023-10-02 14:30, 2023-09-05 12:00 - 13:00, 2023-08-01 12:00 - 13:00, 2023-07-06 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
“I’m Certified, Now What?”
Maximizing Your WBENC Certification
If you’re a newly certified WBE or would like to maximize your certification, you don’t want to miss this!
Learn more about the WBENC and WBEC Metro NY network and opportunities
Learn how best to use and navigate WBENCLink2.0
Meet the WBEC Metro NY Certification Team
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIsdeugqDwqGdc53D8ixnWEVlRiUSrFQjh3
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

How to do Business with Large Primes: WIPP Webinar
2023-10-02 14:00
How to do Business with Large Primes

October 2, 2023

2pmET | 1pmCT | 11amPT

Featuring Panelist from:
American Express, Comcast, and Pfizer

Are you interested in doing business with Large Primes? Opportunities are around every corner.
Please join us during this Industry Private Sector Panel discussion and hear from our panelists. We will explore the benefits of doing business with large primes and the potential issues that business owners face.

Register Here

How to Get WBENC Certified
2023-09-28 14:30, 2023-08-22 14:00 - 15:00, 2023-07-25 14:00 - 15:00, 2023-06-29 14:00 - 15:00
If you’re a 51% women-owned or operated company, you’re just a few steps away from becoming a WBENC-Certified women’s business enterprise (WBE)!
Don’t let concerns about the process deter you! Tens of thousands of WBENC-Certified WBEs shout from the rooftops that the process is incredibly worth unlocking all of the benefits. And don’t you want a certification that PROVES you are open for business and truly 51% women owned, managed and operated? We bet you do!
Join us for Part Two of our How and Why to Get WBENC Certified webinar series to learn about the certification application process and documentation needed to get WBENC certified.
Register in Advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rde2orDosE9STClIrfLovYTqZkzu9iH_G
The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council’s (WBENC) mission is to fuel economic growth globally by identifying, certifying, and facilitating the development of women-owned businesses. They work to accomplish this by focusing on their CORE platform — Certification, Opportunities, Resources, and Engagement.

Lunch With the Experts: Is Your Website and Digital Content Accessible to Everyone including People with Disabilities? Why It Matters and What Everyone Needs to Know
2023-09-19 13:00
Lunch with the Experts: Is Your Website and Digital Content Accessible to Everyone including People with Disabilities? Why It Matters and What Everyone Needs to Know
Tuesday, September 19th, 2023
1pm ET

How do you stay compliant with Accessibility Law? How can you increase the reach of your business to underserved communities? Please join WBEC Metro New York and WBE, Results One LLC, for an in-depth workshop to understand why website accessibility matters, assistive technologies, and accessibility law. Kimberley Alfonso Green, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, will be offering a free automated website audit to learn if it is accessible to people with disabilities and free thirty minute consultation for attendees.
Due to COVID-19, many people have come to rely on digital services for everyday activities, including shopping, remote work, education, healthcare, and banking. Roughly 1 out of 4 people (27%) in the U.S. (over 90 million) live with a disability, making people with a disability our nation’s largest minority population. Technology is now more relevant and important to people with disabilities for information, education, resources, products, services and employment, etc. We have seen an exponential growth in web accessibility lawsuits (300% every year for the past couple of years) which has had a widespread effect across industries, with small and medium businesses in the center of the storm.
Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that every owner, lessor, or operator of place of public accommodation” provide equal access to users who meet ADA standards for disability. An increasing number of courts have been ruling that websites are “places of public accommodation” and that owners and operators of websites are liable for failing to provide equal access to them .Website accessibility should be top of mind for all businesses across the United States face lawsuits that cost, on average, more than- $20,000 to settle.
Yes, website ADA compliance is required by law, but like stopping at a stop sign or buckling your seatbelt, it’s also the right and responsible thing to do. It will also increase your reach, expand your market, increase your SEO and improve your brand reputation

Kim Greenfield Alfonso, MBA, is a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Results One LLC, a certified minority and women-owned small business located in Washington, DC. Results One works with organizations to assist them in creating an environment that embodies Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. Results One provides DEI Training, Disability Inclusion consulting and training, Mediation Services, and Digital Accessibility testing and training tailored to the specific workplace and industry. Kim brings over 30 years of experience and knowledge in working with public, private, state, local and federal governments in the Washington, DC Region. After a successful career in the nonprofit and corporate arena, Kim is passionate about and committed to working with nonprofits, corporations, and state, local and federal governments to create a work environment that embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Kim knows that a diverse workforce is critical to the success of all organizations, and inclusion and accessibility are the cornerstones of a productive environment. Her advice is sought out as an expert in disability and accessibility as she brings over 30 years of professional and personal experiences and knowledge to the table. She is a fierce advocate for people with disabilities, especially since her daughter is visually impaired, and has served on numerous boards and committees nationally and locally advocating for people with disabilities. Kim obtained both a bachelor’s in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management. A strong proponent of women’s rights and the disability community, she was selected as one of the “Women Who Mean Business” by the Washington Business Journal in 2014 and received the Mayor’s Washington Women of Excellence Award in Leadership in 2015. She was also provided the Humanitarian Award by the Metro DC Hispanic Contractors Association for her work as Founder of the “Closing the Gap Food Insecurity Program for Undocumented Immigrants”.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMoceuhrzssHtXcYCIKT00M-rdS261vHKmf

Metro NY Annual Awards and Breakthrough Breakfast
2023-09-15 08:00 - 12:30 | The Plaza Hotel, 5th Ave @ Central Park South, New York, NY, 10019, United States
Our 2023 Annual Awards Breakthrough Breakfast is our premier gathering where we bring together our Corporate Partners, Supplier Diversity Teams, and WBEs for an informative, energizing, and celebratory morning of programming and networking, culminating with the presentation of our WBEC Metro NY Outstanding Partner and Done Deals™ Awards.
Registration is open now. It’s an event you don’t want to miss!
Ticket Prices
Annual Awards Breakfast

WBE Certified: $150
Corp/Non-WBE: $175

Annual Awards Breakfast and Celebrating Our Partners Reception

WBE Certified: $190
Corp/Non-WBE: $240

Tickets are nonrefundable.

Metro NY Celebrating Our Partners Reception
2023-09-14 18:00 - 20:00 | The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 80 Columbus Circle, New York, 10023
Our 2023 Celebrating Our Partners Reception is a special evening held in honor and recognition of our Corporate Partners and their Supplier Diversity Teams, and WBEC Metro NY’s incredible WBEs.
It’s an opportunity for us to get together to network and acknowledge the extraordinary contributions and achievements you’ve all made throughout the year, as well as enjoy delicious food and drinks.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you! Registration is open now.
Ticket Prices
Annual Awards Breakfast

WBE Certified: $150
Corp/Non-WBE: $175

Annual Awards Breakfast and Celebrating Our Partners Reception

WBE Certified: $190
Corp/Non-WBE: $240

Tickets are nonrefundable.

Why Get WBENC Certified
2023-09-11 14:30, 2023-08-08 14:00 - 15:00, 2023-07-11 14:00 - 15:00
Do you want: Access to supplier diversity and procurement executives?
Access to networking events, mentoring, executive education, capacity development programs, and other business tools and resources?
If you are wondering about the benefits of becoming a certified women-owned business, wonder no more – start today in learning about the process, requirements and how the benefits go far beyond a certification seal.
Join us for Part One of our How and Why to Get WBENC Certified webinar series to learn about WBENC certification and the many benefits of being part of this ecosystem.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcud–uqDsiGNdtfSic922mS2WVMlT51jRB
The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council’s (WBENC) mission is to fuel economic growth globally by identifying, certifying, and facilitating the development of women-owned businesses. They work to accomplish this by focusing on their CORE platform — Certification, Opportunities, Resources, and Engagement.

2023 WBEC Metro NY Live Regional Pitch Competition
2023-08-30 13:00 - 14:30
Regional Pitch Competition
Hosted By

SparkRound of

Presented by

Wednesday, August 30, 2023
1:00pm-2:30pm ET
Ten WBEC Metro NY WBEs will pitch to a panel of Corporate Member Judges for a spot in the National Semi-Finals in October and a cash prize of $1,000.
Register Here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fyT65leETIKIqKqMXhSnYQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the pitch program.

2023 WBEC Greater DMV Live Regional Pitch Competition
2023-08-30 10:00 - 11:30
Regional Pitch Competition
Hosted By

SparkRound of

Presented by

Wednesday, August 30, 2023
10:00am-11:30am ET
Ten WBEC Greater DMV WBEs will pitch to a panel of Corporate Member Judges for a spot in the National Semi-Finals in October and a cash prize of $1,000.
Register Here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fyT65leETIKIqKqMXhSnYQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the pitch program.

Lunch With the Experts: AARP Small Business Series
2023-08-22 12:00 - 13:00
Lunch with the Experts: AARP Small Business Series

Tuesday, August 22th, 2023
12:00pm–1:00pm ET

Managing your personal finances as an entrepreneur and nurturing financial success for you and your business.

Presenter Info

Martin Booker
Program Manager, Financial Resilience Programming, AARP
Martin Booker is a Program Manager at AARP where he leads various financial education initiatives about investing, social security, and budgeting for the organizations’ 32 million membership-base. After receiving a master’s degree in social work at the University of Connecticut, Martin worked in the non-profit sector in Washington, D.C. and developed a passion for helping people improve their money habits. During his time in the non-profit community, he completed the Certified Financial Planner program at Georgetown University and learned how to teach others about money in a practical and actionable way. He has provided individual and group coaching services, classes, and leads workshops about credit, investing, retirement planning and other finance-related topics. Martin uses speaking opportunities to engage and educate people to better understand how to not only make but keep their money.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpceiqrTsiHdfzILd-Dtc5X6CTTfVFgvPK

Lunch With the Experts: No Magic Wands, How to Connect with Corporates
2023-08-21 12:00
Lunch with the Experts: No Magic Wands, How to Connect with Corporates
Monday, August 21st, 2023
12:00pm ET

Join us for a panel discussion moderated by Dawn Wells of Northwell Health. Dawn will discuss paths from certification to becoming a provider to a WBEC Corporate Sponsor. Three WBE panelists, Darcy Ann Flanders, Founder and CEO BaselineGroupNY, Dee Marshall, CEO Diverse & Engaged and Diane Winston, founder and CEO of Winston Strategic Partners, will share their unique experiences as WBEs who have successfully navigated the process of building and developing relationships with WBEC Corporate Sponsors.

Dawn Wells
Northwell Health
Dawn Wells is supply chain professional with a public health heart. She currently serves as Assistant Vice President of Supply Chain at Northwell Health, New York’s largest healthcare provider, serving NYC, Long Island, and Westchester. In this role she leads supply chain operations for the Health Systems’ Ambulatory Care Network comprised of more than 830 physician practices and outpatient facilities. In addition to these responsibilities, Dawn takes an active role in championing and facilitating programs that impact all levels of the organization. She has been a consistent champion of diversity; representing supply chain asa member of the diversity and health equity council and corporate social responsibility committee. In 2019, she chartered the health systems supplier diversity council that is charged with creating a cross functional action plan, ensuring that there is a system wide commitment to maintaining the diversity of the Health System’s suppliers, putting in place standardized processes for measuring goals and success, and partnering with external agencies to educate and deliver information to diverse suppliers within the communities served. Dawn joined Northwell Health in 2003 as a member of the project implementation team that established framework for integrating finance, supply chain, and human resources under a shared-services umbrella. Over the years she has defined and redefined her position and responsibilities in response to the organization’s rapid growth. Dawn currently serves on the board of the NYNJ Minority Supplier Developmen

Darcy Flanders
BaselineGroupNY
As founder and chief brand strategist of BaselineGroupNY, Darcy is the visionary. Her strength lies in the ability to interpret clients’ goals and translate then into visually impactful and targeted printed and digital solutions. Her passion for design is contagious and her emphasis on teamwork leads to great collaborative solutions. Drawing on 35+ years of expertise, you can count on Darcy to lead an information oriented, responsive and time-sensitive creative process that considers the big picture and instinctively understands the importance of the smallest detail and the strictest schedule. Darcy has envisioned and managed corporate branding initiatives for clients such as: Galliard Capital Management, Citi Alternative Investments, Citi Private Bank, HSBC Private Bank and Rutgers Business School, Wrigley, and PSEG LI. Darcy is also passionate about helping her fellow MWBEs develop brands, websites and marketing materials and has worked with: JURISolutions Legal (JSL), McKissack & McKissack, Mrs. Paper, Savoca Enterprises, Winston Strategic Partners, Pina Solutions, Lob Planning and A,& S Rebar – to name a few. Her work has received numerous awards from the Financial Communications Society, Society of Technical Communication, the Association of the Graphic Arts, Graphic Design USA, Step Inside Design and most recently Best of 2020 Manhattan for Branding and Digital Design.

Dee Marshall
Diverse & Engaged
A sought-after international speaker, Author, certified Coach and TV Lifestyle Expert, Dee C. Marshall is CEO at DeeCMarshall.com brands, which includes Yummy Life Coaching, Diverse & Engaged and Girlfriends Pray. She is a Game Changer, Power Player, Fire Starter, Mover & Shaker and… a Wall Street alumni. Former corporate executive and leadership trainer for Fortune 500 companies including Merrill Lynch, Prudential Securities, Moody’s Investor Services, Johnson & Johnson, and The New York Times. A Capitol Hill go-to for women leaders. Women of Congress call on Dee to co-convene women’s initiatives, gather local women leaders, strategically plan the mobilization of women, and provide insight on women’s empowerment and development. A respected authority for high-ranking, high-profile, high-level women. Dee has coached the First Lady of Bermuda and was called upon by the Premier of Bermuda to work with the top women leaders of the Country. A diversity and inclusion subject matter expert. Working with Fortune 100 companies to engage diverse populations to improve workplace culture. a genius in mobilizing women and leveraging new media. Dee launched a community service initiative, now Girlfriends Pray, to serve women in the height of the recession by leveraging social media to grow to a network of over 100k. An award winning influencer who is a United State of Women Nominated Change Maker she’s received Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneur, 25 Influential Black Women, TWEF International Women Award, Who’s Who New York City, NAACP Community Service Award, National Association of Female Executives Women in Corporate and many more.

Diane Winston
Winston Strategic Partners
Diane Winston is a Prosci-certified change management practitioner, senior communications strategist, trainer, and keynote speaker with over 30 years of corporate and consulting experience. She established Winston Strategic Partners in 2005 to promote employee engagement, equip leaders for the future, and support diversity and inclusion initiatives. Diane recognizes that change is a constant that impacts people. This recognition informs the strategies she defines for clients’ transformation initiatives and leadership development objectives. She possesses a keen ability to connect with her audiences from their perspective without compromising the goals of her clients. Her empathetic and straightforward approach is how Diane successfully engages, influences, and implements solutions that promote change. Diane is a member of the Association of Change Management Professionals, the International Association of Business Communicators, Women Impacting Public Policy, the Connecticut Women’s Council, and the U.S. and New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce. She is also active in her community. She is a member of the Advisory Board for the Southwestern Connecticut Women’s Business Development Council, a SCORE Workshop Speaker and Mentor, a member of the Center for Family Justice Board of Directors, and she is a Women’s Life Group Leader at her church.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpcOyorjMiH9WnkRSNaZZHql5uTsD7pw24

Lunch With the Experts: Mastering Your Pitch, Captivate and Convince
2023-08-15 12:00 - 13:00
Lunch with the Experts: Mastering Your Pitch, Captivate and Convince

Tuesday, August 15th, 2023
12:00pm–1:00pm ET

Expand minority entrepreneur access to capital and business expertise through direct to consumer offerings and strategic partnerships.

Presenter Info

Felicia Brown
Senior Advisor, AARP
Felicia Brown is a Senior Advisor at AARP. She has over 25 years of experience developing programs, managing projects and strategic planning. In her primary role as lead for AARP’s Entrepreneurship Initiative she provides strategic direction for national partnerships and national programming with focus on women, communities of color and veterans. Among her recent accomplishments are, the creator of AARP’s Small Business Newsletter, Meet the Founder interview series (highlighting the stories of business founders) the AARP How She Did It Podcast, talent for the AARP Work and Jobs video series and led the creation of the Small Business Development Resource Center for the 50+ (www.smallbizrc.org). Previously led AARP’s Financial Freedom initiative and many initiatives the strengthened members and community
Ms. Brown is a community service advocate. She’s a current member of the Women’s Business Development Center of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University Advisory Committee and serves as a volunteer for Suited for Change helping women transform their lives as they re-enter the workforce. And she’s a former member of the NCA&T National Alumni Board. She is a recipient of the DC Alumni Association Hall of Fame (2014), received the Small Business Advocate Award from the Planning Suite and the Small Business Pitch Competition Judge Appreciation Award from AARP Georgia.
She is an active member of the Washington, DC Alumni Association and the NCA&T Aggie Athletic Foundation (AAF) where she has served in many leadership roles, that include Secretary, First and Second Vice President and Fundraising. She also served as the former Washington, DC Alumni Association Board of Director, Chair where she led a major property renovation. Felicia, a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, is an active member of the Rho Mu Omega Chapter, located in Washington DC. There she led as the Family Strengthening Committee Chair, led major fundraisers and served as a Board Member for the DC Pearls III Foundation.
Felicia Brown resides in Cheverly, MD. She enjoys serving her community, being with family and friends, and loves to travel.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpceiqrTsiHdfzILd-Dtc5X6CTTfVFgvPK

Lunch With the Experts: AARP Supplier Diversity
2023-08-08 12:00 - 13:00
Lunch with the Experts: AARP Supplier Diversity
Tuesday, August 8, 2023
12:00pm–1:00pm ET

An overview of supplier diversity programs along with specific opportunities available with AARP.

Presenter Info

Kimberly N. Ayers
Director, Supplier Diversity, Procurement and Contract Management, AARP
As AARP’s Director, Supplier Diversity within Procurement and Contract Management, Kimberly Ayers is responsible for managing and fostering partnership opportunities between AARP internal stakeholders, the procurement team, and small and diverse suppliers to drive increased awareness and usage of small and diverse businesses enterprise wide. Ms. Ayers ensures that AARP stays connected to the community by: championing continuing educational opportunities for entrepreneurs, the promotion of minority and small business certification opportunities, and sponsoring diverse initiative opportunities provided by AARP diversity partner organizations to bring greater visibility and awareness to the issues facing small and diverse businesses.
Kimberly joined AARP in 2018 after working for National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), Verizon, and XO Communications where she held a variety of audit and procurement related positions of increasing responsibility.
Kimberly has a B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Law from the University of Connecticut and is currently a member of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council (CRMSDC). She is also on the Board of Directors for Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBEC) Metro NY Greater DMV.
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpceiqrTsiHdfzILd-Dtc5X6CTTfVFgvPK

Lunch With the Experts: Meet Pfizer, Corporate Connections
2023-08-08 12:00
Lunch with the Experts: Meet Pfizer, Corporate Connections

Tuesday, August 8th, 2023
12:00pm ET – Virtual

Please join WBEC Metro New York and Corporate Member Pfizer for a Corporate Connections session. Pfizer will be discussing upcoming procurement opportunities, how to engage with Pfizer procurement professionals, and what WBEs need to know to be procurement ready.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtdeGhrjgsGdGokRrtLZgmT506B_XpIryY

Lunch With the Experts: Financing Small Businesses
2023-08-01 12:00 - 13:00
Lunch with the Experts: Financing Small Businesses
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
12:00pm–1:00pm ET
Help in levelling the field for BIPOC owned businesses in Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia communities. Provide minority business owners a variety of solutions to give them peace of mind in running their business each day. Empower them to do what they do best, and support accelerating the growth of their business and helping their communities thrive.
Specialties: Cash flow assistance, Marketing, Networking, Funding, New banking relationship and Consulting.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEqcOCtrz0rGdDa3L9eqSw_u4uqr_7zXrX_
Presenter Info

Emmyrich “Richie” Meneses Vicente, Business Banking Relationship Manager and PNC Certified Minority Business Advocate
Industry Experience: He has worked for over 25 years in financial services.
Education: He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Bachelor in Transportation Management; Certificate in Banking Operations; Consumer & Commercial Lending from Polytechnic University of the Philippines; American Institute of Banking & Maryland Banking School.
Awards/Recognition: He has earned PNC Performance Award; Circle of Excellence & Market All-Star Awardee; Multi-Community Award Business Person of the Year.
Community Involvement: Outside of work, he has taken part in Rotary Club; Chambers: MCCC; GGCC, AACC; IREAP; Fil Am Cancer Care; Family Alliance for Veterans Care; Story Tapestries.
Personal Information: I am an advocate for DE&I; I love connecting with business community and spending time with my loved ones.

NJ Wind Port C1 Procurement Informational Session
2023-08-01 11:00
AECOM Tishman is seeking qualified subcontractors and suppliers for upcoming construction opportunities in Lower Alloways Creek Township, NJ. Attendees will learn of several near-term opportunities, how to become pre-qualified to bid, and about the bid process and projected timelines.

THIS VIRTUAL EVENT IS FREE TO ATTEND!

Opportunities for Local, Small and other XBE business that provide the following:

· Cast-In-Place Concrete
· Precast Structural Concrete
· Structural Welding
· Miscellaneous Metals
· Low-Voltage Electrical Conductors & Cables
· Grounding and Bonding for Electrical Systems
· Underground Electrical Conduit & Duct Bank

· Mass Excavation & Transport
· Ground Improvement – Continuous Modulus Columns
· Soil Erosion & Sediment Control
· Geosynthetic Stabilization
· Aggregate Paving
· Water Distribution Systems
· Stormwater Drainage & Filtration Systems

Follow the link below to register and receive your Zoom link to join the session.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XFRgVoPwRlKkf6cfIYCqnw#/registration

2023 Pitch Academy: WBEC Metro NY & Greater DMV
2023-07-26 12:00 - 13:00
2023 Pitch Academy: WBEC Metro NY & Greater DMV
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
12:00pm–1:00pm ET
Excited about the national 2023 WBENCPitch Momentum Competition but don’t know where to start? Looking for tools, resources, and advice from Women Business Owners just like you? Join us at the 2023 WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV Pitch Academy for a one-hour session on all things pitch.
Led by Leadership Executive and Strategic Advisor Karen Wawrzaszek and Entrepreneur and International Speaker Bofta Yimam, Women-Owned Businesses (WBE) will have the opportunity to learn from experienced storytellers and prepare for the upcoming WBENCPitch Competition.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEldeqoqzIsGdNQHMxFg4Kb079GkLF7XX6M
Presenter Info
Karen Wawrzaszek is a Leadership Executive and Strategic Advisor to Entrepreneurs, Family Offices, Private Foundations, and Non-Profit organizations with more than two decades of experience. She is a recognized thought leader in ESG, Impact Investment, and Philanthropy. Karen has led the regional business efforts and the impact investment efforts for established family offices such as the Pitcairn and Rockefeller Family Offices in Washington, DC. She launched the impact-oriented investment platform for a $5B RIA – which resulted in an attractive sell to a larger firm. She served on the Responsible Investment Advisory Board and Philanthropy Practice Management Board for BNYMellon Wealth during her tenure as the Regional President.
Karen is passionate about her clients and connecting them to strategies that help them on their journey to integrating purpose driven capital. She accomplishes this by leveraging innovative planning and investment techniques that incorporate the private and public markets, diligence and monitoring tools, and governance and education frameworks. She is a subject matter expert on impact and mission-oriented investing and philanthropic planning and is sought out to write articles, speak on podcasts and at conferences, including the UN Global People’s Summit and the UN Ideagen’s Sustainability Conference.
Karen is active and passionate about community service. She founded Pomona Society, a 501(c)(3) organization that focuses on economic empowerment for women and families in Washington, DC,. Through this organization, Karen mentors female founders to help them prepare their business plans and raise capital. She has provided workshops focusing on communication skills for pitching for capital to female entrepreneur members of WBEC.
Karen serves as an Executive Committee Member and Investment Chair of the Meyer Foundation, Chairman of the Board for Teach for America DC, and a Board Member and Chair of Finance for Global Impact. She is a Global Advisory Council Member of Beyond the Billion, an organization dedicated to improving venture capital funding for women and a committee member for 50/50 Women on Boards and an outside adviser to ImpactCred, a female-led startup. Prior Board involvement includes the Washington Area Women’s Foundation, the Shakespeare Theatre Company, Black Girl Ventures, and Eastside Domestic Violence of Seattle, WA.
Karen was named a Washingtonian Top Financial Adviser in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022 and is a graduate and featured member of Leadership Greater Washington’s Signature Program and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Wichita State University. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor.
Bofta Yimam is an Entrepreneur, Emmy® & Edward R. Murrow Award-Winning Journalist, International Speaker and the Founder of StoryLede®.
StoryLede is the go-to fractional marketing agency that weaves in storytelling to help position your company as an industry leader so you can share your irresistible message and amplify your influence — leading to higher impact and revenue. From Story Design to Visibility on LinkedIn, StoryLede specializes in helping industry leaders transform their knowledge and expertise into compelling content marketing and presentations.
After working as a TV Anchor/Reporter, Bofta took her passion for storytelling and empowerment to help business owners become dynamic marketing magnets.
For more than a decade, Bofta reported live on the morning and evening news for top TV outlets, including CBS National News, EuroNews and BBC. From the White House and the historical 2020 election to the Covid-19 response, Bofta has covered a plethora of stories that have appeared across the country. She also previously worked as the Capitol Hill Correspondent for The Black News Channel, where she covered policies and legislation dominating Washington with a special focus on the impact to people of color. From the NAACP to Gabrielle Union-Wade and Hollywood directors, Bofta has anchored shows and interviewed a wide range of change agents who are leveraging their voice to make a difference.
Bofta is the first Ethiopian-American newscaster to receive an Emmy award and a sought-after speaker who has spoken to distinguished audiences in London, Africa, and across the U.S.
She is certified as a Women-Owned Business (WBENC) and Minority Business Enterprise (NMSDC). Bofta is also part of a select group of speakers who have earned the professional speaker designation by the National Speakers Association (NSA). In 2023, she was nominated as the NMSDC Regional Supplier of the Year and also received the Women Enterprising Women of the Year award.

Lunch With the Experts: Contracting with the Government
2023-07-20 12:00 - 13:00
Lunch with the Experts: Contracting with the Government
Thursday, July 20, 2023
12:00pm–1:00pm ET
I. Understand the Department of the Air Force (DAF) and what drives its decision-making process
II. Operational imperatives
III. Performance metrics
IV. Top 10 NAICS and PSC codes
V. For the start-ups or those brand new to working with the DAF – initial steps you need to take
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkc-utpjIoHNEOv32S8SIG0-Z7JUIKo5hW
Presenter Info

Ronald Saville – Policy Chief Championing Small Businesses at the Pentagon
In October 2020, Mr. Saville was promoted to Senior Procurement Analyst with Department of the Air Force Office of Small Business Programs (SAF/SB) where he is the Chief of Policy for USAF and USSF Small Business. His latest achievements were drafting Headquarters Air Force Mission Directive 1-30, Director, Small Business Programs and Department of the Air Force Policy Directive 90-18, Small Business Programs, obtaining for both the Secretary of the Air Force’s signature on the documents, and managing their publication. His ongoing project is a rewrite of Air Force Instruction 90-1801, Small Business Programs.
Mr. Saville started his Air Force civilian career as a COPPER CAP Outstanding Scholar intern in Contracting. During his four years on the program, he worked in Depot Maintenance at Robins AFB, GA. Of those years as an intern, he spent two of them in Special Ops Contracting working on the Gunship team. He also earned two Master’s degrees, one in Administration/Logistics Management and another in Logistics Systems. Upon graduating the COPPER CAP program, he went to Hanscom AFB, MA where he worked as a Contract Specialist on the U.S. team of the AWACS Contracting office. Later he would work on a large Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, before he was promoted to Contracting Officer (CO) with an unlimited warrant. He was the CO on an Interim Contractor Support effort for the Battle Control System Fixed program, a major automated information system. The last effort he worked at Hanscom was the Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar (3DELRR), a major defense acquisition program. Upon RFP release he was off to Air Command and Staff College where he received his third Master’s in Military Operational Art & Science. From there he went to the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC) at Kirtland AFB, NM where he worked a number of Advisory & Assistance Services (A&AS) and Systems efforts. In 2016, after a little over 21 years of Air Force acquisition, he became the Contracting Resource Manager and Subject Matter Expert for the Directorate, as well as the Director of Small Business Programs. In 2019, he was made the Center Small Business Director full-time. His duties also included work as the AFNWC Services Acquisition Lead supporting the Deputy Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Strategic Systems, the Center Executive Director, and the Commander. He worked in that position until moving to the Pentagon.

Lunch With the Experts: Small Business Development & Financial Literacy
2023-07-18 12:00 - 13:00
Lunch with the Experts: Small Business Development & Financial Literacy
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
12:00pm–1:00pm ET
Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) provide counseling and training to small businesses including working with the Small Business Association (SBA) to develop and provide informational tools to support business start-ups and existing business expansion.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0udeyhrzMpEtfRStJnHLwWvXaCJgi8NPgo
Presenter Info
Carl Brown is the State/Executive Director of the District of Columbia Small Business Development Center (DCSBDC) on the prestigious campus of Howard University. He has a wealth of small business development knowledge with over 25 years of experience. His subject matter expertise is in the following areas: human resources, sales, marketing, procurement, and government contracting. Additionally, he is the host of the popular radio talk show “The Small Business Report” airing on Sirius XM Channel 141 every Thursday, Friday, and Tuesday.
Carl has held executive positions in Telecommunications, Consumer Goods, and Transportation. His public sector experience includes Federal, state, and local government where he was a warranted contract officer. In recent years, he was the executive producer of the popular television series “Emerging Business Report” as well as the on-air host of “Growing Pains – Taking Your Business to the Next Level.” Carl has been a guest on numerous radio and TV shows and interviewed by national media outlets including History Channel, the television show “Food that built America,” Wall Street Journal, MSNBC.com, news programs, magazines, and newspapers on economic development and small business issues. He holds a BA from Howard University and an MGA from University of Maryland University College. Carl is a Certified Contract Compliance Administrator and a Sherpa Executive Coach.

Lunch With the Experts: Cybersecurity for Small Business
2023-07-13 12:00 - 13:00
Lunch with the Experts: Cybersecurity for Small Business
Thursday, July 13, 2023
12:00pm–1:00pm ET
Cybersecurity is vital for organizations of all sizes. Based on the latest Verizon Data Breach Incident Report, small and medium-sized businesses experienced almost 700 confirmed security incidents and over 380 data breaches in 2022. Including direct and residual impacts, the average cost of a breach was over $9M in the U.S.
Attendees at this “Cybersecurity for Small Business” presentation will learn about industry-recognized best practices they can put in place to protect businesses, assets, and customers from cyberattacks. They will be provided with actionable next steps to improve their company’s security posture. They will have an opportunity to learn from and ask questions of a cybersecurity expert and practitioner with over 20 years in the field.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMsc-2qrTojEtPGLLzEPRJcPPq0QSoAuXAD
Presenter Info
Tina C. Williams-Koroma, Esq., CISSP, PMP, is a serial entrepreneur – Founder/CEO of TCecure, CySkills, and CyDeploy. She is a Maryland-licensed attorney and possesses a BS in Computer Science, an MS in Management, and a JD. This cybersecurity expert started her career with large companies like Lockheed Martin and Unisys, before transitioning to running her own small businesses. Tina sees entrepreneurship as a way to contribute to and nurture the community, specifically by providing learning and experience opportunities to individuals who are underrepresented in the technology field. She has and continues to partner with local institutions and several boards including CAMI, TEDCO, UMBC, and others.

Lunch With the Experts: Business Model Canvas: A Snapshot of Your Business Success
2023-07-11 12:00
Lunch with the Experts: Business Model Canvas: A Snapshot of Your Business Success
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
12:00pm ET
Please join WBEC Metro New York and Subject Matter Expert Dr. Drena Valentine for an in-depth workshop to increase your competitive business with better decision-making, strategy development, and business growth. The workshop will utilize the Business Model Canvas, a dynamic visual tool that encapsulates the key elements of your business model in a single, easy-to-understand diagram.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsdOChpjwsHdepBQnpOYk74s87-1KVmAYS
Presenter Info
Dr. Drena Valentine is a visionary, author, advocate, growth strategist, and Strategic and Operations Management Expert with over 30 years of experience strengthening and transforming businesses through leadership and management skill development. Dr. Valentine is adept at analyzing and improving processes and setting strategic and management priorities to align activities with their goals and objectives. She is a results-oriented leader with exceptional business acumen skills and strategic vision resulting in operational excellence. With a passion for working with Black, minority, and women business owners, Dr. Valentine tirelessly works to improve procurement opportunities for these entrepreneurs. Receiving accolades from clients and community leaders, Dr. Valentine has been awarded the Maryland Black Chamber’s Champion for Change, the 2022 Women Making History, from the Montgomery County Commission for Women and Montgomery Women Organization. Dr. Valentine holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting, a Master’s in Business Administration, and a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership.
Education: Dr. Valentine holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, a Master’s in Business Administration, and a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership.
Dissertation: Strategic Planning in Nonprofit Organizations
Certifications: MBE, DBE, SBE, WBE, WOSB, MD LSBRP, WSSC SLMBE, GRCP, PTIN

Corporate Connections: Capital One Cafe
2023-06-29 12:00
Corporate Connections: Capital One Cafe
Thursday, June 29, 2023
12:00pm ET
Please join WBEC Metro New York and Corporate Member Capital One for a Corporate Connections session. Capital One will be discussing procurement opportunities at their Capital One Cafes, how to engage with Capital One Cafes, and what WBEs need to know to be procurement ready.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYuf-GtrT0vHtJblaDoCoG0iu-qdT3whmUX
Presenter Info
Kevin Beiles, Manager/Principal, Contracts, Capital One
Kevin currently lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife. After graduating from the University of Richmond with a JD/MBA, Kevin joined Capital One in 2014 as a Contract Manager in its Enterprise Supplier Management department. Kevin spent four of his first five years negotiating contracts for the buildout and operations of the Capital One Cafes. In 2019, Kevin’s role changed from a Contract Manager to a Third Party Manager managing the third parties who support the Cafe program. In 2022, Kevin was elevated to a Category Manager whose team was responsible for creating the procurement strategy for the Cafes and executing on that strategy.
