2026-02-26 08:30 - 09:30 (America/New_York) | Hart Senate Office Building, 120 Constitution Avenue, RoomSH-902, Washingon, DC, 20002, United States
Commonwealth Coffee Honoring Black History Month
Senator Mark R. Warner and Senator Tim Kaine cordially invite you to a Commonwealth Coffee honoring Black History Month. The Senators will be joined by Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. This is an opportunity for faith leaders, government officials, community organizers, civic engagement groups, and community service organizations, to speak with the Senators, the Congresswoman, and members of their staff.
Please feel free to share this invitation with any other interested parties.
Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., registration opens at 8:00 a.m.
Location: Hart Senate Office Building, Room SH-902, 120 Constitution Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
Please use the visitor’s entrance on the east side of the building on Second Street NE between C Street NE and Constitution Avenue NE. Once inside, take the North Elevator bank to the 9th floor. Please allow up to 20 minutes for security screening.
RSVP: Space is limited. Please RSVP here by Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Transportation and Parking: Metro accessibility is available with the closest metro stop at Union Station on the Red Line. Street Parking in the area is limited; parking is available at Union Station (approximately four city blocks from the Capitol Visitor Center). Depending on the length of your stay, parking can cost between $11 and $24.
Accessibility: For visitors needing accessible parking, there are a limited number of available spaces located in the parking lot on the corner of First and C Streets NE. These spaces cannot be reserved and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. They are available to visitors displaying a placard for people with disabilities. A full map of accessible visitor parking is available here. Individuals with disabilities who require assistance should use the “contact organizer” button on the registration page or email projects@warner.senate.gov.

2026 WBEC Metro NY Women Mean Business Summit
2026-03-06 09:00 - 17:00
WBEC Metro New York is coming out of the gate with something great to help you THRIVE in 2026!
Join Us for the Women MEAN Business Summit at the Westin New York Grand Central on Friday, March 6, 2026, from 9 am – 5 pm.
This full day event will be immersive, filled with powerful networking, strategic business introductions and incredible opportunities to learn from leaders, form valuable partnerships and ignite your growth! From town-hall style general sessions to workshops and our Marketplace/Expo, you’ll leave with new relationships, fresh visibility, and momentum you can actually use.
AND: Showcase your business at our Marketplace experience! This opportunity is designed for both service and product-based businesses. Be prepared to Show Up, Show Off, and Sell!
Secure your Marketplace spot by purchasing an Exhibit Table ticket.
Space for this pivotal Summit is limited and will sell out quickly! Register Now!

I'm Certified, Now What?
2026-03-12 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
Maximizing Your WBENC Certification
March 12th, 2026 | 2pm to 3pm EST | Virtual Session
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 and Greater DMV network and opportunities.
Learn how best to use and navigate WBENCLink2.0.
Meet the WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV Certification Team!
Reserve your spot today!
Click here to register.

2026 WBEC Greater DMV Women Mean Business Summit
2026-03-20 09:00 - 17:00 | MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino, 101 MGM National Ave, Oxon Hill, MD, 20745, United States
Register now!

Why and How to Get Certified
2026-03-24 12:00 - 13:00
Why and How to Get Certified
March 24 | 12 to 1 pm EST | Virtual Session
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)!
At WBEC Metro NY & Greater DMV, fueling local economic growth through the empowerment of women business owners is our primary mission. We provide WBENC certification—the gold standard in diversity certification—at the regional level and serve as an advocate for certified women-owned businesses by providing our WBEs with resources, programming, network opportunities, and recognition.
Do you want access to supplier diversity and procurement opportunities, networking events with like-minded women entrepreneurs, leadership development programs, and exclusive resources to grow and scale your business?
Join us for a 1-hour webinar and learn why the benefits of Certification go far beyond a Certification seal and the steps you can take to start your Certification process right away.
In this session, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of WBENC Certification, including its benefits, eligibility criteria, the application process, and local opportunities within your region and the larger ecosystem.
You’ll also have the opportunity to address your specific questions with our WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV staff. Reserve your spot today!

Click Here to Register

I'm Certified, Now What?
2026-04-09 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Maximizing Your WBENC Certification
April 9th, 2026 | 1pm to 2pm EST | Virtual Session
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 and Greater DMV network and opportunities.
Learn how best to use and navigate WBENCLink2.0.
Meet the WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV Certification Team!
Reserve your spot today!
Click here to register.

WeTalks: Partner with Purpose with Jennifer Collins of JDC Events
2026-04-16 11:00 - 12:00
As rising costs and changing expectations challenge traditional growth models, women business owners need smarter ways to scale. Join Jennifer Collins, CMP, for an energizing conversation on how strategic event partnerships can unlock new opportunities for reach, innovation, and revenue. Through real-world examples and practical insights, Jennifer will show how purposeful collaboration can transform events from standalone efforts into powerful growth engines.
Attendees will walk away with fresh ideas for identifying the right partners, co-creating meaningful experiences, and building partnerships that strengthen their brand, expand their audience, and drive lasting business impact.
Through the webinar participants will:

Identify high-value strategic partners: Attendees will learn how to evaluate and select event partners that expand their audience, strengthen their brand positioning, and create new business opportunities.
Design partnership-driven event experiences: Attendees will gain practical approaches to co-creating events that deliver shared value, increase engagement, and open pathways to innovation and revenue.
Leverage event partnerships for measurable business growth: Attendees will understand how to turn collaborative events into ongoing growth engines that drive visibility, relationship-building, and long-term revenue impact.

Participants will gain:

A shortlist of potential partnership opportunities: Attendees leave with fresh ideas on how to engage organizations, brands, or collaborators they can realistically approach for future event partnerships.
A clear framework for structuring event collaborations: Attendees gain a practical model for how to pitch, design, and execute a partnership that delivers shared value and supports business growth.
A defined next step tied to revenue or visibility goals: Attendees identify one immediate action they can take to use partnerships to expand their audience, increase brand exposure, or generate new business opportunities.

Click below to secure your place now!
REGISTER NOW

Jennifer Collins, CMP, is the founder of JDC Events, an award-winning firm that designs strategic event experiences to drive growth, innovation, and community impact. She is the author of Events Spark Change and serves as Vice Chair of the Board for WBEC Greater DMV.
About WeTalks
Women Enterprise Talks (WeTalks) is a virtual series that amplifies the voices of certified WBEs from across the WBEC NY DMV network. Through delivering a one-hour WeTalks presentation, WBEs can:

Reinforce thought leadership through sharing real business perspectives and expert advice with a broader audience of fellow women CEOs.
Strengthen credibility through contribution, not promotion.
Maintain visibility within the network.

Apply here to become a WeTalks speaker!

WBEC NY DMV and TAP Present: AI For Small Businesses Webinar
2026-04-21 11:00 - 12:00 | https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FDlNWYwRRmSoMXvEEXh4OA
In this beginner-friendly webinar, WBEC NY DMV and The Acceleration Project (TAP) will explain key AI terms, introduce general-purpose AI chatbots, and help you choose the right tool for your needs. Presenters Cynthia Ashworth and Joshua Schwartz will also share practical examples of how small businesses can use AI, from creating inventory lists from photos to writing social media posts and turning business data into actionable insights.

Register Now

Cynthia Ashworth is a seasoned marketing executive with over 25 years of leadership experience across media, technology, and consumer goods. She specializes in brand strategy, digital marketing, and partnerships that drive innovation and growth. Most recently, she was SVP of Creative Partnerships at NBCUniversal, leading digital transformation and advanced marketing initiatives, with prior senior executive positions at DocuSign, Univision, and Dunkin’ Donuts. Cynthia is a regular presenter on AI for small business for TAP. She holds a BA from the University of Toronto and an MBA from the UVA Darden School of Business.

Joshua Schwartz is a seasoned general management and operations strategy leader with over 15 years improving efficiency and driving results in complex environments. He is a Senior Policy Analyst for the Assistant Secretary of Cyber, Infrastructure, Risk and Resilience, assigned to the AI and Emerging Technologies portfolio. He works with private companies, military branches, and government partners on cyber and AI strategy, legislation, and policy. Previously, he served as Product Manager for an AI startup and Assistant Professor at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, teaching Organizational Behavior, Marketing, and Finance. He holds a B.S. from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

Why and How to Get Certified
2026-04-21 12:00 - 13:00
Why and How to Get Certified
April 21 | 12 to 1 pm EST | Virtual Session
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)!
At WBEC Metro NY & Greater DMV, fueling local economic growth through the empowerment of women business owners is our primary mission. We provide WBENC certification—the gold standard in diversity certification—at the regional level and serve as an advocate for certified women-owned businesses by providing our WBEs with resources, programming, network opportunities, and recognition.
Do you want access to supplier diversity and procurement opportunities, networking events with like-minded women entrepreneurs, leadership development programs, and exclusive resources to grow and scale your business?
Join us for a 1-hour webinar and learn why the benefits of Certification go far beyond a Certification seal and the steps you can take to start your Certification process right away.
In this session, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of WBENC Certification, including its benefits, eligibility criteria, the application process, and local opportunities within your region and the larger ecosystem.
You’ll also have the opportunity to address your specific questions with our WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV staff. Reserve your spot today!

Click Here to Register

Pitch Academy: Know Your Voice: Establishing Your Executive Presence
2026-04-22 11:30 - 13:00
Pitch Academy
Know Your Voice: Establishing Your Executive Presence
April 22 | 11:30 am to 1 pm EST | Virtual Session
Created and led by Jen Litwin, Speeko’s Managing Director, Coaching and Strategic Partnerships, this interactive AI-powered workshop gives you the tools to speak with confidence, clarity, and credibility, whether in a classroom, boardroom, or virtual setting.
Drawing from her dual careers as an opera singer and a Wall Street and tech executive, Jen blends science-backed vocal training and Speeko’s AI technology with real-world communication strategies to help leaders project authority, manage vocal fatigue, and reduce stage fright.
In this lively session, you’ll laugh, learn, and maybe even make some joyful noise as you explore vocal techniques rooted in performance and refined for professional life. You’ll walk away with actionable tips on breath support, vocal projection, pacing, presence, and storytelling — all designed to make your message land with impact and style.

Click Here to Register

Jen Litwin leads Speeko’s premium live coaching business and enterprise partnerships. She brings deep expertise in executive presence, vocal mastery, relationship building, and career development, empowering individuals and teams to unlock their voices and show up with confidence, authenticity, and power.
Jen’s diverse background spans over three decades in high-stakes finance, tech sales, classical music performance, and dynamic live facilitation. Prior to Speeko, Jen served as Vice President, Head of Sales & Client Experience at The Forem, Senior Vice President and Head of Relationship Management at Greenwich Associates (now Crisil Coalition Greenwich), and she was a senior sales trader at UBS Investment Bank. She began her corporate career in back-office operations at AIG Financial Products Corp.

Week of WBEC
2026-05-11 09:00 - 2026-05-15 14:00
May 11 to 15 I In-Person and Virtual
Week of WBEC (WOW) is a brand-new week-long celebration of our thriving network of women owned businesses.
Throughout the week, you can expect opportunities to gather virtually and in-person, as well as exciting digital activations across our social channels.
You will come away energized, plugged into new resources, and ready to take on the rest of 2026.
WOW will debut May 11 through May 15.
Learn More

WOW Meet the Staff NYC In-Person Mixer
2026-05-11 12:00 - 14:00
Put a face to the name and a handshake to the connection. Our WOW in-person NYC mixer will bring together members of our WBE network and our regional staff for an afternoon of meaningful conversation, connection, and good company. Meet the dedicated staff behind WBEC NY DMV, reconnect with fellow members, and discover the businesses that make our network so extraordinary.
Register Now!
Learn more about Week of WBEC here!

WOW Meet the Staff DC In-Person Mixer
2026-05-11 12:00 - 14:00
Put a face to the name and a handshake to the connection. Our WOW in-person DC mixer will bring together members of our WBE network and our regional staff for an afternoon of meaningful conversation, connection, and good company. Meet the dedicated staff behind WBEC NY DMV, reconnect with fellow members, and discover the businesses that make our network so extraordinary.
Register Now!
Learn more about Week of WBEC here!

Why and How to Get Certified
2026-05-12 13:00 - 14:00
Why and How to Get Certified
May 12 | 1 to 2 pm EST | Virtual Session
Have you been on the fence about jumping into the Certification pool? Hear from our guest speakers Kym Ali, founder and CEO of Kym Ali Consulting, and Stephanie Ranno, Director of Growth at FlexProfessionals, on why it’s important for them to be WBENC-Certified and what tips they wish they knew prior to starting the process. Walk away feeling confident that Certification is right for your business.
This special edition of Why and How to Get Certified, moderated by Rochelle Cooper, CEO of Cooper Management Consulting, is designed to walk you through the Certification process, answer your questions, and show you firsthand why Certification with WBEC NY DMV is one of the most powerful steps you can take for your business.
Reserve now!
Click Here to Register

Kym Ali is the Founder and CEO of Kym Ali Consulting, a boutique AI consulting firm specializing in AI strategy and leadership development for federal and commercial organizations. With over 20 years of experience in regulated industries and a background spanning clinical nursing, federal contracting, and international business across 69 countries, Kym brings a unique perspective to AI adoption and workforce transformation.
Her work includes deploying AI digital humans as employee augmentation tools for enterprise clients, helping organizations scale expertise without scaling headcount. She is MIT AI Strategy trained, a LinkedIn Learning Instructor, and a Fox 5 DC workplace expert. Her audit-first methodology has earned 100% satisfaction ratings from corporate engagements, and she has served over 10,000 clients across corporate, federal, and international markets.
Kym is passionate about helping organizations implement AI strategically, without burning out the people who make the mission possible.

Stephanie Ranno brings more than 20 years of experience in staffing and recruiting, helping organizations of all sizes and in all industries build high-performing teams. She has worked with clients in financial services, associations & nonprofits, government consulting, and architecture, construction, and engineering to connect them with exceptional talent.
In her role as Director of Growth, Stephanie partners with FlexProfessionals’ DC and Boston teams to expand the firm’s mid-market presence and bring our services to new metro areas. She focuses on opening new pathways for businesses to access flexible, top-tier talent in accounting, finance, HR, administration, operations, and marketing.
Stephanie is committed to showing employers how flexible work models can give organizations a competitive edge while creating meaningful career opportunities for professionals.
Beyond her client work, Stephanie is a frequent speaker and writer on topics including workforce trends, talent acquisition, neurodiversity, and inclusion. Inspired by her own family, she has a special interest in advancing neurodiversity in the workplace and creating a future of meaningful work for all.

Rochelle is a passionate talent leader and CEO/Founder of Cooper Management, an Executive Coaching and Assessment Firm, providing high-impact coaching, team-building and advising, to enable leaders and teams to achieve visible success in their roles. Programs her firm has created have been shown to increase high potential senior leader probability of promotion 2.5 times more than peers and to have a 93% likelihood of getting a bigger and broader role. Rochelle has been advising and coaching highly talented leaders for over 23 years and specializes in propelling them to the most senior levels of their organizations through individual and peer coaching programs, and tailored leadership workshops. She has created many Women’s Leadership Elevation programs and leads and directs several Coaching Programs to increase representation of women and diverse leaders in executive roles at their companies and to broaden their impact.
Dr. Cooper has held positions at JPMorganChase, in Organizational Development, at Merrill Lynch in Talent Management and Bell Labs, where she was an Assessment Center Expert on measuring
leadership potential. For the last fifteen years, Rochelle has been on faculty at Hofstra University’s School of Business, where she teaches Executive Leadership Skills in the Executive MBA and traditional MBA programs. She has taught many courses for Columbia Business School, including Women in Leadership, Strategic Thinking, Influencing Stakeholders and Leading Teams.

WeTalks: You Can't Scale Depleted: The Flexible Strength Blueprint for Women Who Lead
2026-05-13 11:00 - 12:00
May 13 I 11 am to Noon EST I Virtual
You’re running a business, managing a team, and trying to hold it all together. But here’s what nobody tells you…your body is doing the same job. And if it goes down, everything goes with it. In this WeTalks session, Stacy Fritz, founder of FIT2order, will introduce the Flexible Strength Blueprint, a simple, stackable framework designed to live inside your workday, not compete with it. Health isn’t something you get to when things slow down. It’s part of your strategy.
In this workshop, you’ll learn:
1. Wellness only works when it lives where you live
2. How to inspire others to take better care of themselves
3. How to integrate healthy habit into your sedentary work-day
And you’ll walk away with:
1. Walk away with tools that weave together into experiences that are practical, immediate, and genuinely surprising
2. A new perspective when it comes to balancing health and work
3. Good health is a business strategy
Register today!
Click Here to Register

Stacy Fritz doesn’t just talk about sustainable performance. She runs it. Literally. This past February, she crossed the finish line of her 11th marathon, proof that you don’t have to choose between building something big and taking care of the body doing the building.
For more than 30 years, Stacy has built her life’s work around the belief that movement, neuroscience, and human performance are inseparable. As founder and CEO of FIT2order, a WBENC-certified corporate wellness company, she works with businesses whose employees spend most of their day in a chair. Her approach is simple and science-backed: wellness only works when it lives where you live. At your desk. Between meetings. In the margins of a busy day.
To do that work well, she’s gone deep. Stacy holds certifications in fitness, corrective exercise, behavior coaching, yoga (E-RYT 500), breathwork, and brain-based movement, tools she weaves together into experiences that are practical, immediate, and genuinely surprising. She’s also the inventor of the vidaBALL®, a patented breathing tool born from something deeply personal.
A two-time WBENC Pitch Semi-Finalist, 2024 WBEC DMV Pitch Winner, and 2026 WBE Star, Stacy is a Heroic Public Speaking graduate who will take the TEDx stage in Apex, North Carolina in April 2026.
She won’t just inspire you to take better care of yourself. She’ll show you how, starting today, right where you are.
About WeTalks
Women Enterprise Talks (WeTalks) is a virtual series that amplifies the voices of certified WBEs from across the WBEC NY DMV network. Through delivering a one-hour WeTalks presentation, WBEs can:

Reinforce thought leadership through sharing real business perspectives and expert advice with a broader audience of fellow women CEOs.
Strengthen credibility through contribution, not promotion.
Maintain visibility within the network.

Apply here to become a WeTalks speaker!

I'm Certified, Now What?
2026-05-14 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
I’m Certified, Now What?
May 14 | 1 to 2 pm EST | Virtual Session
Certification is just the starting line.
Join us for a special WOW edition of I’m Certified, Now What? and discover everything your Certification has unlocked. Learn how to leverage your Certification, tap into a powerful network of resources, and fully embed yourself in a community built to help your business grow. If your Certification has been sitting on the shelf, it’s time to put it to work.
In a conversation moderated by Elin Barton, CEO of Riveo Creative, speakers Dr. Drena Valentine, CEO of Integrative Management Solutions, LLC, and Liz Whitehead, CEO of 12PointFive, will share valuable advice on how to get the most out of your Certification.
Reserve your spot today!
Click here to register.

Dr. Drena Valentine is a visionary, transformative leader and a force for economic equity who has dedicated more than 25 years to strategically revitalizing of businesses, particularly those owned by Black, minority, and women entrepreneurs. A recognized authority in Strategic and Operations Management, Dr. Valentine has built her career around an unyielding commitment to creating sustainability, access, and excellence systems that empower small and midsize businesses to thrive.
As the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Integrative Management Solutions, LLC (IMS), Dr. Valentine has led her firm to become a nationally certified minority business enterprise that redefines how small businesses access, manage, and sustain operational growth. IMS specializes in actionable, performance-based strategies integrating structure, process, and people to drive repeatable results and achieve operational excellence. Under Dr. Valentine’s leadership, IMS has become a premier strategic partner for public agencies, anchor institutions, and community development financial institutions (CDFIs), seeking to strengthen internal operations and expand procurement readiness for underrepresented businesses.

Liz Whitehead is the CEO of 12PointFive, a business development consultancy that specializes in growing small and diverse businesses by building business development strategies for larger organizations. At 12PointFive, she supports her clients in reaching their goals through facilitation, consulting, and one-on-on coaching. Recognizing that diverse businesses need a program to give them the information they need, when they need it, and in a way that drives them to take action, Liz co-founded Mastermind my Company with Heather Cox. Our signature program is an online curriculum focused on building a roadmap to certification success.
Liz currently serves on the WBENC National Forum and the WBEC DMV forum. She is Chair of three local Chapters of the Women Presidents Organization, facilitating monthly meetings for multi-million-dollar business owners as part of an international peer advisory group. As a certified B Corp business, she is also on the Leadership Circle of We The Change, a collective of purpose driven women business leaders that grew out of the B Lab network. Her awards include WBEC DMV’s WBE Connection award, Outstanding Women’s Business Advocate Award and the WBE Star Award. She was recognized by Women’s Enterprise Magazine (WE USA) as one of the Top WBE CEOs of 2021 and by the Women Presidents Organization as a President’s Award winner. In 2023, she was recognized by WBENC as a WBE Star, the most prestigious award for women business owners in the network.

At the helm of Riveo Creative for more than 15 years, founder and CEO Elin Barton has a passion for small business, sustainability and storytelling. Elin and her team work with a range of clients, from Fortune 100 corporations to small and mid-sized businesses, building brands and amplifying stories of impact. Elin serves on the WBENC (Women Business Enterprise National Council) Forum, and is a proud member of 1% for the Planet and We the Change, two organizations working to make a positive social and environmental impact.

WOW is coming to Beltsville, MD - Join Us for a Week of WBEC Meetup
2026-05-15 19:00 - 22:00
Week of WBEC Meet Up
May 15 I 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. EST I Beltsville, MD
WOW is where new connections begin. During Week of WBEC, women-owned businesses from across our region are coming together to meet and grow.

Hosted by our Forum leadership, this meetup is designed to bring together WBEs and women business owners in your area for meaningful conversation, relationship-building, and community. Whether you are newly connected to WBEC NY DMV or already active in the network, this is an opportunity to get to know the businesses around you, share your story, and strengthen local ties.
You can expect coffee/light refreshments, casual networking, strong conversation, and the chance to build relationships that can lead to referrals, collaboration, and future opportunities.
WOW is a celebration of the connections, support, and shared drive that help women-owned businesses grow and thrive and we’re excited to bring that spirit to Beltsville, Maryland.

Register Now

Metro NY Synergy Power Hour
2026-05-19 10:00 - 11:00 | https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Bvfgw197QaGcLBY49ez6Lw
The Synergy Power Hour:
A Conversation with Diana Domenech

May 19 | 10:00 a.m. EST | Virtual
Join WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV for a one-hour virtual conversation with Diana Domenech, President and CEO, as she connects with the NY Certified WBEs and shares her perspective on the opportunities ahead.
This interactive gathering is designed to welcome Diana, strengthen regional connection, and explore how our network can continue building momentum through strategic partnership, shared insight, and the power of synergy.
THIS CONVERSATION IS FOR CERTIFIED WBES ONLY!
Register Now

WBENC Spark Your Strategy Toward Your Next Business Opportunity Session 2
2026-05-20 14:00 - 15:00
Part 2: Working Conference Like a Strategist and Crafting Your Impact Story
May 20 | 2 to 3 p.m. EST | Virtual Session
Fuel your readiness for that next business opportunity with this three-part series designed to ignite innovation and position your business for success.
Each session intentionally builds on the next, creating a progressive learning experience that helps you strengthen your strategy, refine your approach, and confidently apply what you’ve learned throughout your WBENC National Conference journey. From preparation and positioning to engagement and post-conference follow-through, every conversation is designed to layer practical insights and actionable tools that work together to maximize your impact.
Working Conference Like a Strategist and Crafting Your Impact Story brings together Conference strategy and powerful storytelling to help WBEs turn conversations into opportunities.

Working Conference Like a Strategist — Hear from Antoine Hinton, Senior Director of Small Business & Development at Dollar General, on how to navigate the Conference floor with intention, maximize Conference opportunities, approach corporate conversations strategically, and turn quick interactions into meaningful business connections.

Crafting Your Impact Story — Learn from Cheldin Barlatt Rumer, Creator of SCREAM YOUR DREAM™ Personal Branding Digital Course, how to confidently tell the story behind your business in a way that captures attention, communicates your value, and leaves a lasting impression long after Conference ends.

Conference Presence & Strategic Engagement — Discover how to combine preparation, storytelling, and intentional networking to show up at Conference with confidence, strengthen your brand presence, and create opportunities that extend beyond a single conversation.
Register Now

WBEC Greater DMV Frederick, MD, Meet & Greet
2026-05-20 15:00 - 17:00
WBEC Greater DMV Frederick, MD, Meet & Greet
May 20 I 3 – 5 p.m. EST I Frederick, MD

Get ready to mingle, laugh, and connect at the WBEC Greater DMV Frederick, MD, Meet & Greet – it’s going to be a blast!

Join us at Cowork Frederick on May 20th at 3:00 p.m. EST for an afternoon of networking and fun. This is your chance to connect with like-minded individuals and learn about business resources in the Frederick area, in a relaxed setting. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to expand your professional circle, collaborate with new friends, and build community. We can’t wait to see you there!
No on-site registration. Registration through Eventbrite required, as space is limited.
Register Now

Greater DMV Synergy Power Hour
2026-05-21 10:00 - 11:00 | https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/j17vD348RRGDNBJz9T_DnA
The Synergy Power Hour:
A Conversation with Diana Domenech

May 21 | 10:00 a.m. EST | Virtual
Join WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV for a one-hour virtual conversation with Diana Domenech, President and CEO, as she connects with the DMV Certified WBEs and shares her perspective on the opportunities ahead.
This interactive gathering is designed to welcome Diana, strengthen regional connection, and explore how our network can continue building momentum through strategic partnership, shared insight, and the power of synergy.
THIS CONVERSATION IS FOR CERTIFIED WBES ONLY!
Register Now

WBENC Procurement Opportunities: Key Trends and Takeaways Virtual Session
2026-05-21 15:00 - 16:00
Procurement Opportunities: Key Trends and Takeaways
May 21 | 3 to 4 p.m. EST | Virtual Session
Join us for the return of the WBENC Forum Insight Series! Hear from Liz Whitehead, CEO of 12PointFive, and learn how to better understand emerging sourcing opportunities. This session examines some of the economic, technological, and operational trends influencing procurement and impacts on small businesses across industries.
Register Now

Pitch Academy: Lessons from the Stage
2026-05-27 11:00 - 12:00 | https://events.zoom.us/ev/AiKvh1omGRkALdfwx1yw_5M9WfGTK-JH9lXDHfq4G36KhNMTF5jK~Aj_1OPTqugsvBVbhFhC0zItKyLwsnpXtLdKDa2fVEwwRzZkIr60-8gcKJw
Pitch Academy: Lessons from the Stage
May 27 I 11 a.m. to Noon EST I Virtual Session
Hear directly from WBEs who have been where you are.
In this candid and inspiring panel, former Powerplay Pitch Competition participants pull back the curtain on what it really takes to compete. From navigating the nerves to delivering under pressure in the Live Pitch Competition, these women will share how they prepared, what surprised them, what they wish they had known, and the lessons they’ve learnt from taking the stage. Whether you’re a first-time applicant or gearing up for another run, this is the insider guide.
You’ll not only get to learn from 2025 Powerplay Pitch winners, but you’ll also hear directly from WBEC staff who will walk you through everything you need to know to apply, so you can step into the process informed, prepared, and ready to make your mark.
Panel:

Moderator: Carrie Sporer, SWAIR

Panelist: Queirra Fenderson, The Ambition Studio

Panelist: LaKesha, Veney, DeVine Wine Jelly

Panelist: Kimberle Lau, Bake Me Healthy

Panelist: Jovan Jackson, Good News Financial & Investment Advisors LLC

Our 1st Place Metro NY winner, Carrie Sporer is the co-founder of SWAIR and a University of Pennsylvania graduate with bachelor’s degrees in economics and communications. Before launching SWAIR, she built her career in luxury accessories, serving as VP of Sales and Operations at Edie Parker and Director of Sales at Judith Leiber.

DeVine Wine Jelly founder Lakesha Veney is a Washington, DC native and passionate culinary entrepreneur who turned her love for food and wine into a unique gourmet experience. After a decade in physical therapy, she followed her true calling and launched her catering company, eventually creating DeVine Wine Jelly-an innovative line of vegan, gluten-free wine-infused jellies crafted from premium fruit wines.

Dr. Jovan Jackson, the Financial Coach of Hope, is a 5x published author, speaker, and licensed fiduciary financial advisor. As President of Good News Financial & Investment Advisors, she leads innovative financial wellness programs through her F.E.W. (Financially Empowered Workforce) framework. With over 17 years of experience, she helps individuals and organizations build wealth, reduce taxes, and prepare for retirement. Jovan is a trusted voice featured on media platforms and corporate stages across the region.

Queirra Fenderson is an Award-Winning Keynote Speaker, ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and CEO of The Ambition Studio®, a certified women-owned enterprise dedicated to combating workplace burnout and cultivating leadership excellence. Through expert executive coaching, leadership development, and facilitation, Queirra has helped organizations enhance employee retention and build stronger talent pipelines.

Kimberle Lau is an Asian American mom of two who courageously pursued her passion for healthy baking after becoming lactose and egg intolerant and high-risk for breast cancer. Through her business, Bake Me Healthy, she is on a mission to fight food allergies and food waste with her yummy Top 9 allergen-friendly sustainable baking mixes and cookies.

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WBENC National Conference Virtual Orientation - WBE Session 1
2026-05-27 13:00 - 14:00
WBE Session 1
May 27 | 1 to 2 p.m. EST | Virtual Session
By attending our WBENC National Conference VIRTUAL Orientations, you can ensure you are in the know about everything happening in Salt Lake City!
We encourage every attendee of the 2026 WBENC National Conference to attend one of these valuable, insightful and question-answering sessions!
Register Now

WeTalks: Leading in the Deep End: Leadership and Resilience Under Pressure
2026-05-28 11:00 - 12:00
May 28 I 11 am to Noon EST I Virtual
Business owners don’t freeze in volatility because they lack talent or information—they freeze because their nervous systems are under threat. This session, led by Emma Churchman, CEO of Emma M. Churchman LLC, delivers a resilience operating system leaders can apply immediately with their teams to stay clear-headed and decisive under pressure (without burning out), strengthen communication and boundaries, and lead through volatility—people issues, cash-flow stress, burnout, and rapid change.
Through the webinar participants will learn:

Practical tools to stay clear-headed and decisive under pressure (without burning out).
Techniques to regulate stress in real time before high-stakes conversations, negotiations, or presentations.
Stronger communication and boundary-setting during conflict, uncertainty, and growth seasons.

Participants will gain:

A simple framework for leading through volatility—people issues, cash flow stress, and rapid change.
A resilience “operating system” you can apply immediately with your team to reduce reactivity and improve execution.
Real-world lessons from WBE case studies you can relate to and model in your own business.

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Emma Churchman is a WBE from North Carolina, the Founder & CEO of Emma M. Churchman LLC and a nationally certified trauma chaplain and leadership consultant with 25+ years of experience helping leaders and organizations navigate crisis, disruption, and recovery. As a 3x bestselling author and speaker—and a PhD candidate in Conscious Business Ethics—Emma is known for translating trauma-resilient principles into practical, real-time tools leaders can use to stay clear, grounded, and effective under pressure.
She has supported more than 50,000 individuals and hundreds of organizations in transforming adversity into resilience, and has delivered keynotes and trainings for audiences ranging from community-based teams to national leadership networks, including speaking at last year’s WBENC conference in New Orleans where she led the two hour wellness session on resilient leadership in crisis. Her forthcoming book, Navigating the Deep End: Resilient Leadership in a Volatile World (GracePoint, 2026), features case studies of WBEs and offers an actionable framework for leading when “normal” no longer exists.
About WeTalks
Women Enterprise Talks (WeTalks) is a virtual series that amplifies the voices of certified WBEs from across the WBEC NY DMV network. Through delivering a one-hour WeTalks presentation, WBEs can:

Reinforce thought leadership through sharing real business perspectives and expert advice with a broader audience of fellow women CEOs.
Strengthen credibility through contribution, not promotion.
Maintain visibility within the network.

Apply here to become a WeTalks speaker!

WBENC National Conference Virtual Orientation - WBE Session 2
2026-06-02 15:00 - 16:00
WBE Session 2
June 2 | 3 to 4 p.m. EST | Virtual Session
By attending our WBENC National Conference VIRTUAL Orientations, you can ensure you are in the know about everything happening in Salt Lake City!
We encourage every attendee of the 2026 WBENC National Conference to attend one of these valuable, insightful and question-answering sessions!
Register Now

WBEC Metro NY New Haven, CT, Meet & Greet
2026-06-03 12:00 - 14:00
WBEC Metro NY New Haven, CT, Meet & Greet
June 3 I 12 – 2 p.m. EST I New Haven, CT
WBEC Metro NY Presents: New Haven, CT Meet & Greet! Join us at IL GABBIANO on June 3rd at 12 p.m. EST for an afternoon of networking and fun. This is your chance to connect with like-minded individuals and learn about business resources in the Connecticut area in a relaxed setting. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to expand your professional circle, collaborate with new friends, and build community. We can’t wait to see you there!
No on-site registration. Registration through Eventbrite required, as space is limited.
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I'm Certified, Now What?
2026-06-04 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Maximizing Your WBENC Certification
June 4th, 2026 | 1pm to 2pm EST | Virtual Session
If you’re a newly Certified WBE or would like to maximize your Certification, you won’t want to miss our I’m Certified, Now What? virtual session.
Learn more about WBENC, WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV network programs, events, and opportunities, and how best to use and navigate WBENCLink2.0. This is also an opportunity to meet WBEC NY DMV staff, including members of the Certification team.
Reserve your spot now.
Reserve your spot today!
Click here to register.

WBENC National Conference Virtual Orientation - Corporations Session 1
2026-06-04 13:00 - 14:00
Corporations Session 1
June 4 | 1 to 2 p.m. EST | Virtual Session
By attending our WBENC National Conference VIRTUAL Orientations, you can ensure you are in the know about everything happening in Salt Lake City!
We encourage every attendee of the 2026 WBENC National Conference to attend one of these valuable, insightful and question-answering sessions!
Register Now

WBENC National Conference Virtual Orientation - Corporations Session 2
2026-06-09 15:00 - 16:00
Corporations Session 2
June 9 | 3 to 4 p.m. EST | Virtual Session
By attending our WBENC National Conference VIRTUAL Orientations, you can ensure you are in the know about everything happening in Salt Lake City!
We encourage every attendee of the 2026 WBENC National Conference to attend one of these valuable, insightful and question-answering sessions!
Register Now
