WBEC Metro NY SAGE Advice Day 2
2025-09-04 08:00 - 16:30, 2025-10-16 08:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
WBEC Metro NY SAGE Advice Day 2

SAGE Advice is a collaborative partnership between Capital One and WBEC Greater DMV and Metro NY, established to develop and enable small business owners to grow through customized sessions delivered by successful women business owners and Capital One associates.
Through six, two-day in-person and virtual sessions held over six months, participants will dive deep into their business, their strategies, and their goals.
For more information about this program,
Please visit our website: wbecnydmv.org/programs/sage-advice

Convergence 2025 Supplier Expo and Career Fair
2025-09-09 09:30 - 14:30 | Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 N 3rd St, Richmond, VA, 23219
Join Convergence 2025, hosted by Dominion Energy, a dynamic supplier expo and career fair bringing together over 65 exhibitors from across industries. This is your chance to connect with leading companies, explore upcoming business opportunities, and build valuable relationships. Whether you’re a small, local, or diverse business looking to grow, or a job seeker ready to make your next move, Convergence 2025 offers direct access to decision-makers, career insights, and the future of innovation. Opportunities await—don’t miss it!
Register now!

Why and How to Get Certified
2025-09-09 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Why and How to Get Certified
September 9th, 2025 | 10am 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.
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.

Sustainability Accelerator Module 2 Workshop 4
2025-09-09 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
Sustainability Accelerator
Module 2 — Checking Your Sustainability Compass
Workshop 4 – Module and Workbooks Review

September 9th, 2025 | 1pm to 3pm EST | Virtual
Sustainability is a business imperative for corporate partners.
Come join WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV and program partners, The Fehlig Group, for the 2024 Sustainability Accelerator, an accessible and actionable program to help you understand the basics and application of sustainability.
Consisting of three modules running over nine months, it includes four interactive Sessions and six optional drop-in clinics per module to provide expert advice on the unique needs of your business as you embed sustainability into your operation.
MODULE 2: CHECKING YOUR SUSTAINABILITY COMPASS
Showcase the material issues where you have the greatest impact, engage your stakeholders and align with global frameworks.
Identify the foundational policies, practices and systems to have or put in place for sustainable best practice.
Gain the knowledge to create effective policies in critical areas of ethics and transparency, environmental stewardship and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Learn valuable ways of thinking and tools to effectively organize information and measure sustainable performance.
In Module 2: Session 4, you will continue to move forward on your sustainability journey. Put your values into practice and start measuring your impact. Recognize winning roadmaps from your fellow participants.
To get the complete program experience, it is strongly recommended to that you attend all sessions of Module 2. See more information here: Sustainability Accelerator | WBEC NY & DMV (wbecnydmv.org)
Click to register!

Your Business Could Be Next: The Proven Way to Spot a Breach Before Hackers Do (Even as AI Gets Smarter)
2025-09-16 10:00
Monday, September 16, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. ET
Back by popular demand, Part 2 of Your Business Could Be Next will take you deeper into the cybersecurity risks facing today’s businesses. In Part 1, WBEs shared that their biggest concern in the event of a cyberattack is damage to their reputation. Many also took advantage of Lunaris’ Dark Web scans, uncovering just how real the risks are.
In this powerful follow-up session, you’ll learn:
✅ How hackers are using AI to move faster and smarter
✅ The early warning signs of a breach most leaders overlook
✅ A proven way to stop a breach before it costs you contracts, credibility, and revenue
Who Should Attend?
Growth-minded WBEs, business leaders, and entrepreneurs ready to protect their business reputation and stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.
Register now!

With over 40 years of general management experience in the IT industry, Avis Yates Rivers founded TCGi in 2008 to help businesses leverage technology for growth, equity, and efficiency. Her career began at Exxon, selling early technology solutions before launching her first tech company in 1985.
Avis is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in technology and business, authoring Necessary Inclusion and earning recognition as a White House Champion of Change in STEM. Under her leadership, TCGi has grown into a trusted partner for Fortune 500 enterprises, government agencies, and educational institutions.

Marketing in a Digital World with CHASE for Business
2025-09-16 12:00
September 16, 2025 | 12pm EST
Join us for an engaging and insightful session with Evena Sumra, Vice President and Senior Business Consultant at JPMorgan Chase, as we explore how to elevate your brand and connect with your audience in today’s digital landscape.
In “Marketing in a Digital World,” Evena will guide entrepreneurs and small business owners through key strategies to build visibility and foster community online. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your digital presence, this session will equip you with actionable tools to grow your business.
What You’ll Learn:

How to get noticed and build community online

Understanding your unique business identity

Identifying where your customers are and how to reach them

Maximizing your online platforms for impact

Analyzing performance and making strategic adjustments
Taking ownership of your digital spaces

Evena Sumra is a seasoned banking professional with over 23 years of experience, including more than two decades with JPMorgan Chase. Her career spans leadership roles such as Branch Manager, Business Relationship Manager, and Commercial Banker. In her current role, she partners directly with entrepreneurs to close operational gaps and implement sustainable growth strategies.
Beyond her corporate work, Evena is a passionate community advocate. She volunteers with The Links, Incorporated, supports youth development, and serves on multiple boards including Opportunity Charter School and the Women’s Enterprise Development Center—championing the success of women business owners.
With her deep industry expertise and commitment to service, Evena brings a powerful blend of strategic insight and community engagement to help businesses thrive.
Register now!

I'm Certified, Now What?
2025-09-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Maximizing Your WBENC Certification
September 25th, 2025 | 1pm to 2pm EST | Virtual Session

WBENC Certification can be an amazing tool to help open doors and uncover business opportunities to take you from where you are to where you want to be. To fully unlock the extensive benefits of the WBENC network, we highly encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities and resources available to you – both locally and nationally. Attend this session to learn more about the core components of our network and the steps you can take today to make the most out of your certification. Participation is recommended for all newly certified and recertified WBEs, as well as WBEs who wants to stay up to date on what’s happening in the network.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Reserve your spot today!
Click here to register.

Lunch With the Experts: Own your Story, Own the Room with Farah Bala
2025-09-30 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Lunch with the Experts
Tuesday, September 30 2025
12pm to 1pm EST | Virtual
As women business leaders, your story is your differentiator—it’s what sets you apart in a crowded marketplace and gives your business its heartbeat. In this session, we’ll explore how to present yourself with executive presence, sharpen your communication, and build authentic connections through storytelling rooted in your WHY. You’ll learn how to craft and deliver your story in a way that resonates with corporates, investors, and partners.
Together, we’ll tap into techniques to help you think on your feet, respond with confidence, and stay connected to your authentic voice in any high-stakes moment. Most importantly, we’ll explore what it means to step up as a leader: shifting from solopreneur to entrepreneur, owning your growth, and boldly sharing your story as the foundation of your leadership and business success.
Register now!

Farah Bala is a Leadership EDIA (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Oppression) Executive Coach, Consultant and Speaker. Through her certified minority, woman-owned agency FARSIGHT. Farah’s mission is to support organizations and leaders redefine the concept of leadership by making EDIA a core leadership competency. Her clients include executives in the C-suite, creatives and entrepreneurs, and organizations across wide-ranging sectors and industries. She is also a faculty coach at multiple learning & development institutions.
She is a recipient of the Diversity Award by the World Zoroastrian Organization, recognized for her work in raising awareness towards gender, culture, racial equity and inclusion globally. Farah has been featured in Forbes and is a contributing member to the Forbes Coaches Council. She is co-creator of Wonder Women, an invite-only executive women-of-color leadership development community under FARSIGHT

One Page Business Plan: Mission, Vision, and Purpose
2025-10-01 10:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
GET READY TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS PLAN!
In One Page Business Plan, participants will dive deep into their business to create a roadmap for growth and profit. Starting with the foundations, from cultivating a money mindset and getting clear on your why, all the way to clarifying your current profit picture and strategizing your marketing to increase revenue.
Consider this program your MBA: Masters in Business Agility, where you’ll have everything you need to quickly adapt and respond to changes in an ever-changing business environment.
To apply for One Page Business Plan: Click here!
One Page Business Plan is delivered by Linda A. Hamilton of Linda A. Hamilton CPA, WBEC Metro NY’s 2024 WBE Star.

Linda Hamilton, CPA, CEPA, MAUS, CPBA, SYSTEMologist®, Speaker, and Co-President of Institute of Advisors Greater NY Chapter. Linda A Hamilton, CPA LLC is an award-winning CPA firm in New York City working with business owners and nonprofits for more than 30 years. The firm offers Controller Level accounting services and advises U.S. businesses and international companies doing business in the U.S on tax matters. We work with business owners and professional services advisors to build value & grow their companies in our Grow, Profit, Scale mastermind and coaching programs. We offer discovery sessions, business health checks, Critical Client Flow®, & Concierge Level SYSTEMology™ services. We help businesses align goals with both personal and business vision, finance, and accounting. Documenting business systems can make or break a business as it grows.
A frequent and sought-after speaker, Linda Hamilton is in demand for her expertise in business and tax planning, financial fluency, budgeting, succession planning, business process improvement, and using a simple business plan as roadmap to grow. Linda has served on the Partnership & LLC Tax Committee of NYSCCPA & is a member of AICPA, The Women Presidents Organization, The Woodard Alliance, The Exit-Planning Institute, The Institute of Advisors, and Advisory Board of Enterprising Women Magazine. The company is o a WBENC certified woman-owned company. The company’s headquarters is in New York City. Linda loves to walk for miles in Manhattan, read mysteries, do 3,000-piece jigsaw puzzles, and binge-watch TV shows with her husband. As a volunteer preschool teacher on Sunday for 25 years, Linda learned patience which helps when explaining complex tax and accounting to business owners. Linda splits her time between New York City and Florida.

One Page Business Plan: Office Hours
2025-10-03 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-10-10 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-10-17 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-10-31 10:00 - 10:30 | Virtual
GET READY TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS PLAN!
In One Page Business Plan, participants will dive deep into their business to create a roadmap for growth and profit. Starting with the foundations, from cultivating a money mindset and getting clear on your why, all the way to clarifying your current profit picture and strategizing your marketing to increase revenue.
Consider this program your MBA: Masters in Business Agility, where you’ll have everything you need to quickly adapt and respond to changes in an ever-changing business environment.
OFFICE HOURS: 10AM to 10:30am EST
To apply for One Page Business Plan, please visit our website: WBEC NY DMV One Page Business Plan Program
One Page Business Plan is delivered by Linda A. Hamilton of Linda A. Hamilton CPA, WBEC Metro NY’s 2024 WBE Star.

Sustainability Accelerator Module 3 Workshop 1
2025-10-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
Sustainability Accelerator
Module 3 — Ready, Set, Go
Workshop 1 – Developing an Environmental Management System (EMS)

October 7th, 2025 | 1pm to 3pm EST | Virtual
Sustainability is a business imperative for corporate partners.
Come join WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV and program partners, The Fehlig Group, for the 2024 Sustainability Accelerator, an accessible and actionable program to help you understand the basics and application of sustainability.
Consisting of three modules running over nine months, it includes four interactive Sessions and six optional drop-in clinics per module to provide expert advice on the unique needs of your business as you embed sustainability into your operation.
MODULE 3: READY, SET, GO!
Put your business values into practice to provide meaningful impact in areas that matter to you as well as your corporate partners.
Learn how to develop internal systems to manage, track and improve sustainable performance.
Gain the knowledge to develop effective managements systems expected by corporate partners and in sustainability assessments and certifications.
Understand how to prepare for sustainability disclosures and how to score well on third-party assessments or certificates.
Learn how to calculate your carbon footprint with a free tool that translates your business activities into greenhouse gas emissions requested by major corporations.
In Module 3: Session 1, you will build on the momentum from Module 2 and learn about creating your own Environmental Management System (EMS).
To get the complete program experience, it is strongly recommended that you attend all sessions of Module 3, See more information here: Sustainability Accelerator | WBEC NY & DMV (wbecnydmv.org)
Click to register!

Why and How to Get Certified
2025-10-07 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
Why and How to Get Certified
October 7th, 2025 | 2pm 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.
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.

2025 Supplier Diversity Webinar Series: Online Communications & Your Small Business
2025-10-07 15:00 - 16:00
Presented by AARP and Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP
This collaborative series from AARP Supplier Diversity and OATS reflects AARP’s commitment to supporting a supply chain that is representative of the communities we serve. Each webinar is designed to strengthen operations and expand the digital capabilities of 50+ small business owners.
Unlock the power of online communications for your small business! In this lecture, we’ll discuss the importance of establishing a strong online presence. Additionally, we’ll look at social media and newsletters as potential avenues to reach your customers. We’ll explore how to effectively engage with your online audience, introduce some AI tools for marketing, and discuss newsletter platform options. We’ll also go over considerations to help you choose the right tools to boost your business.
Register today and take your business to the next level!

One Page Business Plan: Finance and Pricing
2025-10-08 10:00 - 13:00 | Virtual

2025 Supplier Diversity Webinar Series: AI & Your Small Business
2025-10-14 15:00 - 16:00
Presented by AARP and Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP
This collaborative series from AARP Supplier Diversity and OATS reflects AARP’s commitment to supporting a supply chain that is representative of the communities we serve. Each webinar is designed to strengthen operations and expand the digital capabilities of 50+ small business owners.
Curious about how artificial intelligence (AI) can help your small business thrive? In this lecture, you’ll learn about the many things AI can do and how they relate to small business. We’ll introduce a framework to help you explore how you can start using AI in your own day-to-day work. We’ll also cover tips for choosing AI tools and best practices for using AI safely. Whether you sell products, offer services, or run a home-based business, this lecture will help you discover how to take advantage of AI in your business today. Note: This lecture is best suited for people who are already familiar with AI chatbots.
Register today and take your business to the next level!

WBEC Metro NY SAGE Advice Day 1
2025-10-15 08:00 - 16:30 | Virtual
WBEC Metro NY SAGE Advice Day 1

SAGE Advice is a collaborative partnership between Capital One and WBEC Greater DMV and Metro NY, established to develop and enable small business owners to grow through customized sessions delivered by successful women business owners and Capital One associates.
Through six, two-day in-person and virtual sessions held over six months, participants will dive deep into their business, their strategies, and their goals.
For more information about this program, please visit our website: wbecnydmv.org/programs/sage-advice

One Page Business Plan: Strategic Marketing
2025-10-15 10:00 - 13:00 | Virtual

27th Annual SDDC Conference
2025-10-16 08:30 - 15:30
Register now!

Sustainability Accelerator Module 3 Workshop 2
2025-10-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
Sustainability Accelerator
Module 3 — Ready, Set, Go
Workshop 2 – Greenhouse Gases and Scopes

October 21st, 2025 | 1pm to 3pm EST | Virtual
Sustainability is a business imperative for corporate partners.
Come join WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV and program partners, The Fehlig Group, for the 2024 Sustainability Accelerator, an accessible and actionable program to help you understand the basics and application of sustainability.
Consisting of three modules running over nine months, it includes four interactive Sessions and six optional drop-in clinics per module to provide expert advice on the unique needs of your business as you embed sustainability into your operation.
MODULE 3: READY, SET, GO!
Put your business values into practice to provide meaningful impact in areas that matter to you as well as your corporate partners.
Learn how to develop internal systems to manage, track and improve sustainable performance.
Gain the knowledge to develop effective managements systems expected by corporate partners and in sustainability assessments and certifications.
Understand how to prepare for sustainability disclosures and how to score well on third-party assessments or certificates.
Learn how to calculate your carbon footprint with a free tool that translates your business activities into greenhouse gas emissions requested by major corporations.
In Module 3: Session 2, you will learn about greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).
To get the complete program experience, it is strongly recommended that you attend all sessions of Module, See more information here: Sustainability Accelerator | WBEC NY & DMV (wbecnydmv.org)
Click to register!

2025 Supplier Diversity Webinar Series: Essential Tech for Running Your Small Business
2025-10-21 15:00 - 16:00
Presented by AARP and Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP
This collaborative series from AARP Supplier Diversity and OATS reflects AARP’s commitment to supporting a supply chain that is representative of the communities we serve. Each webinar is designed to strengthen operations and expand the digital capabilities of 50+ small business owners.
In this lecture, we’ll explore easy-to-use software tools that can help small business owners manage everyday tasks, stay organized, and plan ahead with confidence. This session will introduce tech options that make managing your business easier, such as file organization, bookkeeping, and scheduling. We’ll also go over some tips on how to choose software that’s right for you.
Register today and take your business to the next level!

One Page Business Plan: Business Model and Financial Fluency
2025-10-22 10:00 - 13:00 | Virtual

WBEC Metro NY Impact Awards Luncheon
2025-10-24 10:30 - 14:00 | The Plaza Hotel, 5th Ave @ Central Park South, New York, NY, 10019, United States

Power of Capital: Your Path to Financial Strength with CHASE for Business
2025-10-28 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual
Discover how to make your money work for your business in this hands-on session designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners. “Unlocking the Power of Capital” offers a roadmap to understanding and leveraging financial tools that can drive sustainable growth.
Led by seasoned banking expert Evena Sumra, this session will walk you through essential financial concepts—from managing cash flow and evaluating borrowing needs to identifying key financial metrics and exploring SBA loan programs. Whether you’re preparing to seek funding or simply want to strengthen your financial foundation, you’ll leave with actionable insights to help you build your business empire.
Key Takeaways:

How to think strategically about cash flow
Determining if borrowing is right for your business
Positioning your business as a strong investment
Understanding the financial data that matters most
Navigating credit options and SBA loan programs
Laying the groundwork for long-term financial success

Register now!
Featuring Evena Sumra, Vice President & Senior Business Consultant, JPMorgan Chase

With over 23 years in banking—including more than two decades at JPMorgan Chase—Evena Sumra brings deep expertise in business finance and strategic growth. Her career includes leadership roles such as Branch Manager, Business Relationship Manager, and Commercial Banker. Today, she works directly with entrepreneurs to close operational gaps and build scalable solutions.
Outside of her professional work, Evena is a dedicated community advocate. She volunteers with The Links, Incorporated, supports youth development, and serves on several boards including Opportunity Charter School and the Women’s Enterprise Development Center—championing the success of women-owned businesses.

2025 Supplier Diversity Webinar Series: Digital Payments & Your Small Business
2025-10-28 15:00 - 16:00
Presented by AARP and Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP
This collaborative series from AARP Supplier Diversity and OATS reflects AARP’s commitment to supporting a supply chain that is representative of the communities we serve. Each webinar is designed to strengthen operations and expand the digital capabilities of 50+ small business owners.
Expanding the types of payments your business accepts can open doors to new customers and opportunities. But how do you know which digital payment is right for your business? This lecture introduces different ways to accept digital payments, including via P2P apps, online marketplaces, and PayPal. We’ll also cover payment processors and important security best practices to protect your business and customers. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to modernize, this lecture offers practical insights to help you accept digital payments.
Register today and take your business to the next level!

One Page Business Plan: Simple Systems Blueprint
2025-10-29 10:00 - 13:00 | Virtual

I'm Certified, Now What?
2025-10-30 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Maximizing Your WBENC Certification
October 30, 2025 | 1pm to 2pm EST | Virtual Session

WBENC Certification can be an amazing tool to help open doors and uncover business opportunities to take you from where you are to where you want to be. To fully unlock the extensive benefits of the WBENC network, we highly encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities and resources available to you – both locally and nationally. Attend this session to learn more about the core components of our network and the steps you can take today to make the most out of your certification. Participation is recommended for all newly certified and recertified WBEs, as well as WBEs who wants to stay up to date on what’s happening in the network.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Reserve your spot today!
Click here to register.
