WEtalks: WBENC Conference Know Before You Go

WEtalks: WBENC Conference Know Before You Go

June 10 I 11 am to 12:30 pm I Virtual

Join our special edition WEtalks: WBENC Conference Know Before You Go on June 10 to prepare for the 2026 WBENC National Conference!

Hear from Host Committee members Maryann Pagano and Katy Voight-Nobis and experienced WBEs Elin Barton and Stacy Fritz on how to plan your schedule, approach the Expo, and make the most of key conference moments.

You’ll also hear from corporate partners LaVonia Smith-Carter, Strategic Sourcing Partner at MGM, and Kimberly Ayers, CSMP, Director of Supplier Strategy & Engagement at AARP, on how to engage with them effectively before you arrive.

During this session, you will:

1. Meet your peers (virtually) and hear from them about why attending the conference matters.
2. Learn from seasoned Conference Attendees to learn how to best prepare for the Conference.
3. Learn the best way to connect with WBEC Staff during the conference

You will also gain a better understanding of WBENC Conference programming and show up to the Conference feeling informed and prepared. Don’t miss this opportunity—sign up now and set yourself up for success at the WBENC National Conference.

Register Now

Session Moderator:

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.

Session Panelists:

Maryann Pagano is the CEO and Co-Founder of BlackHawk Data, a rapidly scaling, woman-owned technology solutions provider. With more than two decades of leadership experience, Maryann drives the company’s strategic vision, revenue growth, and partner ecosystem. Since co-founding BlackHawk Data in 2018, Maryann has led the organization from startup to a nationally recognized IT solutions provider with more than 55 employees, multiple office locations, and continued year-over-year growth.

Maryann has been honored as U.S. SBA Female Entrepreneur of the Year, Most Powerful Women of the Channel, WPO/JPMC Top 50 Fastest Growing Female-Led Organizations and an EY Winning Woman.

With 20 years at API Source, Katy Voight-Nobis has built her career helping brands create authentic, lasting connections through meaningful branded merchandise programs. As a daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother, Katy leads with purpose and heart, bringing a people-first approach to every client and partnership. She believes branded merchandise is far more than giveaways or swag—it’s a tangible brand experience that creates emotion, strengthens loyalty, and becomes part of someone’s story. Katy is proud of the impact API Source makes by supporting employees, uplifting communities, and delivering memorable solutions for clients.

For more than 30 years, Stacy Fritz 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. 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.

Corporate Partners:

LaVonia Smith-Carter serves as Strategic Sourcing Partner for MGM National Harbor, a premier $1.4 billion resort and casino in National Harbor, MD. In this role, she oversees vendor gaming and business certification compliance, manages supplier relationships, monitors performance and supports the MGM corporate team in maintaining inventory commodities. LaVonia supports local and small businesses by helping them navigate compliance requirements and identify opportunities across the property. She contributes throughout the procurement lifecycle, from initial walkthroughs and pre-bid meetings to bid updates and final project approval support. She also participates in outreach efforts to connect with new businesses and identify qualified partners whose capabilities align with MGM’s operational needs, helping strengthen the property’s procurement strategy.

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.