WBEC Metro NY

Yes to our CEO Sandra Eberhard being featured on the cover of Women's Enterprise Magazine (WE USA)! 🎉 🙌🏾❗ This is a fitting tribute to her legacy of leadership, empowerment and integrity as CEO of WBEC Metro NY & Greater DMV for the last 14 years, during which time she has dedicated herself to strengthening, supporting, and expanding our community. "I am happiest and proudest when one of the businesses we support wins because they used the resources, information and connections we delivered,” she said. As Sandra now passes the baton to incoming President and CEO, Phala Mire, she envisions a future where WBEC continues to grow, support more businesses and make a lasting impact on local economic health and wealth. ✨ Read more in the feature here: https://bit.ly/3ZNcO0y

As we prepare to close out the year, we wanted to give a huge THANK YOU and shout-out to all our wonderful sponsors who made this year, our 25th anniversary year no less, one to remember and be proud of for many years to come. 🙏🏽Thank you for your allyship and commitment to the WBEC Metro NY & Greater DMV network. 🙏🏽Thank you for making our 25th anniversary Grand GALA-xy Luncheon events both in NY and DC such successes. 🙏🏽And thank you for your continued support and belief in our mission to uplift, empower, and harness the limitless potential of women-owned businesses, both in this region and beyond. You know who you are. But just so that everyone else does, let's hear it for our: SIRIUS STAR Sponsors 🌟Amazon 🌟Ampcus Inc 🌟EY 🌟Windsor Group LLC 🌟Johnson & Johnson POLARIS STAR Sponsors 💫 Paramount 💫 Accenture 💫 Wells Fargo SHINING STAR Sponsors ✨ Broadleaf Results, An Aleron Company ✨ Capital One ✨ Dominion Energy ✨ Flexability ✨ Command Marketing Innovations ✨ Brand, Style & Bloom by Elizabeth Danielle Here's to another year — and many more — of partnership and collaboration toward our common goals. 🌌 #PowerOfMany #WBEC25

The journey of entrepreneurship is often a winding path filled with both triumphs and challenges. For women entrepreneurs, particularly those navigating male-dominated industries, the stakes are even higher. Programs like our sponsor Wells Fargo’s #WeIGNITE, designed to support women business owners, offer invaluable resources and guidance. We sat down with Queirra Fenderson, PCC (The Ambition Studio) and Elin Barton (Riveo Creative), two successful women entrepreneurs, to find out more about the profound impact that WeIGNITE can have! 🔗Find out more: https://bit.ly/4g256qb #WomenOwnedBusinesses #WomenBusinessOwners

Last but not least, it's #CyberMonday!💻👛 We’ve talked about certification and connection. Now, it’s time to go digital. This Cyber Monday, let’s shine a spotlight on the power of women in business. Here’s how you can help: 🔗 Promote and shop: Visit our directory to find #WomenOwned businesses to support.👉🏽https://lnkd.in/gWC5pw6X 📢 Share stories: Spotlight inspiring women entrepreneurs from our blog at wbecnydmv.org. 🤝 Tag your peers: Let’s create a ripple effect by introducing women entrepreneurs to this network! When women-owned businesses succeed, we all benefit from stronger communities, thriving economies, and a future of possibility. Together, we’re not just supporting businesses—we’re building legacies. 🧱 Does your business offer online services? Let us know in the comments to start a chain of online WBEs we all should know about!💬 #ShopSmall #OnlineShopping

It's #SmallBusinessSaturday!🛍️✨ Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and when they’re women-owned, they’re a force for change. Let’s make our voices—and our impact—heard today. Behind every women-owned business is a story: of courage, creativity, and overcoming obstacles. Today is about recognizing those stories and helping them grow. 📈 Let’s celebrate the community we’re building, one action at a time: 1️⃣ Create your business profile: Add your name to our #WomenOwned directory to connect with clients and collaborators. 2️⃣ Share what you offer: Tag yourself in the comments below and let us know how your business supports others. 3️⃣ Put our money where your values are: Choose small, local businesses this weekend (and whenever you can!) to meet your shopping needs while supporting other WBEs in the network and beyond. (Whether you're shopping for holiday gifts or treating yourself, remember that every purchase at a small business makes a difference! 🎁) And don’t stop here. Cyber Monday is coming up, and we’ll take this momentum into the digital space. 💻 We can all benefit from each others successes when we prioritize uplifting the power of women-led businesses in everything we do. 💗 👉🏽https://lnkd.in/gWC5pw6X #ShopSmall #SmallBizSat @U.S. Chamber of Commerce

This #BlackFriday, instead of just deals, let’s talk about real value. What happens when we support #WomenOwned businesses? We create jobs. We grow economies. We transform industries. According to the 2024 Wells Fargo Impact of Women-Owned Business Report, women-owned businesses represent 39.1% of all businesses (over 14 million), employ 12.2 million workers, and generate $2.7 trillion in revenue. Here are 2 first steps you can take today: 👉 Explore certification: Head to wbecnydmv.org and get certified as a woman-owned business. Certification is not just a credential—it’s an entryway into opportunities, contracts, and growth! 👉 Support other WBEs when you shop: Browse the #WomenOwned directory to find everything on your list this year: https://lnkd.in/gWC5pw6X Whatever your views on this controversial date in the calendar, let's make this one about spending mindfully and choosing to support other WBEs in the network to treat ourselves and loved ones while also uplifting the community! Join us over the next few days as we share tips for support and collaboration. Let’s make this holiday shopping season a catalyst for change. And drop your details in the comments so we can all check each others' products/ services out this weekend for #SmallBizSat! #ShopSmall

As we gather with gratitude this Thanksgiving, we celebrate the power of our WBEC Metro NY & Greater DMV network. Thank you for your contributions, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to growing opportunities for women-owned businesses. Here’s to a season of rest, reflection, and connection! #HappyThanksgiving! 🎉🍂🧡

📢 Announcing a New Chapter for WBEC Metro NY & WBEC Greater DMV! After 14 transformative years, Sandra Eberhard will step down as CEO at the end of the year, leaving behind an incredible legacy of growth, innovation, and impact on women-owned businesses across the New York, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia regions. Under her leadership, the network expanded its influence, creating an estimated 10,000 new jobs in New York alone. As we bid farewell to Sandra, we are thrilled to announce that Phala Mire will take the helm as our new President & CEO! Formerly the President & CEO of WBEC South, Phala brings over 25 years of experience as a passionate advocate and thought leader on entrepreneurship, diversity, inclusion, and women in business. Sandra leaves big shoes to fill, but Phala is more than ready for the challenge. She looks forward to continuing the legacy of empowering women entrepreneurs and fostering growth within the WBEC NY & DMV network. Let’s celebrate this new chapter together! Learn more here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eWQ2Z8UJ

"To bring a positive impact at a macro level, we all have to collaborate, innovate, co-innovate, and, most importantly, elevate. Together we win, and together we'll continue to grow, thrive and succeed in the marketplace" A huge thank you to Anjali "Ann" Ramakumaran, Founder & CEO of Ampcus Inc, for this heartfelt message and for being such a positive and inspiring member of our network. ✨ Agreed: as WBEs, we MUST stand united to simultaneously reach our potential and uplift each other. Do you want to build on this energy, meet like-minded WBEs in the DMV region, and celebrate our wins together? Join us this Thursday, November 21st at the Fairmont, DC for the WBEC Greater DMV 25th Anniversary Grand GALA-xy Luncheon to celebrate! 🌌👉 https://bit.ly/4dCRfWF And find our more about Ann and Ampcus in our interview from earlier this year. 👉 https://bit.ly/4fvybdx #PowerOfMany #WomenInBusiness #WomenLedBusiness

We're thrilled to share that Panic Panties, a NY-based WBE, has won this year's WBENC National Pitch Competition! 🏆 Panic Panties was founded by Maria-Nicole Marino, Alexandra Tartell, and Katherine Anne Koury, who developed an innovative product: individually wrapped, pre-washed, certified nontoxic panties for on-the-go use, similar to how you'd carry a tampon. This unique product is now available at 5,000 CVS Pharmacy stores nationwide. We also want to recognize the outstanding efforts of all our finalists from NY and the Greater DMV region. Each of these women-owned businesses has represented us with incredible talent and determination: 🌟 DMV Finalists Queirra Fenderson, PCC, The Ambition Studio Quinn Conyers, Speak to Society 🌟 NY Finalists Jennifer (Tishman) Willey, Wet Cement Carrie Sporer, SWAIR Linda Hamilton, Grow Profit Scale Thank you to all of our participants for your hard work and dedication. Your success uplifts not just your own businesses but also strengthens the entire ecosystem of WBEs in our region. We can't wait to see where your journey takes you next! For those interested in participating in the future, the WBENC Pitch competition is a fantastic opportunity to grow, learn, and make meaningful connections. Stay tuned for the 2025 competition and be part of this amazing journey.