Last Chance to Register for Wednesday's Event

Cracking the Code: How You Can

Stand Out as a Potential Supplier

Join WBEC FL for this In-Person Event in Tampa Bay

When: 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Where: Altruistic Academy, 1253 Park St., Clearwater, FL 33756

Cost: Complimentary. Light refreshments and beverages will be served. 

Register here

Did you know that 86% of B2B buyers don’t see any difference between vendors? Fortunately, there is a formula to impress buyers and leave a lasting impression during those networking events and sales meetings.

Our guest speaker, who is joining us from Toronto, Canada, spent 20 years buying services for giants like Pepsi, Pizza Hut, Frito-Lay, Diageo, Playtex and BIC. Now she teaches small business owners how to sell to corporations.

Here's what some participants said they learned from Chala's presentation after the Orlando session:

• Ways I can tailor my pitch to who I'm speaking with and add their context to what I say.
• Stop talking about myself and what we do, and become obsessed with a client problem.
• 3 questions to ask myself to niche down on my short pitch.
• Focus on one industry at a time as my target market.
• Take a shotgun versus cannon approach.
• I really appreciated the interactive piece! It was helpful to hear everyone's feedback.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Chala Dincoy, CEO and founder of The Repositioning Expert, is a marketing strategist who helps B2B professional service companies change their messaging to attract more corporate decision-makers. In her former life, Chala was an award-winning marketer at several major corporations for 20 years. Now she's a marketing consultant, the author of Gentle Marketing: A Gentle Way To Attract Loads Of Clients, an expert featured on major television networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, and a speaker at international industry conferences.

Special thanks to our host Christina Sisler, CEO of Altruistic Academy

Creating a Multiple 6-Figure Differentiator

to Land Larger Contracts: A Special Opportunity

WBEC FL Signature Event: Meet Corporate, Government

and Nonprofit Representatives

Join WBEC FL for a half-day in-person event for corporate and government meet-and-greet roundtables, informative panel discussions and plenty of networking with other business owners! Network and learn with organizations including CHEP, Travel + Leisure, the University of Florida and others.

When: 8:30 a.m. 1 p.m. Friday, March 21, 2025

Where: National Entrepreneur Center, 3201 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32803 (Fashion Square Mall)

Cost: $100, which includes breakfast buffet and parking.

Meet-and-Greets: Corporate and government representatives will host roundtables for three rounds. Each table will have the name of a corporation or government agency host. Timekeepers will allow 90 seconds for small business owners to make an introduction. Attendees will switch tables every 25 minutes.

Agenda: Includes a panel on Opportunities in Corporate and Government Contracting; meet-and-greet roundtable sessions; a panel on Following Up for Maximum Results; networking; and prize drawings.

Sponsorship opportunities for this event are available for as low as $500. Contact us if you want maximum exposure for your company! Sponsorships include stage time, logo on signage, and personal introductions to our partner organizations.

WBENC Women’s History Month

Kickoff and Insights Session

When: 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 3, 2025

Where: Online

Cost: None

Join WBENC for a special Women’s History Month Kickoff Session. Hear from Pamela Prince-Eason, WBENC President & CEO, and Hannah Kain, President & CEO of ALOM and Women’s Business Enterprise Forum Chair, for a fireside chat to discuss key insights, emerging trends, and the incredible contributions of women entrepreneurs and their supporters. The event will also highlight inspiring economic impact stories from entrepreneurs.

June 23-26, 2025

Improve Connections,

Improve Your Sales

Being a business owner means learning new things every day ... and sometimes getting out of your comfort zone. It's a new year and time for a new you.

Here are four things you can do to improve your connections, creativity and courage:

1. Use your leadership style to your advantage. You’ve probably taken at least one personality test that has given you insight into your particular work style. Some widely used tests include the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the DISC Assessment, StrengthsFinder, The Birkman Method and the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator. Dig out those test results and get to know yourself again. Understand what makes you tick, and then incorporate those traits into your public image. 
2. Understand your personal brand. When people see you, do they recognize you by your sense of style? Don’t be afraid to showcase a wardrobe trait such as a certain type of jewelry, a trademark color, your favorite brand of shoes or accessories in animal prints. These can be good conversation starters.
3. Get out in public – virtually. Polish your public appearance and get in front of the camera to promote your brand, product or service. You can make videos to post on your website and social media, or to send out through your newsletter. These can be stored on YouTube and you can supply the link to potential clients. 
4. Get out in public – in person. Practice, practice, practice the art of public speaking. Look for opportunities to appear in panel discussions or as a moderator or host. This will help you enlist other people who can spread the word about what you and your company are doing. 

Want to learn more? Read the other six tips from Chapter #13 in The Decision to Start: 25 Tips for a Second Career as a Woman Business Owner by our President and CEO, Nancy G. Allen. All proceeds from the book go back to WBEC Florida to support small businesses.

From Our Partners at ELLE Collective

at Seminole State College:

When: Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 | 5 to 7 p.m.

Where: Seminole State College Heathrow Campus, 1055 AAA Drive, Lake Mary, FL 32746

Cost: Free

This workshop focuses on equipping women entrepreneurs with the confidence and skills to use public speaking as a powerful tool for business growth and personal empowerment. Participants will learn strategies to overcome fear, craft compelling stories, and communicate with authenticity and authority. Through interactive exercises and expert guidance, attendees will leave prepared to captivate audiences and elevate their professional impact.

Nominate a Woman Veteran

as Entrepreneur of the Year

From Our Partners at the National Veteran-Owned Business Association

Deadline: April 1, 2025 | 5 p.m. EST

The National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA) is proud to work with our friends at WBENC to recognize the 2025 Women's Veteran’s Business Enterprises® of the Year, a prestigious honor bestowed annually to an elite selection of America’s veteran business owners working as supplier partners to NaVOBA’s Corporate Allies.

Successful awardees will be honored at the WBENC National Conference June 23-26 in New Orleans and will receive a complimentary registration to attend the conference.

Nominate Here

WBEC Florida and WBENC Anti-Discrimination Policy

As a community of entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and economic development thought leaders, WBENC and the WBEC Florida Regional Partner Organization are committed to the elimination of discrimination in all areas of business and the provision of equal opportunity when accessing capital, contracts, and contacts. In compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, we do not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status in any of our policies, procedures, or practices. This anti-discrimination policy covers admission and access to, and treatment, in all programs and activities.