Orlando-Area Member is Among

14 Who Share National Spotlight

Representing WBENC This Year

WBEC Florida is proud to introduce our 2025 WBE Star!

Denise Merritt, founder and CEO of fractional HR services firm Merritt Business Solutions based in Apopka, becomes one of 14 remarkable women from across the country who each represent one of the 14 Regional Partner Organizations (RPOs) of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

The WBE Star Award is the nation’s top recognition for excellence among women-owned businesses. In 2025, WBENC sought to recognize and celebrate WBEs who embody the spirit of “ACCELERATE,” having pushed progress, growth and advancement for themselves, their businesses and their communities.

Guest speaker Chala Dincoy (above, at center) joined WBEC Florida staff members Diane Sears, third from right, and Gena Rider, at right, to host a roundtable with certified women business owners at the National Entrepreneur Center in Orlando. Chala also led a seminar (below, at left) on beefing up your elevator pitch, pictured with WBE LaVonna Roth from Ignite Your S.H.I.N.E.

Keynote Speaker Chala Dincoy

Leads Roundtable and Seminar

at National Entrepreneur Center

WBEC Florida's first in-person event of the year featured two sessions on how to better pitch your business to corporate representatives. The presenter was Chala Dincoy, CEO and founder of The Repositioning Expert and author of Gentle Marketing: A Gentle Way To Attract Loads of Clients. The marketing strategist from Toronto helps B2B professional service companies change their messaging to attract more corporate decision-makers. In her former life, Chala was an award-winning marketer for 20 years at several major corporations, including Pepsi, Pizza Hut, Frito-Lay, Diageo, Playtex and BIC. She has been featured on major television networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, and has appeared as a speaker at international industry conferences.

Watch this space for additional WBEC Florida events coming up!



WBENC Open House 2025: ACCELERATE Your Growth

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 | 2 to 3:30 PM ET

The WBENC Open House is returning January 29 to inspire the WBENC network to gear up for a successful 2025! WBENC will share details and key dates for new and returning opportunities including:

• WBENC National Conference
• LIFT Financial Center of Excellence
• Executive Education
• Networking Opportunities
• Outreach programming

All are welcome to attend and hear directly what WBENC has in store for WBENC-certified WBEs, small business owners, and WBENC corporate and government members!

Nominate Your Company

for Recognition as One of the

50 Fastest-Growing This Year

Deadline to apply: February 17, 2025

Honors presented: May 7-9, 2025

The Women Presidents Organization (WPO) and JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking are seeking nominees for the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies™ ranking. First launched in 2007, the annual 50 Fastest list celebrates the size and growth of women-owned or -led companies worldwide, recognizing their contributions to innovation, economic development and job creation across industries.

This year's 50 Fastest honorees will be recognized at the WPO Entrepreneurial Excellence Forum on May 7-9, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. 

To be eligible, companies must be:

• Privately owned 
• Woman-owned/led
• The business must have generated at least $500,000 USD in revenue in 2020 and every subsequent year
• Revenues must be converted to USD

All applicants will be ranked according to revenue growth from 2020 to 2024.

There is no fee to apply. Applicants and previous honorees may re-apply each year and are not required to be WPO members. 

Read the press release

Apply for the award

Intellectual Property: Patent,

Trademark and Copyright Law



Presented by SCORE of Broward County

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 | Noon to 1:30 p.m. ET

Location: Online

Cost: Free

Register here

As you grow your business, you build value in its name, logos, trademarks, and bylines. They can be as valuable as your business reputation and profit levels.

Are you in a creative business? Designers, illustrators, painters, software engineers, writers, and authors can all create works with long-lasting value. Are you an inventor? How do you establish proof of ownership of your invention?

Attend this workshop and learn:

• Whether you need protection for your intellectual property
• If so, which methods are appropriate to your situation?
• What processes are involved?
• How much you can do yourself, and at what point a lawyer might be needed?
• The timelines involved

A copy of the recording and materials will be sent to all attendees

Register here

Navigating Business Funding:

Expert Lenders Panel 

Presented by Florida SBDC at UCF

Wednesday, January 29 | 9 to 11 a.m. ET

Location: National Entrepreneur Center, 3201 E Colonial Dr,

Orlando, FL 32803

Cost: $10

Network with a diverse range of lenders ready to support your expansion plans and working capital needs. 

What to expect:

• Experienced lenders will demystify funding options, loan criteria, common challenges and required documents.
• Connect with lenders after the panel discussion to fine-tune your funding approach.
• Network with other small business owners from across Central Florida.

Register here

June 23-26, 2025

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

WBENC Anti-Discrimination Policy

As a community of entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and economic development thought leaders, WBENC is 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 regulation, 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.