In today's newsletter:

• Remembering Pam: Sharing memories of WBENC CEO and President Pamela Prince-Eason
• Enter the WBEC Florida Virtual Pitch Competition by Friday, July 18
• Register to watch the WBEC Florida Virtual Pitch Competition live
• Sign up for our Certification 101 webinar on Thursday, July 10
• Webinars on Doing Business with Orange County Public Schools
• Entrepreneurial Women of Impact Awards applications now open

Dhomonique Murphy of Sarasota (left) won one of the national competitions in 2024, presented at the national conference by WBEC Florida President and CEO Nancy Allen (center) and WBENC President and CEO Pamela Prince Eason.

Are you ready to join three other WBEC Florida members who have won the national WBENC Pitch in recent years? Start working on your pitch!

To participate, you'll need to submit a one-minute video telling the story about who you are, why you founded your company, and who you help. Only 10 applicants will be chosen to move forward to the official WBEC Florida pitch competition, where they will be required to do a 3-minute live presentation on Zoom before a panel of 5 judges. The judges will choose 4 finalists to move on to the national semifinals.

Remember, it's all about the storytelling!

Here are the deadlines and key dates:

• Friday, July 18: WBEC FL submissions due

• July 21-25: WBEC FL submissions evaluated

• Friday, July 25: Accelerate Your Story virtual training by WBENC, Noon – 2pm. Register for the WBENC Pitch Academy

• Tuesday, July 29: WBEC FL finalists notified and announced

• Friday, Aug. 8: Build Your Impact Statement virtual training by WBENC, Noon – 2pm. Register for the WBENC Pitch Academy

• Friday, Aug. 15: Live Virtual WBEC FL pitch competition. Register to attend

• Oct. 27-28: National Semifinals

• November 2025 (TBA): National Finals

Watch the Pitches at Our Regional Event

Certification 101 with WBEC Florida

Explains Ins and Outs of the Process

Next Session: 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 10

If you’re applying for certification or considering joining WBENC as a certified women’s business enterprise (WBE), this session is for you! Learn how you can become authorized to use the Women Owned logo.

WBEC Florida Certification Director Lisa Roblejo will walk you through the process of applying and help guide you on the next steps of using your credentials.

Join us on the second Thursday of each month at 2 p.m.This session is free of charge.

Sign up today! And be sure to tell your friends.



2025 Entrepreneurial Women of Impact Awards Applications Are Now Open

This distinguished award, presented by the Women Presidents Organization (WPO) and Women Elevating Women (W.E.W.)™, honors and celebrates the remarkable professional achievements and community service of entrepreneurial women of color in North America. 

Applications close August 5, 2025

Qualifications:

• CEO/President of privately held, for-profit business
• Identify as a woman of color
• Based in North America
• At least $500,000 in revenue in 2024
• Not a previous recipient of the award

Eight winners will be selected in each of 3 revenue categories:

• $500,000 to $1 million
• $1 million to $10 million
• $10 million plus

Thank You to Our Sponsors

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.