In This Edition
• Doing Business With American Water
• Semi-Annual Finding Your Funding Workshop
• WBEC-East Webinars and Events
• Save the Date 2023: Desserts & More
• SBA Update and Events
• Welcome Newly Certified WBE's
• Duquesne Light Supplier Summit
• SHARE in Central PA
• 4th Annual Women Building Businesses Conference | SCORE
• The Forum Foundation Mentorship Program
• WBENC Pitch Academy
Doing Business with American Water
Tuesday, June 6th | 12:00 - 3:30 PM EST | Camden, NJ
 
Our popular procurement-focused events link women business owners, supplier diversity leaders, purchasing professionals, and community leaders to gain access to opportunities and to build social and power networks.

In the first half, you will hear directly from procurement executives in 6 departments at American Water: engineering, legal, HR, finance, supply chain, and IT. After lunch get direct facetime with decision makers during our most popular form of facilitated networking - Meet & Greets!

Schedule:
  • 11:45 am | Doors open
  • 12:00 pm | Lunch available
  • 12:30 pm | Overview of American Water procurement processes, and presentations from each of the departments
  • 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Meet & Greet Sessions: Six cycles of 15 minutes each at tables

This event will sell out soon...under 15 spots remain
Semi-Annual Workshop — Finding Your Funding
Thursday, June 22 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM EST | Virtual

Are you or someone you know just starting up their business?

This workshop will provide valuable information on how to access capital to help your business grow. A panel of experts and local lenders will discuss key insights on funding through loans, micro-loans, lines of credit, leasing, and alternative financing.
WBEC-East Webinars & Events
June 5, 12:00 - 1:30 PM

If you've always dreamed of owning your own business, or if you'd like to understand how WBEC-East can help your business grow, our free online webinar–Orientation and Business Assessment workshop–is for you!
June 20, 2:00 - 3:00 PM

Learn about Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's supplier diversity and procurement initiatives. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia wants to engage with WBE's like you to discuss potential procurement opportunities.
June 8, 2:00 - 3:00 PM

We'll show you how to gain the prestigious Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) certificate and use it to build your business.
June 23, 2:00 - 3:00 PM

Whether you’re newly certified or have been for years, we'll show you how to make the best of your certification and grow your business.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Joyce Cadesca via email at jcadesca@wbeceast.com to make arrangements.
SAVE THE DATE
2023 Desserts & More
Annual Fundraiser & Awards Celebration


Missed Desserts & More last year?

Check out the video to get a taste of what you missed in 2022 and what to expect in 2023!
SBA Update
New Development and Improvements on Loan Program Modernization to Expand Access to Capital for Small Businesses

Following the recent finalization of two new rules aimed at closing gaps in capital access for America’s small business owners, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 33 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet has announced streamlined lender procedures and other details on implementation.

Program Improvements will expand access to capital for small businesses, especially small-dollar loans, and increase protection against fraud as part of rulemaking finalized in April.
Welcome Newly Certified WBES!
Certified April 2023
• Action Supply Products, Inc.
• Bandit Solutions LLC
• Cogliano IT Staffing LLC
• Constant Results, Inc.
• ConsultUSA INC
• Ember Enterprises Inc
• FCI Multiple Services Corp.
• Hickes Associates Inc
• Holloway Media Services
• Kamini Bay Asset Management, LLC
• Katarel Management
• KRAE Consulting LLC
• Murphy Investments LLC
• Offix USA Inc.
• Parker & Parker Services, Unlimited, Inc.
• PERMEX LLC
• Pro Group Equipment LLC DBA PGE Rentals
• SB Consultants LLC
• Shainline Excavating, Inc
• Sissy Sue Consulting
• The ROZ Group, Inc.
• Thomson, Rhodes & Cowie, P.C.
Partner Updates
Duquesne Light Supplier Summit
July 20th | 8:00 AM – 1:30 PM EST |
Doubletree by Hilton Pittsburgh-Greentree

The theme of the 2023 Supplier Summit is: The Future is Now, and the Summit will feature eight breakout sessions in total, covering the topics that are most relevant to DLC as well as our suppliers. Please review the summaries of sessions 1-4 and sessions 5-8. In the RSVP, you will be asked to select one breakout from each set as part of your registration.

The Supplier Summit will include participation from DLC senior leadership, as well as a variety of subject matter experts throughout the organization. The supplier award ceremony will again be an opportunity to recognize some of the high-performing suppliers that support DLC and our customers.

Please register by June 1st. Email SupplierDiversity@duqlight.com with questions.
SHARE in Central PA
Tuesday, June 6th |
2:30 – 6:00 PM EST

Come and be a part of SHARE Central PA, an exclusive event that offers diverse suppliers the chance to connect with government agencies and corporate buyers from the entire region. Get ready to showcase your diverse supplier offerings and meet the needs of prospective clients.

In collaboration with advocacy organizations and corporate sourcing partners, SHARE Central PA recognizes the vital role a diverse vendor ecosystem plays in driving economic growth and development.
4th Annual Women Building Businesses Conference | SCORE
June 14th | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM EST | Bensalem, PA

Join speaker Tracy Davidson from Philadelphia NBC10, on June 14, 2023, from 9 am - 3 pm for SCORE Bucks County's 4th Annual Women Building Businesses Conference!
The Forum Foundation Mentorship Program
DEADLINE EXTENDED | APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL 6/12!

Applications for The Forum Foundation’s Mentorship Program for Women Entrepreneurs are due by June 12. 

The program, made possible with a grant from the Truist Foundation, will award two female entrepreneurs a year’s worth of curated mentorship around their specific goals and financial support of up to $5,000 and access to all Forum of Executive Women programming.

To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate that their business is woman-owned, identify achievable goals, and have an application that stands out to the selection committee.
WBENCPitch Academy: The Art of Storytelling
June 16 | 12:00 – 2:00 PM EST
 
Join WBENC for an enlightening session on "The Art of Storytelling," where you will learn how to transform your elevator pitches into engaging stories that leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Academy sessions are open to ALL WBENC-Certified WBEs that want to improve their business pitch and prepare to participate in the 2023 WBENCPitch Momentum competition!

The first round of WBENCPitch begins in August for WBEC-East WBE's. Finalists will go on to compete nationally to win prizes up to $50,000! Stay tuned for more information later this summer.


Funded in part through Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration