|
In today's newsletter:
-
Deadline EXTENDED to submit for WBEC Florida Virtual Pitch Competition
-
Register to watch the WBEC Florida Virtual Pitch Competition live on Friday, August 15
-
Remembering Pam: Sharing memories of WBENC CEO and President Pamela Prince-Eason
-
Register to become a possible PGA Championship vendor!
-
Walmart's Annual 'Open Call' could be looking for your business!
-
Webinars on Doing Business with Orange County Public Schools
-
Entrepreneurial Women of Impact Awards applications now open
-
Sign up for our Certification 101 webinar on Thursday, August 14
| |
Regional Pitch Competition Entry Deadline is Extended
Get Your 60-Second Pitch Video in by Friday, July 25
| | |
We've heard from some of you who need just a little more time to put your videos together for the annual WBEC Florida Pitch Competition. We've extended the deadline by one week!
For those of you who've already submitted, congratulations! You could be well on your way to competing for the national grand prize of $25,000!
| | |
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:
-
New deadline! 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 25: WBEC FL submissions due
-
July 28-31: WBEC FL submissions evaluated
-
Friday, Aug. 1: WBEC FL finalists notified and announced
-
Oct. 27-28: National Semifinals
-
November 2025 (TBA): National Finals
| 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. | | |
Watch the Pitches at Our Regional Event
| | |
The WBEC Florida Regional Pitch Competition will take place on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025.
Watch the regional event live!
| | |
Remembering Pam Eason
Share Your Memories with Our Community
| | |
To pay tribute to our WBENC President and CEO Pamela Prince-Eason, who passed away suddenly this week, and help us all grieve together, we are gathering memories from members and sharing them on our WBEC Florida LinkedIn page.
Pam made such an impact on people all over the world, including here in Florida, and we want to honor her memory and legacy.
Thank you to those of you who have already sent us your memories.
If you had the opportunity to work with, meet or be inspired by Pam, we invite you to share a short memory or message (up to about 100 words). Please feel free to also share a photo of you with Pam — or a photo of yourself that we can include with your tribute.
Please send your contribution to dianesears@wbecflorida.org as soon as you can. We will post these throughout the next couple of weeks.
UPDATE: WBENC is also collecting memories about Pam on a national level. Submit your memories here.
Thank you for helping us celebrate a leader who gave so much to all of us. Your reflections will help keep her spirit alive in our community and beyond!
| |
WeIGNITE Executive Education Program
Application deadline is Monday, July 21
Are you a WBENC-Certified WBE ready to break through growth barriers and lead with intention? WeIGNITE is a highly interactive, in-person executive education experience designed to help you do exactly that.
Apply to join a select group of your WBENC sisters in Charlotte, North Carolina, from August 4-6 for this immersive program!
| | Walmart Is Looking for You | | |
Each year, Walmart’s Open Call brings the company's commitment to U.S. manufacturing to life — connecting entrepreneurs with the opportunity to scale their products and their impact.
The company has committed $350 billion in products made, grown or assembled in America by 2030, helping to support more than 750,000 U.S. jobs. Through Open Call, Walmart creates pathways for small and midsize businesses to grow while helping deliver value and choice for millions of customers.
Open Call is a chance for selected entrepreneurs to meet directly with Walmart and Sam’s Club merchants to present innovative, shelf-ready products — with the potential to secure deals that put their items on shelves in stores and online.
At the 11th annual Open Call in 2024:
- Entrepreneurs from 48 states traveled to Bentonville
- More than half received “golden ticket” deals
- For the first time, international buyers from Canada and Mexico joined — creating new export opportunities in international markets
| | |
Register for the PGA VendorMatch!
The 2026 Senior PGA Championship is coming to Bradenton next April!
The PGA of America is inviting local businesses to register for PGA VendorMatch to be considered for possible sourcing opportunities in support of this major spectator championship. Registration will open on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
PGA VendorMatch underscores the PGA of America's commitment to local economic growth, community impacts, and supplier inclusion in the host communities of its major spectator events.
Sourcing opportunities will be available in 20 categories ranging from food and beverage to cleaning services, florals, staffing, and more.
| | |
Webinars: Doing Business with OCPS
Next sessions:
- 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, July 24
- 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, August 22
| | 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
| | |
Certification 101 with WBEC Florida
Explains Ins and Outs of the Process
Next Session: 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14
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.
| | 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.
| | | | |
