We're Here for You!
Thank you to those of you who joined our WBEC Florida team recently for a virtual conversation about how Hurricanes Helene and Milton affected you, your loved ones and your businesses. We rode out the storms with you and are here to support you in any way we can. Contacting insurance companies, FEMA and the SBA for assistance can be a full-time job after a natural disaster. It
Let us know how we can help! If you can think of a way we can assist, please reply to this message.
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Here is a list of tips and resources we've compiled for you. We want to help you get the assistance you need.
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Join This WBENC Live Event
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Embarc Collective in Tampa
As a regional partner of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), we are letting you know about a WBENC Lift in the Community program coming to Tampa. "Insights Into the WBE Capital Journey" is one of several events nationwide sponsored by Fifth Third Bank. It takes place from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the Embarc Collective, 802 E. Whiting St., Tampa, FL 33602.
Hear insights into the capital journey from two WBEC Florida members: 2024 WBEC Florida WBE Star Michele Adams, CEO and President of Levy Recognition, and Misha Kuryla, Founder and Owner of Misha's Cupcakes. Other speakers include capital providers Krys Patterson, North Florida Business Banking Market Manager with Fifth Third Bank; Rohit Matur, CEO of Bridge; and Felipe McAlister, VP of Altura Capital.
In addition, network with leaders from the Pfizer procurement organization as well as other partners, WBEs and small businesses.
SCHEDULE
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9:30 AM – 11 AM ET: LIFT in the Community | Insights into the WBE Capital Journey
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11 AM – Noon: Networking Hour (Meet 1:1 with local women-owned and small businesses, capital providers, and procurement partners.
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Michele Adams
Levy Recognition
CEO & President
For more than 32 years, Michele Adams has been providing her clients with employee engagement and recognition solutions. She works with companies to reshape their cultures and implement employee engagement programs that create productive, healthy work environments.
Levy Recognition was born from Michele's dream to teach workplaces how they could and should be. She is dedicated to creating a conscious business where employees are engaged and everyone feels like a productive member of the team. She believes that all companies have the power to make an impact when they, too, focus on a higher purpose. For that reason, Michele makes it her mission to aid other companies in creating an engaged workforce.
Learn More
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Misha Kuryla
Misha’s Cupcakes
Founder & Owner
In 2005, Misha founded Misha’s Cupcakes, a women-owned and managed bakery in South Florida. What began as a humble home business has flourished into a well-known brand with six locations, including a presence at Miami International Airport. The bakery specializes in crafting cupcakes, cakes, and other baked goods.
Misha’s Cupcakes has expanded its reach by wholesaling to major retail grocers such as Whole Foods, Farm Stores, Milam’s and Walmart. The bakery also ships its treats nationwide through Goldbelly and partners with DoorDash, UberEats, and TooGood To Go for local deliveries and store pickups. In addition to these services, Misha’s Cupcakes offers corporate gifting and operates four cupcake vending machines.
Learn More
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Support Your Sister WBEC Florida Members
in the National WBENC Pitch Semi-Finals!
The time is here! The winners of the WBEC Florida Regional Pitch Competition are set to compete next week with other WBENC members across the country in the semi-finals. The event is spread over two days, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. October 28 and 29.
Join the virtual audience for the WBENCPitch AMPLIFY Semi-Finals Competition!
- For corporate Members: Gain firsthand knowledge about some of the many innovative WBEs within the WBENC Network, providing a platform to foster collaboration and explore potential partnerships.
- For WBEs: This live virtual event serves as a unique learning opportunity for you, offering valuable insights into pitch strategies and presentation techniques to refine your own pitches.
Five WBEC Florida members will be competing:
Register here to attend this two-day event!
October 28
October 29
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Nominations Open for SBA Small Business Week Awards
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has launched a call for nominations for the 2025 national and district Small Business Week Awards, including the Small Business Person of the Year. Partners, stakeholders and small businesses who know of a small business with exceptional innovation, growth, community engagement, or resilience, may put them in the spotlight by submitting a nomination.
The SBA Awards given in May 2025 will include the following:
- Small Business Person of the Year (National and District)
- Small Business Exporter (National and District)
- Minority Small Business Owner
- Veteran Small Business Owner
- Woman Small Business Owner
- Rural Small Business Owner
- Small Business Advocate of the Year
- Small Business Community Partner of the Year
To be nominated and receive one of the following awards, the nominee must fit within the category of the award, demonstrate success in business, and complete and submit the required nomination package information. Incomplete packages will not be accepted.
Visit the SBA’s dedicated website at www.sba.gov/nsbw to download forms, criteria, and guidelines for submitting a nomination. Florida nominations are being accepted in both the South Florida and North Florida Districts.
For South Florida submissions
For North Florida submissions
All nominations must be received by electronic submission no later than 4 p.m. EST on December 5, 2024.
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Miami WBEs: Message From Our Partners
at Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP)
Are you a small business owner in Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Houston, or Miami who is positively impacting your community? The Gusto Impact Awards is celebrating businesses making a real difference in your area. Share your story for a chance at up to $50,000 in prizes:
- $40,000 in local advertising, including digital and physical advertisements and a billboard.
- $10,000 cash in the form of a check to help your business grow.
- Free Gusto payroll services for a year.
Gusto will pick one winner each from Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Houston and Miami. Gusto will also give $500 Visa gift cards to 30 small businesses, making a difference in each city.
Applications close November 20, 2024.
Click here to apply.
Questions? Check out the contest FAQs.
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