December 23, 2024

3 WBEs to Represent Our Region

on WBENC Leadership Forum

If you've been a WBENC member for any length of time, you might have heard about the WBENC Forum. This group of women business owners from all 14 regions nationwide helps guide the WBENC staff and board on issues affecting all members. Serving on the Forum is also a really cool way to receive high-level continuing education in business leadership skills and collaborate with other talented and fabulous women from all over the country. 


Three WBEs from the Florida region have been appointed to serve on the Forum starting in January. See their profiles below. We are so proud of them! Thank you, ladies, for agreeing to represent us. 


As Forum members, they vow to uphold the group's values of respect, support, engagement, community and integrity. They must maintain their WBENC certification, attend Forum meetings, stay active in the region, and participate in national WBENC events. 


Please join us in congratulating our newest WBENC Forum members! 

Ebony Smith

Founder

Ebenum Equation and Ebony Smith & Associates

Miami

Melissa Schechter

CEO

OES Global Inc.

Pompano Beach

Dhomonique Murphy

Founder & CEO

InclusiSync™ Workforce Solutions by The Right Method

Sarasota

Cracking the Code for Corporate Contracts

Join WBEC FL Special Event January 22 in Orlando

When: 1 to 3 p.m.Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2025


Where: National Entrepreneur Center (NEC), 3201 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, at Fashion Square Mall


Cost: The event and parking are complimentary. Light refreshments and beverages will be served.


Did you know that 86% of B2B buyers don’t see any difference between vendors? Did you also know that it takes only seven seconds to make a first impression? Fortunately, there is a formula to impress buyers and leave a lasting impression during those networking events and sales meetings.


Our guest speaker, who is joining us from Toronto, Canada, should know ... she has spent 20 years buying services for giants like Pepsi, Pizza Hut, Frito-Lay, Diageo, Playtex and BIC. Now she teaches small business owners how to sell to corporations.

 

In this hands-on dynamic session, you’ll:

  • Learn the top three mistakes business owners make in their pitches.
  • Find out how to choose a differentiator that will have the buyer's attention at “hello.”
  • Rewrite your pitch and try it out on the group in the session.


ABOUT THE SPEAKER



Chala Dincoy, CEO and founder of The Repositioning Expert, is a marketing strategist who helps B2B professional service companies change their messaging to attract more corporate decision-makers. In her former life, Chala was an award-winning marketer at several major corporations for 20 years. Now she's a marketing consultant, the author of Gentle Marketing: A Gentle Way To Attract Loads Of Clients, an expert featured on major television networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, and a speaker at international industry conferences.

EXTRA EVENT


Insider's Executive 

Roundtable: Creating a Multiple 6-Figure Differentiator to Land Larger Contracts

  

While she's in Florida, Chala Dincoy (above) will lead a free two-hour executive roundtable of select women business owners whose companies produce $1 million or more in annual revenues and already sell to corporations.


She will share her experience on both sides of purchasing negotiations to help participants get to the decision-makers faster. Then participants will share their stories about what worked and didn't work for them in procurement negotiations. The event is from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, at the NEC.


Space is extremely limited! Contact us by Jan. 10 for an invitation to this free event.

Register to Attend this In-Person Workshop

What Will You Accomplish in 2025?

Join Us at Noon January 17 for

a 'Manifest Your Mantra' Webinar


As we enter the new year, you might be wondering what 2025 has in store for you ... and how to approach it for the best possible results.


How about choosing a mantra? A word or phrase that holds special meaning for you will help you start the new year with intention and purpose.


Our CEO, Nancy Allen, is leading a one-hour webinar titled "Manifest Your Mantra" for members and nonmembers who want to be their best selves in 2025.


What: "Manifest Your Mantra" webinar

When: Noon Friday, January 17, 2025

Details: Free to members and nonmembers. Register for this event and we will send you the Zoom link.


Sign up now to join us online for this special event! Go ahead, you deserve it.

Sign up for the Webinar

Tip of the Week

What's Your Strategy for 2025?


If you have any downtime between now and the beginning of the new year, how about crafting the first draft of a strategic plan for your company for 2025?


Your strategic plan is the roadmap for your business. It illustrates:


  • Where you're going and how you're going to get there.
  • Overarching goals and the part your employees play in the organization's success.


An effective strategic plan should contain these elements:


  1. Vision statement
  2. Mission statement
  3. Core values
  4. SWOT analysis
  5. Long-term goals
  6. Yearly objectives
  7. Action plan


These don't have to be complicated. Just jot down some notes while you're waiting in line to purchase presents at your favorite retailer (or waiting for family members to do so), or dictate some thoughts into your phone while you're sitting in traffic on the interstate. Take a long walk the morning after that holiday dinner and think about where you want to take your company this coming year.


Then return to work invigorated and ask your team members to weigh in with their own thoughts. The key is to be intentional and make sure everyone is on board.


Happy strategic planning to you!



Want to learn more? Check out Chapter #22 in The Decision to Scale: 25 Tips for Women-Owned Businesses Looking to Grow by our President and CEO Nancy G. Allen. All proceeds from the book go back to WBEC Florida to support WBEs.

Buy the Book

Opportunities

WIPP Membership Opportunity

for WBENC-Certified WBEs


WBENC recently shared a new benefit: a discounted annual membership rate with WIPP for WBENC-certified WBEs.


WIPP, which has served as the primary advocacy partner for WBENC since its inception, is a national nonpartisan organization working on behalf of women business owners to strengthen their impact on public policy and create economic opportunities.


The discounted rate is $325 annually and will remain the same as long as you maintain your WBENC WBE certification. To register for this special rate, you need your WBENCLink System Vendor Number.

Save the Date

Join Us for the National Conference!


Mark your calendar for June 23-26, 2025, for a trip to New Orleans for the biggest WBENC event of the year! You and sister WBEC Florida members will meet more than 5,000 other attendees and get exposure to corporate representatives who are looking for potential suppliers like you.


The hotel room block hasn't opened yet, but when it does open next month, be sure to reserve a room in the host hotel because they go fast!

June 23-26, 2025

Visit the WBENC conference website

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Connect with us

Instagram  LinkedIn