2023 WBENC National Conference — Sponsor

“BMS is proud to partner with WBENC on their National Conference. We strongly believe that we need a diverse supply base to achieve our mission of helping patients prevail over serious diseases. I am pleased to be a Co-Chair and I look forward to seeing many of you in Nashville!”

ABOUT BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB

We are a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases.

ABOUT FARRYN MELTON

Farryn is the SVP, Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) for Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS). Her team is responsible for aligning with the company’s business strategy to optimize value, drive efficiency and manage the company’s 3rd party spend. With revenues in excess of $40B, her team is responsible for managing the company’s external spend of ~$12B; from early research to distribution. In addition to Global Procurement, Third Party Risk Management and Supplier Relationship Management, she is responsible for the Strategy to Contract, Travel and Fleet global process and operations. She leads a diverse team of over 400 + colleagues around the world and manages several large external partnerships.

Farryn has a 25-year career in procurement and business management, including key leadership positions with Fortune 100 companies to include Amgen, Novartis, Pfizer, Warner-Lambert, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Boeing and Rockwell International. She successfully led the transformation of several procurement organizations to become “best in class.” Ms. Melton is a lifetime certified purchasing manager (CPM) and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She has received a number of external recognitions in her field; the most recent include being inducted into the WBE Hall of Fame as 2019 Executive Award Honoree, 2019 Strategic Executive of the Year by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), Top 100 Women in Diversity in 2016 and 2017, 2016 CPO of the year from the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), 2015 National Association of Purchasing Managers Executive of the Year among many.

Farryn is active in the Procurement field, and passionate about diversity and inclusion. She serves on the executive committee for the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and on the board of Howard University Supply Chain Program. She also serves on the executive committee & board of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), and actively supports The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and Diversity Alliance for Science (DA4S). She also sits on the BMS Historically Black University (HBU) sponsorship committee; leads the Diversity & Inclusion Council for BMS Global Business Operations for and sits on the Global Diversity & Inclusion Council within BMS. She is a mentor to several colleagues (within and outside), of BMS.

“Understanding diversity and creating an inclusive culture is the foundation of our collective success. However, we believe equity is the fuel that propels these concepts into concrete actions and opportunities. Without it, DE&I efforts are not sustainable. At DuPont we extend this concept to our supply chain by providing opportunities for diverse businesses allowing us to impact communities around the globe by fostering job creation, economic growth and innovation. Being a co-chair allows us to support women-owned business by supporting WBENC, an organization focused on providing equitable opportunities to women-owned businesses. DuPont has been a member for almost 20 years and are proud to continue to support the work of WBENC by attending the conferences and supporting their programs.”

ABOUT DUPONT

At DuPont, science and engineering are the foundation of our company, and innovation is how we create long-term value for our multiple stakeholders. DuPont has been innovating around you, while continually reinventing itself to bring technology-driven solutions to our customers. Right now, we are focused on helping customers advance their best ideas and delivering specialized products and solutions to transform industries and everyday life. From helping electric cars charge faster and go farther to meeting life’s essentials for clean water, we’re around the world, working side by side with industry leaders in safety, healthcare, electronics, mobility and construction, to help you thrive today. Why wait for a better future? Invent a better now!

ABOUT MARIA PRINCE

Maria Prince, an industry leader in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I), is head of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) in DuPont’s Global Procurement. As the Global Procurement ESG Leader, Prince will oversee the company’s supplier diversity program, supplier sustainability initiatives, DEI and supply chain risk strategy for the global supply chain. Prince is an accomplished executive with more than 25 years of experience in strategic sourcing, product development, supplier diversity, and supply chain. She has worked for well-known companies, including Walmart, PepsiCo, Academy Sports & Outdoors, and LBrands. Prior to joining DuPont, Prince served as Vice President of the NMSDC Academy for the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), where she led programs for corporate members and minority-owned business enterprises (MBEs). She understands the world from an entrepreneur’s vantage point as well having been part of a business startup, raising capital and eventually selling the firm a few years ago. Prince earned a Bachelor of Science and MBA from the Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas. She has received numerous awards and has been recognized for her work developing minority and women-owned businesses. She was most recently named a top 25 Diversity Change Leader by Diversity Plus magazine. Prince has served on several non-profit boards and currently serves on the Tuck Business School Diversity Board at Dartmouth College and the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce. She is currently a member of the Chemical Industry Group with WBENC. She is a frequent guest speaker and panelist on the topics of DE&I, Supplier Diversity, and Strategic Sourcing.

“As Co-Chair EY is looking to inspire women owned businesses to think big and be bold. Through our participation at the conference, we are looking to create distinctive experiences for women-owned businesses to develop strategies and innovative solutions for EY, our clients and communities around us. We look forward to connecting at the conference.”

ABOUT LARRY PHELAN

Authentic, inclusive and inspirational business enablement leader. Focused on innovation. Keen supporter of diverse teams and suppliers. Sports, theater and opera enthusiast. Loving husband and father.

An experienced transaction advisor and professional services consultant, Larry is the Chief Supply Chain Officer for EY. In this role, he connects EY people to leading services and suppliers, and inspires his team by driving operational excellence to help influence the world’s supply chain and differentiate EY in the market.

Prior to joining EY, he served as Deputy Global Chief Information Officer for a large professional services organization.

Larry is a member of multiple procurement professional organizations, including the CPO 50, and has received numerous recognitions, including the 2011 EY Chairman Value Award and the 2022 ProcureCon EPIC CPO Innovation Award. In 2021, he ranked 15th among the Top 100 Supply Chain Leaders, and he was also a finalist for the World Procurement Leader Award in 2016, 2017 and 2022Most recently Larry was ranked #7 of the top 100 Leaders in Procurement.

Larry is a champion of diverse and inclusive teams and suppliers and has been presented with several awards for his work in this area, including the WBENC Platinum Award for his support of women-owned businesses.

ABOUT EY

EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

“Nissan is honored to be a Co-Chair for 2023 National WBENC. This conference is an important gathering of members to exchange ideas and have discussions about programs, resources and initiatives that will continue to support and champion women entrepreneurs. We believe that partnering with female-owned businesses provides new ideas and experiences, which is core to Nissan’s Supplier Diversity strategy. We value our collaboration and connection with other companies to be a change agent for expanding opportunities for women entrepreneurs. And, we encourage all to join us for the WBENC National Conference as we reinforce our commitment to building impactful relationships between corporations and women businesses.”

ABOUT NISSAN

Nissan is a global automotive manufacturer dedicated to driving innovation to enrich people’s lives. In the U.S., Nissan’s operations include more than 21,000 employees who work in automotive design, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is in the midst of a global transformation, changing its business, products and culture to build a quality, sustainable business for employees, dealers, suppliers and customers. For more information, visit NissanUSA.com.

ABOUT CHANDRA VASSER

Chandra Vasser is vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officer, Nissan Americas. She was appointed to this position in November 2021. In this role, Vasser is responsible for leading efforts to develop a culture where all employees can be productive, respected and feel safe in their work environments. Vasser drives Nissan’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategies, while developing partnerships and plans to share the company’s DEI commitment with employees, customers and the community. Vasser is also President of the Nissan Foundation, which annually awards grants to nonprofit organizations in support of innovative programming that breaks down societal barriers and builds inclusive communities. Vasser began her career with Nissan in 2004 and has since served in a wide range of leadership roles. Most recently, she was director of Finance, overseeing activities in the marketing & sales, aftersales, sales audit and cost of quality areas. Prior to that, Vasser served in multiple director of finance roles, leading activities for NMAC, remarketing and purchasing. She was also director of purchasing, services & support and administration which included leadership of supplier diversity. A certified public accountant, Vasser holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Tennessee State University and a master’s in business administration from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management.

“Ampcus Group is thrilled to be this year’s Co-Chair for the WBENC National Conference. For more than 25 years, WBENC continues to bring positive impact by hosting educational sessions and networking opportunities with members of Corporate America, government agencies, non-profits, and WBEs. We truly value, appreciate and respect WBENC and the WBENC Family. I encourage each of you to join in the celebration and take the opportunity to reconnect, expand your network, exchange ideas, and actively seek opportunities to work with each other. I look forward to meeting each one of you in Nashville, TN. #Momentum #Celebration.”

ABOUT AMPCUS Inc.

Ampcus is a global Business, Technology consulting and a staff augmentation firm headquartered in Chantilly VA 25 miles west of Washington DC ,with 16 customer support offices in the US ,global delivery centers, innovation labs and a workforce of over 2200 employees Ampcus and Ampcus owned subsidiaries continue to bring positive impact in the lives of over 80 of the fortune 100/1000 companies, agencies and non profits. We provide innovative, cost effective quality and sustainable solutions and services with focus on Intelligent Automation, Cybersecurity & Risk Management, Infrastructure Modernization, Testing and Staffing services.

ABOUT ANN RAMAKUMARAN

Ann Ramakumaran is the Founder and CEO of Ampcus Inc. Ann is a technology-savvy entrepreneur with more than 20 years of design, development and delivery of innovative and leading-edge Technology Solutions and Human Capital Management across the globe. Under her leadership, she has cultivated Ampcus and Ampcus group of companies into a fast-growing Consulting and Professional Services organization. For eleven consecutive years she has been recognized as a top Asian American owned business by USPAACC and for over twelve consecutive years has been honored as one of the 50 Fastest Growing Women Owned and Women Led Business in the CONUS by the Women Presidents Organization. Under Ann’s leadership, Ampcus has made the Inc. 500/5000 list and has been recognized as a Top Diversity Business. Ann was also awarded Women in Technology Entrepreneur of the Year by WIT and most recently was inducted into the Women’s Business Enterprise Hall of Fame and Capital Region’s Hall of Fame. Ann has also received the Chairman’s Award for Inspirational Leadership from CRMSDC and the President’s Award from WPEO, the Global Growth Award from Astra Women’s Business Alliance, Supplier of the Year Award from GMSDC, Top Asian American Business Award from USPAACC-SE and USPAACC-SW, CRMSDC Supplier of the Year, NMSDC Supplier of the Year and NMSDC MBE of the Year, MBDA Minority Business Enterprise of the Year . In 2019, Ampcus became part of the NMSDC’S elite Corporate Plus Program.

Ann serves on the National Board of WBENC, Board of Greater Washington Partnership CRMSDC Board, WBEC DMV/NY Board, CWE Board, USPAACC Scholarship Committee. She has been a speaker at numerous National and Local Procurement and Diversity and Technology Conferences. In addition, Ann has mentored several women and minority start up’s in an effort to help them grow their business. Ann holds her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business and Commercial Management from India and has completed Executive Management from the Robins School of Business, University of Richmond Virginia and an Advance Management from the Kellogg School of Management Northwestern University Illinois.

“Serving as Co-Chair at WBENC 2023 is an easy decision because it’s the ‘only’ decision! Supporting women to grow businesses and ourselves while enabling customers to receive the best innovative, quality solutions available – Done!”

ABOUT THE ACTONE GROUP

ActOne Group’s mission is to become the business community’s global partner in providing forward-thinking talent and resource-management solutions. By leveraging the expertise of the various companies of the ActOne Group, our clients can access the powerful potential of today’s diverse global workforce.

ABOUT JANICE BRYANT HOWROYD

Janice Bryant Howroyd, fondly known as JBH, is the first African American woman to found and build a multi-billion dollar company. ActOne Group, a $3.4 billion (USD) workforce solutions organization, operates in over 32 countries, engaging some of the world’s best technologies and systems to support organizations of all sizes and provide jobs and careers for millions of workers across the globe. She leads from a culture of humanity, discipline, and excellence instilled by her parents and uses her presence as a connector of humanity, saying, “Never compromise who you are personally to become who you wish to be professionally!”

“As the CEO of CSS, one of the first WBENC-Certified WBEs, I understand the value and impact of what this vibrant organization can do. We support the WBENC mission to fuel the economic growth of women-owned businesses. As a result of WBENC efforts, we have grown CSS into the best-in-class leader in our industry that we are today. Each year this dynamic and diverse network comes together to fuel economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs. The WBENC National Conference is the largest event of its kind connecting women business owners with corporate executives. I never miss a WBENC National Conference because I have personally experienced meeting contacts there to help grow our business. I look forward to seeing you in Nashville.”

ABOUT CSS BUILDING SERVICES

CSS Building Services is one of WBENC’s original certified women-owned companies. Over the years, CSS, staffed by experts, has grown into a best-in-class leader in janitorial and business services utilizing environmentally conscious and safe cleaning solutions. We are a Tier 1 provider to corporations, airports, and other business entities. Building Services we provide include; janitorial cleaning, controlled environment cleaning, construction clean-up, flood, fire and mold remediation and restoration, and terrazzo flooring installation and restoration and other services.

CSS as a Tier 1 solution and a certified woman-owned business, provides value-added services for its clients and contributes to the economic health and well-being of the communities in which it operates.

ABOUT BERNADETTE MILITO

Bernadette Milito is the CEO of CSS Building Services. Ms. Milito began her career in Janitorial services in the 1970’s, working diligently to learn all aspects of the business. When Bernadette began her business career, not many women were in janitorial services, as it was known as a traditionally male-dominated field. Through hard work, drive and determination, she has proven herself in the industry. Bernadette is a proud member of WBENC and has been certified since 2000. The company started with small commercial accounts and soon expanded to included large commercial accounts, pharmaceutical companies, industrial and municipal work. The latest venture has been airports, terrazzo flooring as well as remediation services. Bernadette has been able to obtain such accounts because of her application of rigid quality control standards and procedures. Customer satisfaction is her main goal.

Bernadette also takes pride that CSS Building Services, Inc. is able to help economically disadvantaged communities by providing jobs. Because no experience is needed and training is provided, CSS Building Services, Inc. is able to employ those who might otherwise have difficulty finding jobs. The contracts that CSS obtains are always ongoing and the employees are always kept working. She believes that through training, motivation and rewarding employees, the company will continue to grow and develop in a positive direction.

“At the 2022 National Conference in Atlanta, I was reminded of the value and the energy of our WBENC network. I knew that making the commitment to co-chair the 2023 Conference would allow us the opportunity to not only benefit from, but contribute to, the power of this event on a larger scale. The WBENC National Conference is a tremendous opportunity to connect and learn from one of the most engaging and diverse groups you can find.”

ABOUT M. DAVIS

M. Davis is a 5th generation industrial construction company that is leading the way as a new breed of industrial provider for global corporations, regional leaders and government agencies.

With a focus on safety and quality workmanship, our complete construction, fabrication and maintenance capabilities produce customized, turnkey solutions for mechanical, electrical and control systems. Our comprehensive engineering and technology solutions ensure quality, enhance output and achieve efficiencies. M. Davis is headquartered in Delaware with additional manufacturing plants in the Mid-Atlantic region, that allow for global reach in fabrication and manufacturing.

ABOUT PEGGY DEL FABBRO

After over 20 years of leadership positions with M. Davis & Sons, Inc., Peggy Del Fabbro assumed the role of CEO in 2008. She is the 5th generation of the Davis family to lead M. Davis, which is now in its 153rd year in business. Peggy works to distinguish the construction company in the marketplace through an unwavering commitment to safety and quality, and through a forward-thinking approach to sustainability and the future of construction.

In 2009 Peggy made the decision to pursue certification as a Woman Owned Business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) to set her company apart from other contractors. Peggy promotes diversity by participating in a wide variety of roles in support of WBENC, most recently as Chair of the Women’s Enterprise Forum for WBENC. She has been recognized on the regional and national level as a leader in the women owned business community.

Peggy currently serves on the Board of Directors for the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) Delaware Valley Chapter, The Brandywine Valley SPCA Advisory Board, and the Board of Directors for the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

ABOUT TARA ABRAHAM AND ACCEL INC.

Tara Marling Abraham is an Independent Board Director, Founder, Chairwoman and CEO with consumer-packaged goods, ecommerce, manufacturing and specialty retail expertise. She is a growth driver and has strategic, branding and operating expertise founding a premier contract manufacturing and assembly company specializing in meeting the demanding standards of Fortune 500 clients. Her client list includes industry leaders such as Bath & Body Works, Victoria’s Secret, Kellogg’s, Dr. Pepper, and Honeywell. Tara is also co-owner of LGS Staffing, a highly successful temporary staffing agency located in Columbus, OH.

Over the past ten years, Tara has gained extensive experience as an Independent Board Director. She serves at People’s Bancorp Inc., and is on the Audit, Risk, Trust and Foundation Committees. She is a long term, dedicated advocate of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), serving as Chair of the Leadership Forum. She leverages her enthusiasm, outgoing personality and network to create community and is active as a Board Member of the American Heart Association, United Way of Central Ohio, Ohio Health’s Kobacker Hospice and New Albany Chamber of Commerce.

Tara’s executive experience includes 25 years of general management, branding, strategy, business development, manufacturing and operations leadership. She is an award-winning entrepreneur and global role model for women, specializing in accelerating supplier diversity.

Tara earned a bachelor of science degree in Fashion Merchandising with an emphasis in Marketing from The Ohio State University. She is a continuos learner with executive education completed at Kellogg’s School of Management, Harvard University, Carnegie Mellon and The Ohio State University.

As an independent director, Tara’s role is to advise public, private and family-held companies on how to further grow and sustain profitable businesses by creating innovative ways to build brands, consistently incorporating values and culture. Her goal is to guide business and teams in developing a deep understanding of market needs and how to create a competitive advantage to achieve profitable growth and sustainable success.

“I am honored to be a part of this year’s Host Committee. The WBENC Annual Conferences have always proven to be educational, fun and provide excellent and fruitful networking opportunities. As a WBE corporation, the support, energy and connections you receive during this conference are invaluable and last a lifetime. This years momentous conference will prove to be a springboard for our company’s continued growth for years to come.”

ABOUT ARGENT TAPE AND LABEL

Argent International is a well-known and respected leader in custom die-cut solutions. Through a wide variety of converting technologies, we offer a great diversity of products ranging from simple die cut tapes, seals and gaskets, to fully assembled sub-components. Our commitment to manufacture products of the highest quality has been fundamental to our success. We utilize over 250 different raw materials for attachment, buzz, squeak & rattle / NVH, EMI shielding, fastening, gasketing & sealing, labeling, printing & identification, masking, safety, surface protection, wind noise/sound dampening, and much more!

Argent Tape & Label, Inc. is an award-winning company and 3M Preferred Converter. At Argent Tape & Label, we excel at helping our customers succeed and solving your complex challenges. We work with our customers to provide the most effective and cost-efficient products that are custom designed to meet your specific needs.

ABOUT LYNN PERETIC

Lynn Perenic started her career as a teacher in the Hazel Park School District; where she taught elementary and special education high school for 20 years. She holds a B.S.Ed. and MAT. In 2010, Lynn took over Argent Tape and Label, and hit the ground running. At that point the business had been mismanaged and was on the verge of collapse. Lynn attended many business seminars, took classes, and read a mountain of books to help guide her in resurrecting ATL. She decided the only sensible way to run a business was to “Open the Books”. Using The Great Game of Business as a model, the company is once again a profitable organization. ATL has since had astonishing growth and produces for automotive, health, food and beverage markets, and more. Employees are engaged in all aspects of the company, including business planning.

Argent Tape and Label has won many awards since the acquisition in 2010, listing among them are top 50 Businesses to watch in MI, The All Star Award (2x) for being the best of the best in businesses practicing Open Book Management, Crain’s Cool Places to Work and was a finalist in the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of The Year award. Lynn’s persistence and dedication to excellence has ATL poised for continued success for many years to come.

In 2020, Lynn became President and CEO of Argent International, a premier die-cutting and converting automotive supplier. Lynn’s strategy for Argent International is in line with the path for ATL which has proven successful. Her teams are poised for long-term growth and diversification into additional verticals over the next 5 years.

“I am thrilled and honored to serve on the 2023 WBENC national Conference Host Committee. alongside such amazing WBEs and WBENC staff. The opportunity to give back and share Bocci’s success emulates what we believe – the power of sustainability in action, inclusion and diversity drives positive change. We are WBENC. Bocci Develops Solutions That Pay For Themselves^SM”

ABOUT BOCCI ENGINEERING

Bocci is a multi-disciplinary engineering & construction services firm supplying premier technical services nationally since 2002. We deliver safe, sustainable, responsive & cost-effective projects measurable Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) results. Bocci’s operations-first perspective drives innovation. Our passion for optimization monetizes improving reliability, reducing impact on the environment, and removing constraints in production.

Bocci specializes in infrastructure and facility utility systems that consume or produce energy, water, thermal liquids & compressed gases. With decades of renewable energy and resiliency experience our Sustainable Solutions Pay For Themselves^SM.

Our services include project owners engineering & oversight, design development, project management, forensics, commissioning, renewable energy, self-generation & energy efficiency technology development, quality inspection, studies & audits; ISO 14001, ASHRAE energy level I, II, & III, tax predominant use, arc flash, power quality, SKM & ETAP fault current & coordination, Reliability, Availability & Maintainability (RAM), production optimization.

Bocci’s continuous improvement process aligns Design, Health, Safety, Environmental and Economic results. We drive value through sustainability in performance averaging average 24% ROI. Our subject matter experts leverage cross- industry experience, current tax, utility, environmental and economic drivers. Our solutions monetize reducing risks in design, construction, operations & maintenance.

“To me, the WBENC National Conference provides the opportunity to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, to strengthen relationships with current clients and to meet new ones. What I love about the WBENC network is the camaraderie we share and the opportunity to open doors for each other.”

ABOUT CQ FLUENCY

CQ fluency partners with the world’s leading healthcare organizations to supply translation and communication solutions in over 170 languages. We are on a mission to improve lives by leveraging our Cultural Intelligence (CQ) to cultivate real human connections that ultimately improve health outcomes.

ABOUT ELISABETE MIRANDA

Elisabete Miranda is the founder, president and CEO of CQ fluency, a global language services company focusing on healthcare and life sciences. Elisabete is responsible for taking CQ fluency from a 2-person shop in Hackensack, New Jersey to an international company with 200+ staff members with presence in several states in the U.S. as well as Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Peru, the Philippines, Spain and the United Kingdom. 

 Under Elisabete’s guiding principles, superior leadership, and a philosophy of continuous development, CQ fluency has built exceptional client partnerships with organizations focusing on multicultural markets from all over the globe, including Fortune 500 companies such as Abbott, AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cigna, CVS Health, Dexcom, Elevance, Merck, MetLife, Novartis, Pfizer, and many more. Elisabete is responsible for developing CQ fluency into a purpose-driven company with a mission to improve lives and cultivates a phenomenal people-centric culture. CQ fluency has been a certified Minority and Woman-owned business since 2009, expanded globally in 2018, and has been included in the Inc. 5000 ‘Fastest Growing Companies in America’ list for nine consecutive years.  CQ fluency was just named “2022 Supplier of the Year” by Diversity Alliance for Science and “Supplier of the Year” by the New York and New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council. 

“WBENC is why our company CEO Success Community is in business. We gained access to corporations that hired us and certified women business owners (WBEs) that needed our training on how to secure corporate contracts to grow their businesses. It is my honor to pay it back as a proud member of the 2023 Host Committee.”

ABOUT CEO SUCCESS COMMUNITY

CEO Success Community is the source for Women & Diversity Owned Businesses seeking corporate contracts with Fortune 500 Companies. Our mission is to show CEOs the fastest path to increased revenue and growth. We are a membership community comprised of like-minded CEOs who support and empower personal and professional growth to achieve phenomenal results.

We offer Business Workshops based on years of both winning and procuring multi-million dollar contracts with the largest corporations in America. Our workshops include Get To the Buyer, RFP To The Win, Business Innovation, Sales Accelerator, Conference Maximizer, Business Succession Planning and More.

Our clients include SCE, PG&E, CDW, WBENC, WBEC-West, WBEC-Pacific, NAWBO, and thousands of diversity CEOs.

ABOUT MARIANNE ELLIS

Marianne Ellis knows what it takes to close a deal. With 25 years as a recognized leader in advertising, marketing, business coaching, and business development, she has worked on both the buy-side and sell-side of corporate contracting. As CEO & Co-Founder of CEO Success Community, a division of VEO Group, Marianne is a passionate advocate for the success of her clients that are seeking to close Fortune 500 contracts. Her mission is to show CEOs the fastest path to increased revenue and growth. Her results can be measured in hard dollars—as an example, she led companies to close more than $100 million in new deals in less than eighteen months.

But more than that, she has provided inspirational, real-world counsel to thousands of CEOs of women and diversity-owned businesses. Core to her practice is a powerful combination of deep consulting and corporate experience, a proprietary set of business planning and growth methodologies, along with an uncanny instinct to know how to make things happen. She is an Amazon #1 Best Selling Author, a Member of the Television Academy—annually attending the Emmy’s, Two-Time Winner WBE Advocate of the Year, Community Impact Award, LA Times Inspirational Woman Nominee, and sought-after speaker.  Proud graduate of UCLA Anderson MDE, YCombinator-Silicon Valley, UCLA BA.

“It is my firm belief that women bring an extraordinary level of passion, purpose, and an unique style of leadership that separate itself from business as usual. It is my honor to serve on the WBENC host committee as a way to encourage and empower women entrepreneurs.”

ABOUT DEVMAR PRODUCTS, LLC

At DevMar, we are part of the solution as we offer a vast array of cleaning and safety products designed to keep workplaces and spaces healthy while creating a safer environment. Our vision is to become a world leader in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of our specialty products. Our approach to business is guided by the following principles; leadership, transparency, integrity, environmental stewardship, and continuous improvement.

ABOUT SHARON W. REYNOLDS

Sharon Reynolds is the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of DevMar Products, a nationally recognized name centered on unique product innovations. After a stellar 20-year career in the banking and real estate industries, Reynolds launched DevMar in 2007. Since its founding, DevMar Manufacturing and DevMar Global Healthcare Solutions was formed. Each of these companies was launched to address sanitation and health issues across all industries.

As a result, DevMar has opted out of developing products that contain harsh or toxic chemicals that may harm the planet and consumers; and instead, chose to develop environmentally conscience solutions.

A market disrupter and change-maker, Reynolds has grown her companies to be leaders in pathogen remediation to sustain the planet for future generations with global impact while educating clients and suppliers on topics surrounding healthy workplace initiatives.

In 2012, Reynolds was the first woman-owned company to secure a multi-year prime chemical contract with the Nashville International Airport in its 75-year history.

Reynolds earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with a focus on Green & Sustainable Enterprise Management and later earned an Executive MBA from Tennessee State University. She pays tribute to numerous mentors for her success and has completed the Executive program at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth University and was inducted into the Sigma Nu Tau Entrepreneurship Honor Society, recognized for possessing high ethical standards exhibiting honor and integrity, and for demonstrating a strong entrepreneurial spirit.

As a way of giving back, Reynolds dedicates countless hours to empowering other minority and women-owned entrepreneurs through mentoring and service in various organizations that are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion, such as the Women Business Collaborative (WBC), the Women Business Enterprise National Council, and the Women Business Enterprise Council South (WBEC-South) where she serves as Board Directors for all three organizations.

“I believe in supporting women owned business and giving back to an organization that has supported me over the years on a local and national level. I have made so many good friends both wbe and corporate through GWBC and WBENC. One that means so much to me is Bev Gray. When our industry was hit so hard due to Covid, she was there for me and I was there for her. Her friendship and knowledge was so helpful dealing with things we had never dealt with before in our lives. This is due to meeting each other years ago at a WBENC Conference!”

ABOUT EXHIBITS SOUTH

Exhibits South is a turn-key provider for trade show environments that include design and fabrication of custom exhibits, we represent manufactures of portable and modular exhibits, production of larger format digital graphics and management of trade show programs that include all services, logistics, and warehousing along with maintaining customers exhibit properties.

ABOUT MARLENE KELLY

Marlene Kelly is the President and CEO of Exhibits South Corporation. Exhibits South is 100% woman owned and operated company certified by the Women’s Business Enterprises National Council and was established in 1983 as a full service design, development firm specializing in creative marketing and sales environments, primarily trade show exhibits, interiors and museums.

Marlene began her career in 1972 working straight out of high school for American National Bank in Chattanooga, TN. It was great experience, her management team was excellent and under their leadership she gained tremendous knowledge about the banking industry, and most of all the importance of customer service. It inspired her to continue her education in accounting at the University of Memphis and Oklahoma State. In 1976 her family was transferred to Memphis where she continued to work in the banking industry. Her family was transferred again in 1983 to Tulsa, Oklahoma; this gave Marlene the opportunity to work in Oil and Gas accounting. She worked for Continental Natural Gas until 1990 and then her family was transferred to Atlanta, GA. She began working with Exhibits South in 1992. In 2005 Marlene became the controlling interest owner of Exhibits South and presently serves as President and CEO.

In past years Marlene has served on several boards that include GWBC, Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta. Currently she serves on the Gwinnett County Salvation Army Advisory Board.

Marlene is a wife, mother to two daughters Stacey Dickinson and Nikki Holliday who are co-owners of Exhibits South. and most of all a grandmother to four awesome grandchildren.

“‘Without action, it’s just words.’ Simon Sinek. Leaders that invest in their stakeholders as well as themselves build better companies. Attending the WBENC conference is an investment in the well-being of the company and all of its stakeholders. Action means showing up and participating!”

ABOUT FLEXABILITY, LLC

Flexability is an equity and inclusion firm that helps its clients build leaders with high performing teams. Our mission is equity at work. We are woman, LGBTQ+, and disability owned. We strategically equip clients to close employment gaps and teach equity and inclusion competency, and humility with specialized assessments, professional development, and management consulting. Flexability is a BCorps, recognized for three consecutive years as a “Best for the World – Governance” by B Labs. In 2022, INC magazine recognized Flexability as Best in Business – Management Consulting.

ABOUT NANCY GEENEN

Nancy J. Geenen, is the Visionary and CEO of Flexability, recognized for three consecutive years as a “Best for the World – Governance” by B Labs. In 2022, INC magazine recognized Flexability as Best in Business – Management Consulting. Nancy drives the culture and strategy of this social impact workplace consulting firm, building high performance teams through diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. She believes that company culture drives growth and profitability. Nancy is known for her ability to simplify the complex in her strategy and scenario planning work, skills that served her well in managing risk in “bet the company” trials. Nancy leads by example with an exploratory mindset that creates opportunity for idea exchange and development of best practices in ESG, CSR, and DEI. As a business leader, Nancy brings process and governance to every organization with which she works. She is often one of the first independent board members in privately held companies, with expertise in governance, compensation, and cybersecurity.

“It is truly an honor to serve as a committee host for this year’s WBE Momentum National Conference. Each year, the event offers a terrific opportunity to connect with other women business leaders and entrepreneurs from across a variety of industries, build relationships that help to fuel our continued personal growth, and together, celebrate our collective successes.”

ABOUT HOLMAN

Holman is a global automotive leader that serves both commercial and consumer clients The Holman Way by always doing the right thing for our people, our customers, and the community since 1924. The Holman story began nearly a century ago as a single Ford dealership in New Jersey. Today, Holman, headquartered in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, is one of the largest family-owned automotive service organizations in North America with more than 6,500 employees across North America, the UK, and Germany. Guided by its deeply rooted core values and principles, Holman is continuously Driving What’s Right.

Holman delivers a unique range of automotive-centric services including industry-leading fleet management and leasing; vehicle fabrication and upfitting; component manufacturing and productivity solutions; powertrain distribution and logistics services; commercial and personal insurance and risk management; and retail automotive sales as one of the largest privately owned dealership groups in the United States.

ABOUT MELINDA “MINDY” HOLMAN

Melinda “Mindy” Holman represents the third generation of Holman leadership at this family-owned and operated global automotive services company. As Board Chair, Mindy ensures the company continues to uphold the values established by her grandfather, who founded the company in 1924, as well as her father before her. She also steers the Board in setting growth and development strategies that will strengthen the company for generations to come. Mindy joined the Holman organization in 1986 as a management trainee and then served in various capacities in our dealerships, up to and including General Manager, before becoming Vice President of Holman in 1994. She later served as President and then Chief Executive Officer of Holman before becoming the Board Chair in 2015. The Holman organization is especially committed to supporting community organizations, both financially and through personal involvement. In this way also, Mindy leads by example. Her current board affiliations include The Community Foundation of South Jersey, The United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern NJ, and Urban Promise International, where she serves as board Chair.

“The WBENC National Conference has provided our firm priceless opportunities to introduce our capabilities to their corporate partners and develop relationships with other women business owners. The more involved you are at their events, the more insight and opportunities open up to scale your business. We are investing and serving as a Host to ensure other women business owners have access to these same opportunities and growth outcomes.”

ABOUT KELLYMITCHELL

Connecting People with Opportunities and Clients with Success — KellyMitchell is an award-winning IT staffing firm, dedicated to providing unmatched value and quality resources for technical talent and teams nationwide.

We’re experts in IT staffing and IT Project services, specializing in the capability to fulfill needs for emerging and high demand skills including: IT Application Development, Product Strategy & Development, IT Infrastructure & Cloud Services, Digital Transformation, Data Analytics, and Enterprise Project Leadership.

Headquartered in St. Louis, MO with 17 hubs across the country, KellyMitchell partners with a diverse group of organizations and employs hundreds of the industry’s top IT professionals.

ABOUT CASSANDRA SANFORD

Cassandra Sanford, CEO and co-founder of KellyMitchell, is responsible for talent experts who enable Fortune 100 Clients to achieve their IT, Business and Financial goals by providing a flexible and skilled workforce. Started in 1998, by previous Boeing employees, KellyMitchell has partnered with many Fortune 100 and 500 companies servicing their technology and professional staffing needs on a national level, in all major geographical markets, across all industries. Cassandra has grown KellyMitchell from 3 employees to over 2000; from a local St. Louis company to a national organization with 18 offices throughout the U.S.

WBENC-Certified and a Committee of 200 and YPO member, Cassandra makes a practice of mentoring other women and giving back to her community. She serves on various local, regional, and national boards including Busey Bank, Mercy Hospital, Regional Business Council, the United Way, The Magic House Children’s Museum, Visitation Academy and the Women’s Business Development Center of Chicago.

KellyMitchell has been highlighted as one of the fastest growing firms in the nation multiple times by Inc 5000 and Women’s President Organization & American ExpressOpen. Additionally, Cassandra has been honored to be the recipient of many awards including Entrepreneur of the Year by the WBDC of Chicago, Enterprising Woman of the Year by Enterprising Women Magazine, Most Influential Business Woman by the St. Louis Business Journal, Star of the Year by Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), WBE Hall of Fame Honoree by the American Institute of Diversity and Commerce, and the Dorothy B. Brothers Executive Scholarship Awardee by WBENC and Bank of America where she attended Harvard Business School’s Women Leading Business program.

Cassandra is a graduate of St. Louis University. She holds a B.A. in Political Science, a J.D. in Law, and she is a licensed attorney by the Missouri Bar Association.

“I am honored for the opportunity to serve as a member of the host committee. I look forward to the WBENC conference annually because it offers me an opportunity to engage with my network. I would encourage others to attend to develop deep meaningful relationships and strategic partnerships.”

ABOUT LEVY RECOGNITION

Levy Recognition provides an Employee Recognition Solution built for People Centric organizations. It allows clients to Elevate their employee experience by aligning their company goals and values to recognition. Levy offers HR teams, leaders, and managers the ability to analyze employee engagement, facilitate feedback, appreciate and reward, all the while developing their people. Their ecognition programs are uniquely designed to overcome the typical HR challenges by providing leaders with the tools to drive employee engagement and drive business results. Levy is transforming the way companies engage, develop and retain their top talent.

ABOUT MICHELE ADAMS

Michele Adams is the president and CEO of Levy Recognition. For more than 40 years, she has been providing her clients with employee engagement and recognition solutions. She works with companies to reshape their workplace cultures and implement engaging programming that creates productive, healthy work environments.
As a certified woman-owned company, Levy Recognition was born from Michele’s dream to teach workplaces about the effects of a positive workplace culture. As company owner, Michele is dedicated to creating a conscious business where employees are engaged, and everyone feels like a productive member of the team. It is her passion to create meaningful purpose and foster a workplace environment where her employees feel valued, enjoy open collaboration, and communicate freely. She believes that all companies have the power to make an impact when they, too, focus on a higher purpose. It is for that reason Michele makes it her mission to aid other companies in creating their own engaged workforce.

Michele has worked to continuously improve and expand Levy’s operations, streamlining the production facility and warehouse, upgrading manufacturing equipment and business technology, and has expanded Levy’s market to serve large corporations. During the pandemic, Michele invested in new ERP technology, heading Levy’s digital transformation. Today, Michele leads with a steadfast commitment to sustainability and purposeful growth.
Michele is a passionate business leader and mentor for women. She was a recipient of the 2020 Enterprising Women of the Year Champions Award from Enterprising Women Magazine—a prestigious award among top female business owners.

Michele lives in Tampa, FL and is a proud member of the National Women’s Business Enterprise (WBENC), The Incentive Professionals, is the board Vice Chair of the American Breast Cancer Foundation and Chair of WBENC Forum Engagement team.

“WBENC has provided both contacts for contracts and educational opportunities that have helped me to be a better leader. If you show up WBENC will have an impact on your business and your life.”

ABOUT PRIVATE EYES

Since 1999 we have been making a safe workplace possible by providing high quality background checks to our clients across the globe fast! Know who you are hiring! With our customized PEEK Platform software, our easy to use technology makes the process efficient and seamless for the end users. Contact us today for background checks, employment verifications, income verifications, drug testing and all your background screening needs!

ABOUT SANDRA JAMES

For over 23 years we have provided our clients with quality background checks so that they can hire the best people fast! I have founded several companies over the last three decades, sold one and started Private Eyes! I have become an expert at business and continue to drive growth and quality so that we can save our clients hundreds of thousands of dollars year over year by providing consistent service to them. This in turn reduces workers comp cases, workplace violence cases, and improves employee retention. Providing this level of service has made Private Eyes a sustainable innovative company!

“It is an honor to serve on this inaugural host committee of representatives from all 14 RPOs!  WBENC National Conference is the perfect place to expand your network! You will be provided connection opportunities with fellow entrepreneurs and supplier diversity professionals from some of America’s most prestigious brands at a level rarely seen at a conference!  The relationships I’ve developed at these conferences, both professional and personal, have helped me to grow professionally and personally.”

About Personalized Payroll Services

Personalized Payroll specializes in easy and affordable payroll solutions to include payroll, payroll tax and HR services primarily serving the WBE/MBE companies.  PPS allows business owners to focus on their business and their team while PPS ensures their employees and taxes are paid accurately and on schedule.  PPS keeps up with regulatory changes as well as changes to wage and tax laws that affect their business. We provide a personalized approach to payroll and HR services that is unmatched in the industry.  This allows us to offer customized solutions to our clients by partnering with systems and services our clients need as they grow their business.

About Kathleen Hunt

Kathleen Hunt is President of Personalized Payroll Services, Inc. Kathleen helps businesses by offering payroll, payroll tax and HR services tailored to her customers business needs.  She has thirty years’ experience in payroll and HR.  When you combine her experience with an easy to use, cloud-based HCM system and U.S. based customers service, you can’t go wrong when you decide to make a switch from the other payroll companies like ADP, Paychex, Paycor, Paycom, Gusto, etc.  Kathleen is a passionate advocate for WBEs and has been called the “Queen of Connectivity” by clients for her ability to make introductions, referrals, and recommendations for others.  In December of 2022, Kathleen was awarded WBE Advocate of the Year in WBEC South and in January 2023, WBCS awarded her WBE Advocate of the Year.

“Together we are stronger.”

ABOUT ZAAZEY

ZAAZEY® is women-owned and operated manufacturer and supplier of natural, certified, GOLD standards extra virgin olive oil.  We’re a team of dedicated women and mothers who strive to incorporate high ethical standards and sustainable agriculture to uplift farmers as well as the health of consumers.

ABOUT LAURA QURESHI

Laura Qureshi is an advocate for empowering women around the world. Inspiration to start ZAAZEY® with the mission to create alternative job positions for women living in Turkey and around the world, advocates for equal pay opportunities on and off the olive groves fields. Harvesting is done by hand, artisanal methods, creating pure, raw, cold-pressed, 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO.) ZAAZEY products have received nervous international accolades in Dubai, London, Japan, New York & Canada.

Laura created ZAAZEY® EVOO with her kids in mind. A proud mother of 5 (four boys and a girl who has inspired ZAAZEY® name–pronounced “ZAA-ZEH”), Laura values the importance of family and healthy living.