In 2026, WBENC proudly continues its tradition of honoring exceptional women business owners through the WBE Star Award. Selected by their Regional Partner Organizations, the 14 WBE Stars exemplify this year’s theme of IMPACT, demonstrating meaningful influence across their businesses, communities, and industries through leadership, excellence, and service.
Throughout the year, the 2026 WBE Stars will be featured on the WBENC website, culminating in their celebration at the 2026 WBENC National Conference, June 15–18, in Salt Lake City, Utah, where thousands will gather to do business and honor the strength and impact of the WBENC Network.
Meet Lauren Rakolta, Chairperson & CEO of DFM Solutions, with the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council Regional Partner Organization. Lauren is a visionary executive and driving force in the facilities management industry. A high-performing leader, Lauren is recognized for delivering innovative solutions and executing strategic initiatives that fuel sustained business growth. As the leader of DFM Solutions, she has built a reputation for excellence across automotive, manufacturing, aviation, utilities, and commercial sectors. With a sharp focus on business development and operational excellence, Lauren has successfully expanded market reach, strengthened partnerships, and elevated service delivery. She has driven significant growth by securing new business opportunities, improving profitability, and streamlining operations—positioning her organization for long-term success. In her role, Lauren oversees 400 employees, 20+ US locations.
Lauren is known for her ability to translate vision into action, leading enterprise-wide strategy, overseeing operations, and guiding teams toward innovation, efficiency, and customer-centric solutions. Her leadership has been instrumental in transforming organizational culture, enhancing performance standards, and reinforcing a commitment to quality and safety. Deeply committed to building meaningful relationships, Lauren cultivates strong partnerships with clients and stakeholders while championing opportunities for growth and collaboration. Driven by purpose and a passion for excellence, Lauren leads with resilience and a deep belief in empowering people and organizations to achieve their fullest potential.
Get inspired by Lauren’s insights!
DFM Solutions keeps facilities running safely, reliably, and cost-effectively. The organization manages critical behind-the-scenes services—including maintenance, janitorial, technical cleaning, and byproduct management—allowing clients to stay focused on their core business. Its teams self-perform the work essential to protecting uptime and creating a best-in-class workplace experience. Whether supporting a manufacturing plant, corporate campus, or data center, DFM Solutions delivers reliable performance, operational savings, and exceptional customer service.
Wisdom from WBE Star, Lauren Rakolta
How do you define “IMPACT” in your own words?
True impact is creating something that continues to benefit others long after our hands have left the work.
It’s the power of today’s choices shaping a future of opportunity, resilience, and growth for communities and generations that come next.
For business owners and leaders who are looking to accelerate their “IMPACT,” what key advice or actionable steps would you recommend for them to implement today?
Say yes to the opportunity—but pair it with a plan.
- Hire and empower the best people—your ceiling rises or falls with your team.
- Make “impact” measurable: pick 2–3 outcomes (uptime, safety, speed, cost) and track them relentlessly.
- Use AI to give time back: automate administrative work so your best people spend more time on human interaction, problem-solving, and customers.
- Build a “positive no”: when it’s not the right fit, respond with solutions, alternatives, and a path forward—not a dead end.
What impact are you most proud of, and why?
Building a culture that competes—and wins—on reputation, energy, commitment, and execution. In an industry where low-cost providers win, we are chosen for reputation: reliable services, developing people, and delivering outcomes customers can count on. That’s impact you can feel on the floor, every shift, every day.
How are you looking to expand your impact further in the next year?
Four focus areas:
- Talent: recruit, train, and retain stronger leaders at every level.
- Technology + AI: scale practical tools that cut admin time and increase time spent solving real problems.
- Customer outcomes: deepen performance management—more visibility, faster response, and tighter cost control.
- New markets: diversification is key to a healthy company, and we’ve built systems and processes that transfer seamlessly in any market segment we serve.
Looking ahead, what legacy of impact do you hope to leave in the business community?
A legacy of yes—yes to stepping up, yes to doing hard things, yes to building the kind of teams that raise the bar for the whole industry. And proof that a women-owned business can lead with excellence, not exceptions.
