The 2026 WBENC National Conference is powered by an exceptional group of women who bring more than titles and credentials to the table. Their lived experience, hard-earned insight, and deep commitment to lifting others as they rise have shaped their narratives. Representing a dynamic cross-section of WBEs across Regional Partner Organizations, this year’s Host Committee is a collective of leaders, builders, and visionaries who understand what it means to grow a business with intention and impact.
Each woman in this group carries her own story of resilience, of bold decisions, of opportunities seized and created. Together, they reflect the strength of the WBENC network: different industries, different perspectives, but a shared belief in the power of connection and community. Their commitment to lifting others as they rise is woven into everything they do, and it’s exactly what makes their leadership so compelling.
With this year’s theme of IMPACT, their leadership becomes even more powerful. They embody what it means to accelerate growth, unlock new markets, and build the kind of relationships that move business forward.
Get to know the women behind the momentum—read the full article and discover the stories driving IMPACT at the 2026 WBENC National Conference!
Mary Kariotis | Merrimak | Host City Sponsor
Mary Kariotis is the CEO of Merrimak Capital Company and a recognized leader in equipment finance and lifecycle management. With more than 30 years of experience, she has built Merrimak into the largest independent diverse lessor serving Fortune 500 and similarly scaled organizations.
A defining strength of Mary’s leadership is her vision. She sees opportunities ahead of the market and builds the infrastructure to capture them. Since assuming the role of CEO in 2008, she has led with a clear focus on independence, innovation, and customer-first solutions. In an industry dominated by banks and private equity, she has maintained full ownership of the company, allowing Merrimak to prioritize flexibility, straightforward dealing, and long-term partnerships.
Mary personally engaged more than 100 Fortune 500 organizations through a hands-on approach to account development. A pivotal decision early in her tenure brought all customer accounts under direct company ownership, transforming Merrimak from a $30 million portfolio into a company managing nearly $1.5 billion in assets today.
That vision continues to drive Merrimak forward. The creative and flexible lease structures Mary developed remain the foundation of the model, continuing to evolve and give large fleet customers the flexibility and lowest cost of use in the industry. She forged a strategic partnership with Element Fleet Management to create Elevate as a single-source DOT over-the-road fleet solution, developed Merrimak Fleet Solutions to reduce material handling equipment maintenance costs by up to 40 percent annually, and is leading development of proprietary software that integrates lease data directly into customers’ financial systems. Merrimak is also deploying AI across every area of the business to accelerate growth, improve efficiency, and reduce costs for customers.
Mary has built a strong leadership team around her, with her children joining the business and positioned to carry this legacy forward.
“Impact within the WBENC network is most visible through the relationships it creates. Connecting women-owned businesses directly with large corporations opens doors that lead to real, measurable business outcomes, not just introductions, but long-term partnerships.
Beyond individual connections, the network fosters collaboration, shared knowledge, and sustained support. It creates an environment where businesses can grow together and strengthen the broader ecosystem of diverse suppliers. For us at Merrimak, that community has accelerated growth in ways that would have been difficult to replicate on our own. “
Roxanne Alaniz | Alaniz Marketing Inc. | WBEC Pacific
Roxanne Alaniz is the Founder and CEO of Alaniz, a premier strategic growth firm, and the go-to expert for midsize companies seeking to connect with their most elusive, high-value stakeholders. As a “Revenue Architect,” Roxanne helps established businesses break through growth plateaus by replacing unpredictable, founder-led sales with permanent, AI-powered sales infrastructure.
Under her leadership, Alaniz has been recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as both a Top 100 Women-Owned Business and a Top 100 Minority-Owned Business. Roxanne’s proprietary approach combines the velocity of modern AI technology with the authentic, human-to-human strategy required to close complex deals. Her firm doesn’t just run temporary marketing campaigns; they build the customized outbound engines that allow companies to own their growth and scale with total predictability.
A graduate of UC Berkeley, Roxanne’s entrepreneurial journey began immediately out of college when she owned and operated a successful franchise for seven years. This foundational experience gave her a profound, firsthand understanding of the challenges founders face. She then spent a over a decade in the high-stakes corporate media world at ABC/Disney, mastering audience connection and strategic positioning. Today, she combines that enterprise-level discipline with her founder’s grit to bring high-velocity growth to the mid-market.
Roxanne is a passionate, lifelong advocate for supplier diversity and women’s entrepreneurship. She is honored to serve on the Host Committee for the WBENC 2026 National Conference representing the Pacific Region. Her firm is an SBA-certified Small Business, a WBENC-certified Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and an active member of the Diversity Alliance for Science (DA4S).
Whether she is consulting one-on-one with a CEO or leading a Mastermind cohort, Roxanne’s mission remains the same: empowering diverse founders to stop renting their marketing, build a sales engine they actually own, and confidently secure their company’s legacy.
Inside the Conversation: WBENC x Roxanne
When WBENC sat down with Roxanne Alaniz, what came through immediately wasn’t just her track record, but the particular kind of confidence that only comes from having done the hard work of knowing yourself and your business inside and out. Roxanne is the kind of entrepreneur who holds two things at once: a corporate-grade strategic mind and the honest self-awareness of someone who’s done the hard work. She’s built on a strong foundation, but questions, recalibrates, and evolves—constantly stress-testing her positioning, sharpening her target market, and staying ahead of economic shifts rather than reacting to them.
What makes her stand out is both what she knows and how she thinks. She doesn’t show up to an opportunity and wait for something to happen. She shows up having already asked: Who’s in the room? What’s the real return here? What door does this open? That kind of ROI is disciplined. She’s also refreshingly candid about the parts of entrepreneurship no one puts on a highlight reel: the isolation, the long game required to break into competitive industries, the moments where grit is the only available strategy. She values meaningful connection over surface-level networking and clearly understands that success within environments like WBENC comes from intentional engagement.
“One of the biggest benefits of WBENC is the network. As a business owner, it’s incredibly isolating. When you’re in a corporate environment, you have built-in relationships, colleagues, and a social structure. But when you’re running your own business, it’s just you—you’re responsible for everything. WBENC gives you a space to connect with other business owners who truly understand what you’re going through, and that kind of peer support is invaluable.”
Tracey Grace | IBEX IT Business Experts | GWBC
Tracey is the founder and CEO of IBEX IT Business Experts, a women-owned professional services firm specializing in IT solutions, workforce training, and government contracting support. Originally from New Jersey, she earned her B.A. in Economics and Spanish from the University of Pittsburgh and later received a Graduate Tuition Fellowship that fully funded her MBA in Marketing, which she completed in just 11 months.
Before launching IBEX in 2012, Tracey built a strong career leading successful sales teams at global companies such as Learning Tree and FedEx. Under her leadership, IBEX has grown into a trusted partner for organizations including NASA, the CDC, and Cox Communications, helping them implement technology solutions and prepare workers for innovation.
As a minority woman founder, Tracey has built IBEX with a mission that extends beyond technology. She is deeply committed to creating access and opportunity for underrepresented communities, while also bringing expertise in IT solutions, supplier inclusion, government contracting, business growth, networking, and leadership.
In 2022, IBEX launched NectariQ, a supplier management platform designed to help organizations strengthen communication, collaboration, and engagement with diverse suppliers. Tracey’s leadership has helped IBEX earn a place on the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies for four consecutive years, as well as honors including Greater North Fulton Small Business of the Year, the Georgia Fast 40 Award, and the 2024 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services OSDBU Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year award.
Tracey is also passionate about service and mentorship. She serves on several nonprofit and community boards, supporting minority businesses and helping strengthen communities across Georgia.
Inside the Conversation: WBENC x Tracey
Tracey Grace arrives with intention. WBENC knew early in the conversation, it’s clear she’s the kind of leader who has thought deeply about why she does what she does, not just how. Strategic and sharp, yes — but what makes her genuinely compelling is that the ambition never eclipses the humanity. She’s refreshingly candid. Tracey doesn’t traffic in polished talking points or rehearsed success stories; she’ll tell you what worked, what didn’t, and what she’s still figuring out. There’s a particular kind of vision Tracey possesses: the ability to spot what’s possible before the room has caught up. She sees opportunity the way a good architect sees an empty lot: not as absence, but as potential waiting for the right design. And crucially, she doesn’t just build for herself. She builds with a guest list in mind — women, underrepresented entrepreneurs, people who’ve been standing outside the doors of access for far too long.
If she has a growth edge, she’ll name it herself: nurturing the deeper, slower work of personal connection in a life that moves fast. At her core, Tracey is a connector, in the way that means she genuinely remembers people, roots for them, and opens doors she didn’t have to open. Business, for her, is a platform. And she’s using it like she means it.
“I’ve always felt like I’m on a journey that’s led by mission. There was a pivotal moment where I knew—if I didn’t start my company, I would never be able to look back and say I gave it everything I had. It felt like jumping off a cliff, but I ran fast, worked hard, and built something through blood, sweat, and tears. And along the way, I realized that if someone helped me, I had a responsibility to help others, because once you figure it out, you can show other women that it’s possible too.”
Lili Hall | KNOCK Inc. | WBDC
Lili Hall is Founder and CEO of Knock, inc., a brand experience design partnership headquartered in Minneapolis. As a certified Women/Minority Business Enterprise (W/MBE) she envelops a spirit of inclusion, invention, and imagination, empowering her 100+ FT collaborators to guide brands, businesses, and communities at a national and international scale. Lili has been recognized globally for outstanding contributions, including being named one of EY’s Entrepreneurial Winning Women, and Most Admired CEO of the Twin Cities by Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal. She serves on multiple boards, is a member of many professional women networks, and is a sought-after speaker and mentor. Because of her successful leadership, Knock was one of Inc. magazine’s 5000 fastest-growing private companies in America for six consecutive years.
Inside the Conversation: WBENC x Lili
When WBENC sat down with Lili, one thing became immediately clear: she listens closely, observes deeply, and instinctively looks beyond the surface to understand what truly drives people and businesses forward.
That perspective has shaped every chapter of her journey. Building and scaling a business in the wake of 9/11 demanded clarity, conviction, and a willingness to make bold, strategic decisions in uncertain moments. Lili doesn’t take risks lightly; she takes them deliberately, with purpose and foresight. At the core of it all is her unwavering belief in people: her commitment to meaningful collaboration, authentic connection, and showing up fully in every interaction. Within the WBENC network, Lili stands out as both a relationship-builder and a sharp strategist. She understands that long-term success isn’t transactional—it’s built on trust, consistency, and the strength of genuine connections. That mindset fuels the way she engages, supports, and elevates those around her.
And then there’s her unmistakable edge. Lili brings a bold, dynamic energy—quick-thinking, candid, and unafraid to challenge convention. She pushes others to think differently, to move beyond surface-level conversations, and to engage in the kind of dialogue that sparks real progress. It’s a presence that commands attention and leaves a lasting impression. Yet what makes Lili truly compelling is the balance she brings to that intensity. Her warmth and authenticity create an immediate sense of ease. She remains grounded in her beginnings, deeply aware of the people and moments that shaped her path—and she carries that forward, investing in others with the same generosity and intention that once supported her own rise.
“Coming together as thought leaders at our conferences — the sharing of business experiences, the solidarity in being advocates of one another — is exceptionally rewarding to me, both personally and professionally. I am thrilled to be on the host committee for this year’s conference in Salt Lake City. It’s a continued opportunity for me to meet new people and share in the camaraderie of long-standing members.”
Maggie Hardy | Nemacolin | WBEC East
In 1987, Joseph A. Hardy III, founder of the 84 Lumber Company, set out to buy a few acres near a lake or stream for his daughter, Maggie Hardy, who loved fishing. But, instead, he fell in love with Nemacolin and purchased a hotel and a few hundred acres of land. What began as a thoughtful gift for his daughter turned into a family-owned resort they would share, building something truly magical together.
Since 2002, Maggie Hardy has been leading the team as owner and CEO of Nemacolin and has overseen 84 Lumber since 1992. Her energetic approach, aggressive goals, and spirited vision have been critical success factors in the operation and growth of the resort. She inherited her father’s mindset that “nothing is impossible” and has embraced that perspective to make Real Life Magic a part of Nemacolin’s approach in curating one-of-a-kind, elevated experiences and luxe stays for guests and members.
With recent resort recognition in Vogue, The Daily Front Row, Golfweek, Golf Digest, Forbes Travel Guide, Condé Nast, Travel + Leisure, Robb Report, Architectural Digest, and other publications, Maggie Hardy’s leadership has positioned Nemacolin to become a world-class destination for luxury travel. In her time away from business, Maggie enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, fitness, and spending time with her son, PJ — Nemacolin’s VP of brand strategy — and her pups, Tootsie and Ajax.
“When I hear the word IMPACT, I think about responsibility—using every opportunity not just to create something exceptional, but to create something that matters. At Nemacolin, that has meant looking beyond the guest experience and asking how we can meaningfully influence the lives of those around us.
Impact, in my journey, is about legacy in action. It’s the ability to take a vision and translate it into tangible support for our community—whether through initiatives like Light Up Nemacolin or through ongoing investments in local organizations, families, and future generations.
It’s also deeply personal. Impact isn’t defined by a single moment, but by consistency—showing up, giving back, and creating opportunities where they didn’t exist before. If the work we do leaves people, places, and communities stronger than we found them, then that is impact.”
Louise Leduc Kennedy | West Hill Technology Counsel | CWE
Louise Leduc Kennedy is the founding attorney of West Hill Technology Counsel. She has extensive experience advising technology companies on intellectual property and strategic matters. She is passionate about helping clients protect and grow what they have built and position themselves for a successful exit. With deep expertise in all legal aspects of software development and licensing, including open-source, using and developing AI tools, and addressing privacy and data security compliance issues. Louise particularly loves working with innovative women and their entrepreneurial businesses.
West Hill is a truly unique law firm. It has spent the past 15+ years redefining the culture of sophisticated legal practice at the intersection of business and technology. This includes providing exceptional value to business clients and unrivaled opportunity and quality of life for top-credentialed professionals who choose to step off the large law firm or in-house path.
Before forming the firm, Louise worked for many years as in-house counsel at IBM Corporation, including as brand counsel for Lotus Notes. She received her B.A. in Economics from Smith College and her J.D., with honors, from the University of Connecticut School of Law.
In 2024, Louise was honored by WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council) as a 2024 WBE Star. She was recognized for outstanding business achievement, leadership, and impact among women-owned businesses.
Inside the Conversation: WBENC x Louise
One thing is obvious about Louise Leduc Kennedy: her success has a blueprint, and it’s written in sharp expertise, genuine enthusiasm, and the kind of clarity that makes everyone around her feel like the path forward is wider than they thought. As the founder of West Hill Technology Counsel, Louise has crafted something rare: a firm that actually reflects who she is. Sophisticated but never stuffy. Equally at home guiding a startup finding its footing as it is navigating the intricate demands of a high-growth tech company. Where others see legal complexity, Louise and her team see a puzzle worth solving, and they bring real joy to the solving of it.
What lights up every corner of the conversation is her energy. Talk to Louise about her team, her clients, or her work with WBENC, and a common thread emerges: show up, add value, make it count. That philosophy has taken her places — WBENC WBE Star recognition, a seat on the Host Committee, and a hands-on role shaping the kind of educational experiences that genuinely move the needle for women entrepreneurs.
But titles and milestones are just the surface. Louise’s story is really about momentum — the art of saying yes to the right rooms, investing in the right relationships, and turning every touchpoint into something that lasts.
“Being present at the WBENC National Conference has been incredibly valuable for us, not just in meeting potential clients, but in building visibility and trust within the network. We’ve had conversations with corporate partners who’ve shared how much they value when businesses show up prepared and knowledgeable, and that really reinforced the importance of what we do. Conference creates an environment where those conversations can happen naturally, and where opportunities come from simply being in the room and engaging.”
Maryann Pagano | Blackhawk Data | WBEC MetroNY
With more than two decades of leadership experience, Maryann Pagano serves as CEO and Co-Founder of BlackHawk Data, where she leads the company’s strategic vision, revenue growth, and partner ecosystem. Known for building strong relationships and high-performing teams, Maryann oversees sales, marketing, and vendor engagement to ensure alignment with client goals and providing exceptional client experience.
Maryann brings deep expertise in client services and leadership to every decision. She is intentional about building a team that reflects the company’s core values and invests heavily in developing her people, empowering individuals to grow their skills, strengthen their personal brands, and deliver meaningful results. At the center of every initiative there is one guiding principle: enhancing the client’s journey and delivering long-term value.
Founded in 2018 by Maryann and her co-founder Jason Caparoso, BlackHawk Data was built on a simple but powerful idea: bring together the right people to solve real problems and deliver real results. What began as a vision has grown into a nationally recognized technology solutions provider with more than 55 employees and offices in New York City, Long Island, and New Jersey, including a warehouse, staging facility, and 24/7 Network Operations Center.
Under Maryann’s leadership, the company has earned numerous industry awards including CRN Top 500 Solution Provider, CRN Fast Growth 150, and Top Managed Services Provider.
Maryann herself has been honored as Most Powerful Women of the Channel, U.S. SBA Female Entrepreneur of the Year, WPO/JPMC Top 50 Fastest Growing Female-Led Organizations, and Ernst & Young Winning Women.
Beyond the business, Maryann is deeply committed to mentoring emerging leaders and advancing women in technology through industry speaking, mentorship, and community initiatives.
Inside the Conversation: WBENC x Maryann
As CEO and Co-Founder of BlackHawk Data, Maryann Pagano turned a bold idea and a whole lot of tenacity into a thriving $100 million business, built entirely on her own terms. No blueprint. No roadmap. Just an unshakeable belief that the next step forward was always worth taking. Sharp, candid, and refreshingly real, Maryann speaks from the kind of deep experience that only comes from living every chapter of the story: from dialing cold calls in the early days to steering a team of 50+ people through complex growth and exciting strategic pivots. She’s been in the trenches, and she’ll tell you exactly what she learned there.
Her superpower? Holding ambition and heart in the same hand. WBENC certification has unlocked tens of millions in revenue for BlackHawk Data, but Maryann is just as energized by the culture she’s building and the doors she’s opening for others along the way. Success, for her, has always been a team sport.
When WBENC sat down with her, what came through was a leader who is as forward-thinking as she is grounded — someone who sees the WBENC National Conference as a chance to expand her reach, amplify her voice, and keep building something truly worth it.
“BlackHawk Data started with a simple idea: that two people who shared the same values, vision, and work ethic could build something meaningful by bringing together the right team with the same goals. What began as a vision quickly grew beyond what we imagined. The pace of growth in our early years and the impact we were able to make so quickly exceeded our expectations. It reinforced our belief that when the right people come together with a shared purpose, incredible things can happen.”
Ebony Smith | Ebenum Equation | WBEC Florida
Ebony Smith is a Foresight Strategist, Executive Coach, and AI-driven thought partner who helps organizations grow with clarity, alignment, and purpose. She partners with corporations, institutions, and entrepreneurial leaders to design forward-looking strategies, strengthen leadership capability, and translate complex challenges into actionable plans.
An ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC), the highest credential in the coaching profession, Ebony brings deep expertise in leadership development, strategic facilitation, and executive coaching. She is known for helping leaders think more clearly, align teams faster, and make smarter decisions in a rapidly changing business environment.
Ebony integrates strategic frameworks with practical AI-enabled tools to help organizations move from insight to execution. She is also passionate about expanding opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs/SMEs), helping bridge meaningful connections between innovative companies and corporate partners.
Inside the Conversation: WBENC x Ebony
With more than 20 years navigating risk management inside Fortune 100 companies, Ebony Smith brings the kind of technical fluency and big-picture thinking that makes people lean in when she starts talking.
Her WBENC story actually begins before she was even certified. In 2018, Ebony showed up to the National Conference as a volunteer — learning the landscape, soaking up every session, and planting seeds she’d tend for years to come. That early investment? It paid off in ways that show up on the balance sheet. She’s secured multiple long-term corporate clients born directly from Conference conversations, built herself into the fabric of WBENC’s educational programming, and is now gearing up to close an acquisition as her company steps boldly into its next chapter.
What makes Ebony’s journey so energizing is that it’s a masterclass in motivation. She attended and activated by building momentum that compounds. And that, really, is the quiet magic of WBENC at its best: when someone shows up curious, consistent, and ready to engage, the network doesn’t just open doors — it helps them build entirely new ones.
“One of my favorite parts about being inside the WBENC ecosystem is the educational opportunities. It’s not just about the relationships you build with corporates or the contracts—those are important—but it’s also about becoming a better CEO. WBENC helped me identify gaps I didn’t even know I had.”
Katy Voight-Nobis | API Source | WBEC Greater DMV
With 20 years at API Source, Katy Voight-Nobis has built her career helping brands create authentic, lasting connections through meaningful branded merchandise programs. She partners with organizations to transform branded merchandise from simple promotional items into thoughtful brand experiences that inspire loyalty, recognition, and pride.
As a daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother, Katy leads with purpose and heart. Family is at the center of everything she does, shaping the way she approaches leadership, relationships, and business. She brings a people-first mindset to every client interaction, believing the most successful partnerships are built on trust, understanding, and genuine connection.
Katy believes branded merchandise is far more than giveaways or swag, it’s a tangible extension of a company’s brand and culture. When done right, it creates emotion, celebrates milestones, strengthens relationships, and becomes part of someone’s story. Her passion is helping organizations use merchandise strategically to recognize employees, engage customers, and create memorable brand moments.
Outside of work, Katy enjoys staying active, traveling, and spending time with family. She is a dedicated CrossFit athlete and runner who values discipline, resilience, and personal growth; principles that guide both her personal and professional life. She also serves her community as a volunteer EMT, driven by a strong desire to help others and make a difference when it matters most.
Inside the Conversation: WBENC x Katy
Over two decades at the helm of API Source, Katy Voight-Nobis has transformed API Source into a globally recognized provider of branded merchandise solutions — and somewhere along the way, transformed herself from salesperson to owner, fulfilling a goal she once boldly spoke out loud at a WBENC conference 15 years ago. Her operating philosophy? Say yes. Then figure it out. It’s simple, a little audacious, and — given the trajectory of API Source — wildly effective. Katy pairs that bias for action with a genuine love of learning and a gift for building relationships that actually mean something. For her, business is a conversation that compounds over time.
What makes Katy’s leadership style truly magnetic is how intentional it is. She leads people-first — with kindness as a strategy, not an afterthought. Whether she’s architecting high-impact merchandise programs, forging strategic partnerships, or pouring into the next generation of women business owners through the WBENC network, she brings the same energy: full presence, real investment, and a whole lot of heart.
But perhaps what’s most inspiring is how Katy thinks about legacy. Growth is great, but for her, the real measure of success is the doors opened, the opportunities created, and the people who felt genuinely supported along the way. That’s the kind of impact that outlasts any bottom line.
“For me, impact is about more than business success. It’s about how I lead, how I treat people, and how I use my business to share a part of who I am with the world. I hope the impact I leave is one of authenticity, opportunity, and encouragement, where people remember not just what we built at API Source, but how we made others feel and the doors we helped open along the way.”
Tricia Wallwork | Milo’s Tea Company | WBEC South
Tricia Wallwork is the third-generation leader of Milo’s Tea Company, a family-owned business founded by her grandparents in 1946. Since becoming CEO in 2012, she has transformed Milo’s from a local favorite into a national category leader approaching $1 billion in retail sales, available in over 60,000 locations. Today, Milo’s is the #1 refrigerated tea brand and the fastest-growing lemonade brand in America—growth built on an award-winning People First culture, operational excellence, and corporate stewardship including TRUE Platinum Zero Waste certification and a 1% giving pledge. Tricia holds a philosophy degree and Juris Doctor. She serves on the boards of the Consumer Brands Association, National Association of Manufacturers, Birmingham Museum of Art, and the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation. Recognitions include EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2025 National Award, Executive of the Decade, three-time Top Woman in Grocery, and Woman Who Shapes the State of Alabama.
“As a family-owned, certified women-owned enterprise, I talk often about how it is a real advantage to lead your business through the lens of your purpose and values. When you are mission driven, profit will follow. I am humbled that I have been able to lead Milo’s from local favorite to national category leader while simultaneously building an award-winning People First culture, TRUE Platinum Zero Waste certification and a 1% giving pledge. We are not just making delicious drinks with real ingredients you have in your kitchen, we are truly brewing a legacy, and that is what real IMPACT means.”
Janeen Zook | Trattativa Meeting &
Event Solutions International | WBEC West
Janeen Zook, President and CEO began her career as Director of Sales and Marketing with Marriott for over 15 years. In 2007, she founded Trattativa Meeting & Event Solutions International and for the past 19 years has grown the company. Trattativa became WBENC Certified in 2013 and Janeen has been active in the Regional Forum and the National Forum, currently serving as the WBEC-West Las Vegas Forum Chair and is also the 1st Vice Chair of WBENC’s National Forum Engagement Team. Awards earned included WBEC-West’s Advocate of the year (2017), WBEC-West’s Community Impact Award (2018), 2019 WBENC Star for WBEC-West; and WBEC-West Community Impact Champion in 2025. Janeen is proud to be on WBENC’s Host Committee again in 2025 (also in 2017).
Inside the Conversation: WBENC x Janeen
As President and CEO of Trattativa, Janeen Zook has built something genuinely exciting: a full-service event strategy firm that didn’t happen by accident. Her path wound through law, pivoted through hospitality leadership, and landed exactly where it was supposed to — at the helm of a company known for precision, powerhouse negotiation, and the kind of operational excellence that makes clients breathe easy. She’s built a business and engineered a reputation, contract by contract, relationship by relationship. What makes Janeen’s story so energizing is the how. Scaling thoughtfully. Showing up consistently. Choosing depth over speed.
Inside the WBENC network, she brings that same unmistakable presence. She’s invested in the community the way she invests in everything: fully. From rising into national engagement leadership to pouring into mentorship and meaningful connection, Janeen understands something that not everyone figures out — the network works when you work it, genuinely and generously. Her take on Conference? It’s a launchpad — and the women who get the most out of it are the ones who show up with confidence, stay consistent, and let real relationships do what spreadsheets never can.
Janeen’s story is a masterclass in what happens when intention meets resilience and decides to stay.
“Our work with WBENC didn’t happen overnight. It came from building genuine relationships over time—showing up, learning, and connecting without expecting immediate return. When the opportunity came, we were ready—and that’s what Conference prepares you for.”
In 2026, connect, learn, and grow alongside the 2026 WBE Host Committee members as you join thousands from our vibrant network coming together for an unforgettable experience! Join us in Salt Lake City for the 2026 WBENC National Conference from June 15–18, 2026.
Get ready for the 2026 WBENC National Conference! This year, we’re turning up the momentum with our theme of IMPACT—accelerating growth, unlocking new markets, and building the talent, leadership, and strategic relationships that will define future success. IMPACT is a journey that extends across communities, industries, and regions.
