Awards & Recognition CommitteeCertification CommitteeConference CommitteeEnvoy CommitteeNext Gen CommitteeWomen of Color CommitteeWBENC National Forum
Mission
Our committee members lend their time and talent to help shape the programs, resources, and initiatives of WBEC-East, with the ultimate goal of supporting women-owned businesses in our region.
Committee Eligibility
Committee membership is open to:
Certified WBEs (should be certified for at least 1 year and have a solid understanding of the benefits)
Learn more about becoming a Certified WBE
Employees of our Council of Corporate and Government Members (Council Members are expected to participate in a minimum of one WBEC-East committee)
Learn more about becoming a Council Member
Successful applicants:
- – Have a strong understanding of the WBENC certification process and benefits
- – Are actively engaged with WBEC-East programs and events for more than a year
- – Have the skills and knowledge to actively evaluate and help shape WBEC-East initiatives to meet the needs of our business owners and procurement representatives
- – Have the ability to dedicate time to monthly meetings
- – Are located within our network of PA, DE and south NJ
Apply to Join a Committee
Committee applications are reviewed twice a year, generally January and June. At that time, Chairs with open seats on their committee will reach out to applicants that match the skills needed.
Awards & Recognition Committee
Chair: Dr. Erica Patterson, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW)
Vice Chair: Barbara Bosha, Bosha Design+Communications
Staff Liaison(s): Steve Damweber, Colleen LaCoss
Mission: This committee establishes award categories and criteria, promotes nominations, and presents awards to selected nominees. Awards open up each summer, and members should expect a heavier participation in the spring and summer months.
Meeting Schedule: Meetings occur generally the second Tuesday of each month. A special team of judges appointed by the President meets to review nominations and score applications on an annual basis in late summer.
Committee Membership: Typically 8-15 members. Term of 2 years.
Complete our online Committee Application
Certification Committee
Mission: This committee is responsible for validating that all businesses applying for WBENC certification meet the criteria of being 51% owned, controlled, operated, and managed by a woman or women. Committee members serve anonymously, and are responsible for rendering a recommendation of certification or denial to the WBEC-East President.
Members are able to serve as application reviewers, site visitors, or both.
Staff Liaison(s): Yana Massey, Colleen LaCoss
Special Requirements: Membership on this committee requires a strong understanding of the WBENC application process and eligiblity criteria. Members must complete a 6-hour initial training (offered generally every other month) and pass an exam prior to beginning volunteer work. Individuals with a legal or finance background are encouraged to apply.
Meeting Schedule: Meetings generally occur 2 Fridays each month from 11:30-12:30 Eastern. Application reviewers are expected to participate in at least 6 meetings annually.
Site visitors are asked to provide 1-2 hours allotted to conducting site visit interviews each month.
Committee Membership: Typically 30-50 members. Membership is evergreen as long as engagement is continuous. Members can serve as either application reviewers, site visitors, or both.
Complete our online Committee Application
Conference Committee
Chair: George Ehrgott, Communications Test Design, Inc.
Vice Chair: Carol Philp, CPI Creative
Staff Liaison(s): Steve Damweber, Colleen LaCoss
Mission: This committee plans opportunities for WBEs and Council Members to connect at WBENC’s national conference annually. This may include planning an RPO gathering or other networking opportunity during the course of the conference.
Meeting Schedule: Meetings occur once per month, generally from January through May prior to the national conference. Members should plan to attend the WBENC national conference.
Committee Membership: Typically 4-8 members. Term of 2 years.
Complete our online Committee Application
Envoy Committee
Chair: Barbara Bosha, Bosha Design+Communications
Vice Chair: Kari Donovan, Precis Commissioning, Inc.
Staff Liaison(s): Elizabeth Walsh, Colleen LaCoss, Yana Massey
Mission: The Envoys serve as ambassadors and help certified WBEs learn how to leverage the organization and their certification. Envoys build connections by welcoming new WBEs through direct outreach and encouraging and moderating conversations at in-person WBEC-East networking events.
Special Requirements: Envoys are WBE business owners who have been certified for a number of years and who have a robust knowledge of WBENC and WBEC-East events, initatives, and resources. They must be able to serve as mentors to new WBEs by guiding them through the network and making connections.
Meeting Schedule: Envoy training is held once per calendar year. Envoys are required to attend a minimum of 50% of in-person WBEC-East events in the ambassadorship role.
Committee Membership: WBEs who meet the above criteria may be invited to apply to become an Envoy. This committee generally does not hold open applications.
Envoy Commitment Form (for invited WBEs)
Learn more about the Envoys:
NextGen Committee
Chair: Amanda Mortimer, Innovative Development, LLC
Vice Chair: Marian Neilson, Abator
Staff Liaison(s): Emily Glick, Colleen LaCoss
Mission: This committee plans programs and opportunities for Millennial and Gen Z professionals within the WBENC network to learn and connect. This committee generally plans about 4 programs per year.
Meeting Schedule: Meetings occur generally the first Thursday of every month.
Committee Membership: Typically 6 members. Term of 2 years.
Complete our online Committee Application
Women of Color Committee
Chair: Sharon Manker, AmeriHealth Caritas
Vice Chair: Alvina Peat, Williams-Peat Associates
2nd Vice Chair: Dr. Pat Smith, Holmes Smith Consulting Services, Inc.
Staff Liaison(s): Joyce Cadesca, Fatima Ayers
Mission: This committee plans programs and opportunities to learn and connect for individuals within the WBENC network who identify as women of color. This committee generally plans about 4 programs or resources per year, and focuses on the following components: access to capital, access to business and personal development, understanding the corporate supply chain, access to social and business networks.
Meeting Schedule: Meetings occur generally the third Wednesday of every month.
Committee Membership: Typically 5-15 members. Term of 2 years.
Complete our online Committee Application
WBENC National Forum
What is the Forum?
The Forum is the voice of the WBEs at the national level. Members help to shape WBENC programming and inititives.
Want to get involved?
Forum meetings are held annually at the WBENC National Conference, and are open to all WBEs.
Forum representatives are appointed by the President, and typically consist of WBEs who have been certified for a number of years, are exceptionally active within the network at a local and national level, and are experienced in a variety of WBEC-East committees and initiatives. The Forum does not hold open applications for representatives, rather, applicants are invited after having served many years with WBEC-East.
WBEC-East Forum Representatives
Peggy Del Fabbro, M Davis & Sons, Inc. – 2nd Vice Chair
Cynthia Towers, JuriSolutions, Inc. – Forum Leadership Team
Barbara Bosha, Bosha Design+Communications
Carol Philp, CPI Creative, Inc.
Ginny Heron-Doerr, G2J, LLC dba Proshred Security
Jayshree Moorthy, Frontier Technologies, Inc.
Judith Zimmermann, The ArtCraft Group
Julie Copeland, Arbill
Kari Donovan, Precis Commissioning, Inc.
Kimberly Springsteen-Abbott, Commonwealth Capital Corp.
Lisa Frederick, Unity Printing Co.
Mary Fox Donnelly, Encompass Elements
Peggy Gionta, Partner’s Consulting, Inc
Vivian R. Isaak, Magnum Group
Katrin Hillner, PC Network Inc.
Kimberly Togman, Scalable Leader LLC.