It’s So Easy To Nominate
2025 Awards Open for Nominations
2025 Generational WBE Award
The Generational WBE Award program was created to recognize and celebrate our history, through success stories, as a way of motivating the next generation of WBENC-certified Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) in WBEC-East territory (PA, DE, Southern NJ).
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2025 Supplier Innovation & Partnership Excellence Award
This award honors the power of partnership, spotlighting impactful collaborations where both the Corporate Partner and the WBE have grown, innovated, and achieved measurable success together—demonstrating the true value of investing in diverse supplier relationships.
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PAST AWARDS
Advocate of the Year Award
This honor is awarded to an individual of a WBEC-East Council Partner organization in good standing who has done the most this year to promote the development of business opportunities for WBEs certified by WBEC-East.
Champions of Unity & Belonging
This honor is awarded to a WBEC-East WBE or Council Partner organization that has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to creating a sense of belonging within its company, industry, and/or community.
Done Deals Awards
WBEC-East Council Partner
The Council Partner Done Deals Award will be given to recognize the WBEC-East National and Regional Council Partners having the highest spend with WBENC-certified WBE suppliers in WBEC-East territory (PA, DE, Southern NJ) over the last 12-month fiscal year reporting cycle.
Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE)
The WBE Done Deals Award will be given to recognize two WBENC-certified WBEs in WBEC-East territory (PA, DE, Southern NJ) having the highest spend with WBENC-certified WBEs (in any territory) over the last 12-month reporting cycle. We will award two WBE Done Deal nominees based on reported gross receipts (tier 1 and tier 2).
Partner of the Year Award
This honor is awarded to one WBEC-East Council Partner who has been instrumental in the Council’s successful achievement of its annual goals. The 2024 WBEC-East Partner of the Year Award will be decided by the Council and will be announced at this year’s Desserts & More celebration.
Resiliency Award
This honor is awarded to a WBE company that is certified by and actively participates in WBEC-East programs and activities, and can showcase their commitment to continuous improvement, overcoming obstacles, sustainability, and focus on innovation and positive change.
Trusted Advisor Award
This honor is awarded to a WBENC-certified WBE in WBEC-East territory (PA, DE, Southern NJ) who has taken the initiative to support other WBEs (in any territory) growing their business. A trusted advisor is someone who has had a positive impact on another individual and their small business. This impact is not dependent on the number of years in business, but rather engagement in the WBENC and WBEC-East network.
WBE Leadership Award
This honor is awarded to a WBE that is certified by and actively participates in WBEC-East programs and activities, and whose leadership, mentoring, business acumen, participation in WBEC-East activities, and community service have contributed significantly to the growth and development of WBENC-certified WBEs in their community. 
Scholarship and Competition Winners
Harmelin Media Scholarship
Dedicated to supporting women business owners and entrepreneurs, the Harmelin Media Women-Owned Business Scholarship provides up to $10,000 in direct support to a woman entrepreneur starting or expanding their business. This scholarship exists on a rolling basis and is granted twice a year.
2024 Winners:
- Djuan Short, Founder and Clinical Director of Dahlia Rose Wellness Center
- Jennifer Gardella, PhD, CEO of The Gardella Group
2023 Winners:
- Amber Bowie, Owner of Mackenzie Madison of Philadelphia
- Ivy Harris, Owner of Violet and Ivy Wellness Co.
CPI Creative Grant
The CPI Technology Scholarship was created by Carol Philp, Founder and Owner of CPI Creative, to cover computer equipment expenses for a women owned business. CPI Creative is a WBE, DBE, and WOSB Certified business that has been in business for over 27 years, providing custom product design and manufacturing.
2023 Winners:
- ABLiteracy, submitted by Rebecca Ashcroft
- One Way Insurance Group, submitted by Gigi Jean
Capital One Pitch Competition
In partnership with Capital One, WBEC-East is proud to host our annual Women’s Business Center pitch competition. Contestants submit their pre-recorded pitches for review. Top finalists receive pitch-training and have the opportunity to pitch their businesses live to a panel of judges at our culminating event. This competition is made possible through the generous support of from Capital One.
2024 Contestants
- Nikisha Bailey, Founder of Win Win Coffee (First Place)
- Marti Lieberman, Founder & Owner of Mac Mart Cart (Second Place)
- Helen Lawrence, President & CEO of Level Up Logistics (Third Place)
2023 Contestants
- Saundra Gillard, Founder & CEO of FemininelyFree! (First Place)
- Rebeca Stiles-Cruz, Founding Principal of Little List (Second Place)
- Ivy Harris, Owner of Violet and Ivy Wellness Co. (Third Place)
- Monique C. King, Owner of Monique’s Moving Service (Honorable Mention)
- Marie-Josephine Royall, Owner of Mariyurveda Health by Referral, LLC (Honorable Mention)
WBENC Regional Pitch Competition Finalists
Round one of the WBENC pitch competition is conducted separately by each Regional Partner Organization (RPO). WBEC-East accepts pitch videos from certified WBEs headquartered in PA, DE and southern NJ. The top three finalists move on to the national semi-finals and then to finals.
2024 Finalists
- Jennifer Gardella, PhD, Owner & Founder, Your Social Media Hour
- Danielle Baughman, President, ProShare Services LLC.
- Kristen Pucci, Founder, KRAE Creative and Talent
2023 Finalists
- Hayley Painter, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Painterland Sisters
- Maureen Mulvihill, President & CEO, Actuated Medical, Inc. (Won Honorable Mention)
- Priya Osuri, Founder, Anar Gourment Foods
Past Award Categories
Bravery Award (2019 – 2020)
This honor was awarded to a WBE start-up company that has been in business for a minimum of one year, had started their business from scratch, had a 3-5 year plan and an ability to serve corporates/access to funding, and was active and engaged in WBEC-East.
Commitment Award (2010 – 2020)
The Commitment Award (previously the Volunteer of The Year / Shining Star Award) acknowledged woman business owners, individuals, companies, or government entities who have been instrumental in the successful development of WBEC-East, and whose voluntary support of and commitment to supplier development initiatives had enhanced business opportunities for certified WBEs.
New Leaders Award (2019 – 2020)
This honor was awarded to a NextGen WBE that had been in business for a minimum of one year, was active and engaged in WBEC-East and had new ideas or innovations that differentiated their business from others.
National Awards
These WBENC awards honor individuals for their commitment to women businesses across the nation.