06.23 - June 2023 Message from the President

June is a time for celebrations, like family reunions, Pride Month, Caribbean Heritage Month, Father's Day and holidays like Juneteenth. But for us at GWBC, it is also a time for remembrance.

I start this month’s letter with a heavy heart and mourn the passing of my and GWBC’s dearest friend Candace Waterman, President & CEO of Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP). She would want us to celebrate her life and remember all the wonder she bestowed on her family, friends, communities, and organizations. WIPP is the national nonpartisan organization advocating on behalf of women entrepreneurs to help strengthen their impact on our nation's public policy, creating economic opportunities, and forging alliances with other business organizations.

For years, Candace served as the voice for the more than 19,000 women businesses at WBENC (Women Business Enterprise National Council) as Chief of Staff, and more than 12 million women-owned U.S. companies, working tirelessly in a bipartisan manner with lawmakers to impact and influence policy that provided economic equity, procurement inclusion and access to the global marketplace. She worked to achieve acceptance of WBENC’s certification by government entities across the U.S.; and assisted in driving initiatives and policies which affect international certification. She was an unforgettable personality, and her departure will be deeply felt by all women in business. A memorial service for Candace is being held in Washington, D.C., on June 29, 2023.

On another note, it is time to review business plans for the rest of the year and look back at your company's first six months. Is your company meeting its goals? Are you generating the forecasted revenue? If you need motivation or tips, please check out our events calendar, and don't overlook WBENCLift resources available to you and upcoming events here.

In the words of T.S Eliot, "Every moment is a fresh beginning."

Always in service,

Roz Lewis

President & CEO