The Competitive Advantage You`re Missing: WBENC Certification + Strategic Visibility (3 Part Series)

May 12, 2026 at 9:00 AM - 12:45 PM MT

May 19, 2026 at 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM MT

May 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM MT

Incentive

Attendees who participate in all three sessions will be entered into a drawing for one of two WBENC National Conference passes (valued at $800).

Event Overview

This 3-part workshop is for women business owners, especially in Utah, who want to grow their business and make more money.

You’ll learn how to get your business in front of bigger opportunities, understand how companies choose who they work with, and how being a women-owned business can open new doors.

Each session builds on the one before it, helping you go from learning the basics to feeling confident talking about your business, making connections, and turning those connections into real income.

Session 1 - In person, panel discussion + interactive networking

May 12, 2026, 9 AM MT

201 S Main St #2300, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. 

In this session, you will learn what it means to be a women-owned business and how it can help you grow. Hear real stories from women who have used it to open new doors.

Guest Speakers: 

• Missy Kelly (WBEC-West) – Presenter + Panel Lead
• Haley Peck – Panelist
• Catherine Chow – Panelist

Session 2 (Virtual)

May 19th, 2026

Microsoft Teams.  

In this session, you will learn how businesses find opportunities, what companies are looking for, and how to talk about your business in a way that gets attention.

Guest Speakers: 

• Tammy Cooper – Speaker (Procurement / How opportunities happen)
• Janeen Zook – Speaker (Strategy: turning status into revenue)

Session 3 (Virtual)

May 26th, 2026

Microsoft Teams.

In this session you will learn how to turn conversations and connections into real business opportunities and paying clients.

Moderator: Heather Heacox, WBEC-West. Speakers TBA.

Cost
Free for all sessions.

Who Should Attend

Non-certified women business owners who are:

• Looking to understand how to access corporate opportunities
• Interested in WBENC Certification but unsure where to start
• Ready to position their business for growth and larger contracts
• Seeking clarity on how procurement and supplier diversity actually work

What You’ll Learn

• How being women-owned can be a strategic advantage
• What WBENC Certification is and how it creates access
• How corporations identify and select suppliers
• Key terminology needed to confidently engage with buyers
• How to move from visibility to credibility, relationships, and revenue
• Strategies to turn networking into real business opportunities

Problems This Event Solves

Many women business owners are operating strong businesses but lack visibility into how to access corporate opportunities or scale into larger contracts.

This series addresses:

• Lack of understanding of procurement and supplier diversity
• Uncertainty around how to position your business with corporate buyers
• Difficulty translating networking into actual revenue
• Limited knowledge of how WBENC Certification creates access
• Missed opportunities due to unclear strategy or positioning

Attendees will leave with clarity, direction, and practical strategies to confidently engage in the WBENC ecosystem.

Agenda

A detailed agenda will be shared closer to the event date. Each session will include a combination of expert insights, real-world examples, and interactive discussion.