On International Women’s Day, March 8, and all year long, WBENC and the WBENC network support, encourage and highlight women business owners who are changing the world.
WBENC is proud to announce that Nedra Dickson, Managing Director and Global Supplier Inclusion & Sustainability Lead for Accenture, has been named Chair of the WBENC Board of Directors, celebrates our 2023 Board members and thanks Immediate Past Chair, Barbara Kubicki for her leadership, particularly during the challenges recent years. Read on and celebrate our new 2023 Board with us!
Nedra Dickson named Chair of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
New 2023 WBENC Board Members announced
WASHINGTON, March 8, 2023 — The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) has named Nedra Dickson, Managing Director and Global Supplier Inclusion & Sustainability Lead for Accenture, as the Chair of the WBENC Board of Directors. Dickson leads Accenture’s Global Supplier Diversity and Sustainability Programs across 20 countries.
Dickson is a long-time leader and advocate for women- and diverse-owned businesses. Prior to being named chair, Dickson served as the WBENC First Vice-Chair for the WBENC Board of Directors and, on behalf of Accenture, as a Co-Chair of the 2022 WBENC National Conference in June 2022 in Atlanta, GA. Accenture is a 2023 WBENC America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises.
“Nedra Dickson is a powerful leader and mentor for our entire WBENC network, including our Corporate Members and Women’s Business Enterprises. WBENC is proud and honored that she will continue to bring her talent, inspiration and deep experience, particularly in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and supplier diversity, to leading the Board,” said Pamela Prince-Eason, WBENC President and CEO. “We look forward to working even more closely with Nedra as the WBENC network continues our momentum in fueling the growth and development of women-owned businesses.”
“It is my honor to serve as the Chair of the WBENC Board of Directors. Under the leadership of Barbara Kubicki and Board Chairs prior, and of Pamela Prince-Eason and the WBENC leadership and staff, WBENC is central to how women’s business enterprises are growing, developing and greatly impacting the innovation and diversity within our supply chains,” said Nedra Dickson. “As WBENC looks to the next 25 years, the sky is the limit for Women’s Business Enterprises and Corporations to lead the way in business growth, innovation and social impact.”
Nedra shares a favorite inspirational quote with the WBENC network | “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” – Shirley Chisholm
“My time as WBENC Board Chair has been incredibly rewarding and challenging all at once,” said Immediate Past Board Chair, Barbara Kubicki, Wells Fargo Chief Procurement Officer. “We quickly recognized the critical need for strong support of Women’s Business Enterprises and Corporations alike during the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m proud of how the WBENC network persevered and, in many ways, grew and evolved through the recent years, under the leadership of Pamela Prince-Eason, WBENC leadership and staff, and the entire WBENC Board of Directors.”
Additionally, WBENC is proud to announce additional new Board and Executive Committee members.
Corporate Members
- Kristofer Clark, Senior Director, Global Operations | Dell
- Siofra Harnett, Director, Supplier Diversity & Inclusion | Google
- Jennifer Turner, Global Supplier Diversity Program Director, IBM Finance & Operations | IBM
- Bianca Ortega, Senior Director, Global Supplier Diversity | Marriott International
- Jo Haight, Senior Director, Supplier Citizenship Leader | The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G)
- Sandy Nielsen, Global Head of Supplier Diversity | Verizon
- Carla Preston, Director, Global Corporate Procurement Supplier Diversity and Inclusion | Amazon
- Tamra Pawloski, Senior Director, Leveraged Procurement and Head of Corporate Real Estate | Corteva Agriscience
- Andrea Desaulniers, Director of Supply Chain Strategic Initiatives | Raytheon Technologies
WBENC-Certified Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs)
- Ann Ramakumaran, CEO | Ampcus
- Hannah Kain, President & CEO | ALOM
- Kanchana Raman, President & CEO | Avacend
- Caren Schweitzer, President & Founder | Creative Resources
Regional Partner Organizations (RPOs) Leadership Council
- Liz Walsh, President | Women’s Business Enterprise Council East (WBEC East)
- Janice Greene, Ph.D., President & CEO | Women’s Business Enterprise Council – Pacific (WBEC-Pacific)
- Bliss Coulter, President & CEO | Women’s Business Council – Southwest (WBCS)
Executive Committee Appointments
- Chair, Leadership Council: Sandra Eberhard, President & CEO | Women’s Business Enterprise Councils Metro NY and Greater DMV
- Vice Chair, Leadership Council: Liz Walsh, President | WBEC East
- Chair, Women’s Enterprise Forum: Peggy DelFabbro, CEO | MDavis
- First Vice Chair, Women’s Enterprise Forum: Hannah Kain, President & CEO | ALOM
“The WBENC Board of Directors is pleased to have such accomplished and passionate professionals serving on our Board of Directors in our mutual commitment to the growth and development of women-owned businesses,” added Prince-Eason.
The WBENC Board of Directors will be attending the 2023 WBENC National Conference, the largest event of its kind, focused on women-owned businesses. More than 4,000 entrepreneurs and corporate business leaders will gather March 20-23, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee. Learn more about the 2023 WBENC National Conference: https://www.wbenc.org/conference/.
About WBENC
WBENC is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled, and operated by women in the United States. WBENC partners with 14 Regional Partner Organizations (RPOs) to provide its world-class standard of certification to women-owned businesses throughout the country. WBENC is also, supported by more than 540 Corporate Members. Throughout the year, WBENC provides professional development, business development, and outreach opportunities for more than 18,000 WBENC-Certified women-owned businesses, Corporate and Government Members, and the national WBENC network. Learn more at www.wbenc.org.
