Winners Announced on August 30 via Facebook Live
Mesa, Arizona-The Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBEC)-West is proud to announce the 30 finalists who competed in the pitch competition finals on August 17-19. The competition connected Black-owned businesses with corporations who are looking to expand and diversify their supply chain with new products and services.
“The response to the National Black Business Pitch has been great,” shared Dr. Pamela Williamson, President and CEO of WBEC-West. “The companies that made the final list are strong businesses that have the ability to scale up as they are connected to new business opportunities. We look forward to celebrating National Black Business Month by shining a spotlight on these small businesses and creating new connections between these businesses and our corporate partners.”
Finalists competed for the chance to win cash prizes of up to $10,000. On August 30, at 11 a.m. PT, WBEC-West will announce the three award winners via Facebook Live.
In Phase I of the National Black Business Pitch competition, more than 1,170 small businesses submitted applications to be a part of the inaugural event. Submissions were reviewed by a panel of judges from the corporate supplier diversity community.
In Phase II of the competition, the 30 finalists participated in a three-minute, live pitch in front of a virtual audience of judges that consists of buyers and supplier diversity professionals. The three winners will be awarded the following cash prizes:
- First Place: $10,000
- Second Place: $5,000
- Third Place: $2,500
2021 National Black Business Pitch Finalists
- Gail Birks, CMA Enterprise Incorporated
- Dorris Bogus, Mega Inc. Lifestyle
- Kneko Burney, Change3 Enterprises, LLC
- Jessica Childress, The Childress Firm PLLC
- Melissa Daley, Divinebase Incorporated dba Orca Intelligence
- Jessica Dew, CLIQQ App, Inc.
- Emily D. Edwards, Emily’s Food, LLC
- Kim Farmer, Mile High Fitness and Wellness
- Eboni Jazzmine, LVNDR GREEN
- Marilyn Johnson, MHJonson & Associates, Inc.
- TaChelle Lawson, FIG Firm, LLC
- Tekisha Lee, DiverseNote
- Maria Lemelle, Platinum Star Public Relations, Inc.
- Michael Lopez, Genius Innovation Group
- Denise Meridith, World’s Best Connectors
- Pamela Mims, Mims Business Consulting
- Sherrill Mosee, MinkeeBlue,LLC
- Kareemah Mustafa, Sabreen Cosmetics
- Courtney Newell, Crowned Marketing & Communications
- Mopelola Oluwadare, Revistory
- Dawn Patton, Try MY T, LLC
- Selena Porter, Lux Pillows Plus LLC
- Cassondra Preer Taylor, Taylored 2 CODE
- Dr. Frances Richards, Arlean Richards LLC
- Ngina Shulman, Lotus Media
- Nekita Sullivan, Yoga Therapy Bar
- Kimberly Starks, Blue Scorpion Reputation Management
- Aria Sutton, Bailey Inspections LLC
- Del-Metri Williams, Rx Interactive, Inc.
- Connie Wyatt, S.A.I.D. Strategy Group Incorporated
To view the Finalist video, click here. If you would like to join us for the National Black Business Pitch live event, join us on August 30, 2021, at 11 a.m. PT on the WBEC-West Facebook page.
About Women’s Business Enterprise Council-West (WBEC-West)
WBEC-West is a regional partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), a coalition of corporations, WBEs, and regionally focused women’s business organizations. As an affiliate organization, WBEC-West implements the certification standards of WBENC throughout Arizona, Colorado, Southern California, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Hawaii, and Guam. WBENC certification is nationally recognized and accepted by more than 10,000 major corporations. We also support corporations in their efforts to include WBENC Certified WBEs in their supplier diversity programs. To learn more about the organization, visit wbec-west.com.
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