WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK (September 9th, 2024) – The Women’s Enterprise Development Center (WEDC) is honoring five female leaders and three grant recipients from the Mid-Hudson Valley and Westchester County at its annual Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards Gala on Wednesday, September 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Mansion on Broadway in White Plains, New York. In addition to an awards ceremony, cocktail hour and seated dinner, attendees will have the opportunity to shop at a client marketplace, made up of small businesses supported by WEDC. The public is invited to join in the non-profit’s celebration by purchasing tickets at https://wedcbiz.org/event/wedcs-entrepreneurial-spirit-awards-gala/.
WEDC supports women and minority-owned organizations throughout the region, helping them achieve self-sufficiency, and aids entrepreneurs in reaching their full potential by providing access to high-quality training programs, advisory services, and resources to generate economic growth.
“We look forward to this event every year because it’s a chance to shine a light on the remarkable women who personify the spirit of WEDC,” says Nikki Hahn, CEO of WEDC. “This year’s honorees are no exception. Their diligence, passion, and resilience continuously make a profound impact and elevate entrepreneurship as a path to success. The grants we’ll award will further shape the future of local businesses, which will in turn change our communities for the better. It’s going to be an incredible celebration!”
The 2024 Entrepreneurial Spirit Award recipients embody the triumphs of female empowerment and industry advancement. Recognizing these outstanding efforts of those who continuously impact Westchester County and the Hudson Valley, WEDC is proud to present awards to the following women:
Mastercard will accept the Corporate Partner Award for its invaluable advice and resources to small businesses, exemplifying the spirit of WEDC. Accepting the award on behalf of Mastercard will be Ginger Siegel, global head of the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) segments, and Jane Prokop, North America small business lead.
Stacy Tompkins, president of Tompkins Excavating, has been commended with the Women Helping Women Award. Devoted to guiding young men and women in their careers, as well as enhancing workplace culture, Tompkins continuously empowers employees and young professionals through her work with college students.
Viviana Kaffury, owner of Kaffury Designs, will be celebrated with the Premio Mujeres Ayudando a Mujeres Award. Kaffury has been recognized for her efforts showcasing Latino culture, business, and success stories in her publication, Kaffury Latin Magazine, as well as her mentorship of entrepreneurs and education on marketing and publicity through its digital platform.
Neighbors Link will receive the Community Partner Award for its community education programs dedicated to aiding immigrants in the assimilation and integration process. Carola Otero Bracco, executive director of Neighbors Link will accept this award on behalf.
In addition, WEDC will present The Anne M. Janiak Leadership Grant to three deserving clients. This prestigious $5,000 award, named in honor of Anne M. Janiak, the founder of WEDC and a pioneer in helping women achieve economic self-sufficiency and financial stability through entrepreneurship, is granted to clients based on their dedication to growing leadership within their organization and on their community engagement. The 2024 Anne M. Janiak Leadership Grant awardees include: Melinda Huff of Mirame Swim, located in Cold Spring, New York; Cynthia Madden of Apex Kitchen RX, based in Poughkeepsie, New York; and Jennifer Fields-Tawil of Lean On Me Westchester Doula, in Ossining, New York.
About WEDC
The Women’s Enterprise Development Center (WEDC) is a 501(c)(3) corporation that empowers women entrepreneurs in Westchester County and the Hudson Valley so they can build successful small businesses through access to traditional business and financial resources. WEDC provides comprehensive, high quality business training programs, one-on-one business and loan counseling, networking opportunities, assistance with loan applications for microloans and crowd funding through Kiva Zip, and MWBE certification assistance in English and Spanish. WEDC’s overarching goal is to build a vibrant community of women business owners, comprised of start-up and established companies. WEDC serves both women and men. For further information, visit
www.wedcbiz.org.
