The past few weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions. I was prepared to write a post about the WBENC conference but the energy and homecoming of the conference was immediately overshadowed by the news that Pam Prince-Eason, CEO of WBENC passed away shortly after the conference ended.
The news was shocking and devastating to the WBENC community particularly after we had all just been together with Pam shepherding us through a conference focused on small and diverse businesses during this challenging time for those of us who care about small businesses and the way race and gender intersect with and drive the national and global economies.
There are a number of lovely tributes to Pam from the organizations that WBENC collaborated with so closely – Women Impacting Public Policy, National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and National Minority Supplier Development Council – not to mention the regional organizations, thousands of businesses, and governmental organizations that had reason to know and love Pam.
I came to the WBENC community over 20 years ago and we’re no stranger to loss, having lost WIPP’s Executive Director Candace Waterman a few years ago. What will remain from this loss is a legacy and one of the beautiful things about working for something that you are passionate about.
WBENC and the greater community will be mourning and grieving for a long time to come. We have a powerful woman who worked for us whose legacy we now need to strengthen and protect. It’s a responsibility but, even in the midst of our grief, a joyful one to be able to continue.
