NaVOBA honors top women veteran-owned businesses at WBENC conference

NaVOBA recognized women veteran business leaders and corporate champions at its 2026 awards ceremony during the WBENC Conference in Salt Lake City on June 16. The event spotlighted women veteran-owned firms, military-to-business leadership, and NaVOBA’s push to expand corporate contracting opportunities.

Why it matters: - The awards highlight women veteran-owned businesses that are competing and winning in corporate supply chains. - The ceremony also underscored the growing overlap between veteran-owned and women-owned certification programs. - NaVOBA used the event to reinforce its broader mission of expanding contracting opportunities for Veteran and Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises.

What happened: - NaVOBA hosted the 2026 Women’s Veteran’s Business Enterprises of the Year Awards Ceremony on June 16, 2026, during the WBENC Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. - The event took place at the Salt Palace Convention Center. - Corporate leaders and Women & Veteran’s Business Enterprises from across the country attended. - NaVOBA named Isabella Pina, president and CEO of Inspired Solutions Inc., the 2026 Women’s Veteran’s Business Enterprise of the Year. - NaVOBA also presented the 2026 Corporate Champion Award to Bonnie Finger, Responsible Procurement Lead at Bayer. - NaVOBA recognized Pat Birmingham with the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award. - The ceremony included the 2026 Veteran’s Business Enterprise We Love Awards for Kathleen Ford of scDatacom and Joy Baucom of Diligence Security Group.

The details: - Inspired Solutions Inc. is headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, and is a certified small business focused on IT procurement. - The company has expanded into IT products, cybersecurity, logistics, supply chain management, workforce development, engineering and professional services. - Isabella Pina served 21 years in the U.S. Army. - Pina started as an Automated Logistical Specialist, rose to Sergeant, was commissioned as an Officer and Army Nurse, and later served as a Robotic Surgery Coordinator. - Pina led one of the most advanced surgical programs in the Department of Defense. - Inspired Solutions was built around three core principles: invest in people, solve critical challenges and give back. - NaVOBA President and CEO Matthew Pavelek said the honorees personify perseverance, integrity and resolve. - scDatacom is a Savannah-based, family-owned company focused on physical and electronic security systems for large organizations with complex requirements. - scDatacom holds national certifications as a Woman-Owned Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran’s Business Enterprise, and Historically Underutilized Small Business. - scDatacom is also locally certified as a Savannah Small Business Enterprise. - Kathleen Ford served 26 years in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. - Ford’s military background includes human resource management, quality metrics, compliance, leader development and strategic implementation. - Diligence Security Group is founded on the principle of “protection without compromise.” - The company provides security solutions for commercial properties, residential communities, corporate environments, events and high-risk locations. - Diligence Security Group combines trained personnel, surveillance technology and risk management in its services. - Joy Baucom served in the U.S. Army from 2003 to 2009 as an Intelligence Analyst. - NaVOBA said the awards reception showcased leadership, resilience and entrepreneurial excellence rooted in military service.

Between the lines: - NaVOBA is tying awards recognition to a larger supplier-diversity strategy, not just celebration. - The honorees’ military backgrounds map directly to business strengths such as logistics, security, compliance and operations. - The event also signals that corporate procurement teams are a key audience for veteran- and women-owned business advocacy.

What's next: - NaVOBA will continue promoting certification, advocacy, outreach, recognition and education for VBEs and SDVBEs. - The organization says more information is available at NaVOBA’s website. - NaVOBA also maintains social channels on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X.