Power & Purpose debuts in Silver Spring with focus on elevating women in business and leadership
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Jacqueline KalilApril 24, 2026 11:18 a.m.
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Count Me In!More than 100 business leaders, elected officials and professionals convened Thursday at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Silver Spring for the inaugural Power & Purpose: Women’s Leadership Exchange Breakfast, an initiative aimed at supporting women in the workforce while strengthening professional connections and collaboration.
Hosted by the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, the three-hour event blended keynote remarks, panel discussions and interactive audience engagement opportunities.
The inspiration for Power & Purpose emerged from within the chamber, according to Stephanie Helsing, its president and CEO. She described the gathering as a support system and a call to action for women. “This is an opportunity for us to not only support each other, but to bring everybody together,” she said. “… I’m hoping that people will feel a little less alone and lean into more of their authentic self.”
For Councilmember Kate Stewart (D-Dist. 4), the event reflected the region’s collaborative spirit.
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“This event is really what we are about here in Silver Spring and in Montgomery County,” Stewart told Bethesda Today. “It is the coming together of our local government, our state government, our chambers, with our businesses and our nonprofits to build a better community.”
Stewart also pointed to ongoing challenges facing women in the workforce.
“It’s really important to think about what women need in the workforce and in our community,” she said. “After COVID, many women haven’t been able to get back into the workforce. Being able to network, getting the headshots, really talking to other women about their experiences should help women think about what’s next.”
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) opened the program, highlighting record investments in small and minority-owned businesses. He cited $133 million awarded to local small businesses and $274 million to minority-, female- and disabled-owned enterprises—part of what he described as an ongoing effort to build a more inclusive economy.
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“These figures are the highest in our history,” Elrich said, adding that the county is working to move beyond what he called an “old boys network.”
Pat Ruppert of Ruppert Landscape and Ruppert Grows was among the attendees.
“It’s really inspiring to me to see women—especially young women—rising to levels of leadership in our county and our state,” she told Bethesda Today. “I think it’s really going to make a difference. It keeps me optimistic.”
At the same time, she emphasized the need for continued support and advocacy.
“Do I think women need extra support? Oh my gosh, yes,” Ruppert said. “I think there is a systematic putting down of women’s voices right now. The structures don’t support us to be in the workplace, to be in decision-making roles, or even to be at the table.”
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Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D) delivered the keynote address, sharing her personal journey as an immigrant and engineer while encouraging attendees to embrace leadership in spaces where they may feel overlooked.
“Fitting in was never the assignment,” Miller said. “The assignment was to walk in anyway—boldly and unapologetically.”
Like Elrich, Miller highlighted state efforts to expand opportunity, including billions in contracts awarded to minority and disadvantaged businesses, investments in emerging industries and policies supporting working families.
A panel discussion moderated by Stephanie Cummings Carr, President & CEO of Stephanie Marthine Consulting Services, featured Betsy Bassan, president and CEO of Panagora Group; Amber Perry, vice president of governmental and external affairs at Pepco; Nury Mena, vice president and branch manager at Fulton Bank; and Maureen Umeh, reporter at Fox 5 DC. Panelists shared candid reflections on leadership, including navigating setbacks and learning to seek support.
“I still find that it’s hard for me to ask for help,” Umeh said, noting that many women feel pressure to push through challenges alone.
Perry described building a “personal board of directors” to guide her decision-making, emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives in leadership.
Other speakers touched on resilience in times of uncertainty. Bassan, founder of the Silver Spring-based Panagora Group, described rebuilding her company after major federal contract losses. “We’re back to being a startup,” she told the audience.
Throughout the morning, audience members participated in live polling and discussion, with many identifying successfully navigating moments of crisis—and adapting through them—as the point when they first felt like leaders.
The breakfast, which organizers hope becomes an annual tradition, also emphasized practical tools, from structured networking to professional headshots, alongside broader themes of mentorship and community support.
“Power is lifting others,” Mena said. “Purpose is walking with them to the next level.”
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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine