The Women’s Enterprise Development Center (WEDC) announces special honorees and presenters at their Night of 1000 Successes, Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson, Partner at Thompson & Bender will be honored as WEDC 2026 Inspiring Author. Founded in 1987, the agency is the region’s premier advertising and public relations firm. She has been recognized with many prestigious personal and professional honors, including being named by Crain’s New York Business as a Notable Nonprofit Board Leader in 2023 and as one of the 2023 Women Innovators by the Westchester/Fairfield Business Journals; is a member of the Business Council of Westchester’s Hall of Fame; a recipient of 914INC Small Business Award as well as the Best of Business awards 2019-2024, and was named as one of Westchester’s “Power Dozen”; included as one of City & State’s “Westchester Power 50” and “Westchester Power 100” 2018-2023; a recipient of the “Woman of Leadership and Excellence Award” from Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson and the “Woman of Distinction” award from the United Way of Westchester and Putnam.
Elizabeth is active in numerous community and professional organizations, and serves on the boards of many organizations, including the Business Council of Westchester, the Hudson River Museum, the Westchester Parks Foundation, the Westchester Medical Center Foundation, and the Charter School of Educational Excellence. She is the author of More Than a Crown: From Pageants to Purpose…Lessons from a Life Unfolding (now available), which draws on her own path from the Miss America stage to the corporate and PR worlds to offer readers practical lessons in resilience, faith, and reinvention.
Julie Chitiyo, Founder and CEO of A2Clean and a WEDC graduate, will be honored at WEDC 2026 Enterprising Woman. Julie Chitiyo is an entrepreneur, banking professional, and community leader whose journey reflects resilience, determination, and a passion for excellence.
Originally from Zimbabwe, Julie is a first-generation immigrant with over 21 years of experience in banking, specializing in leadership, business development, and relationship management. In 2015, Julie began her entrepreneurial journey as a commercial cleaning franchise owner. After nine years, she made the bold decision to become independent and grow her own company, A2Clean. Determined to succeed, Julie enrolled in the Women’s Enterprise Development Center’s (WEDC) Entrepreneurs Growth Lab, which provided both guidance and support, giving Julie valuable business knowledge, confidence, and resources.
Today, A2Clean provides professional commercial cleaning services throughout New York and New Jersey, specializing in office buildings, medical facilities, and post-construction cleaning. The company is guided by four core values: Professionalism, Honesty, Excellence, and Dependability (PHED). Beyond her business, Julie is passionate about mentorship, financial literacy, women’s empowerment, and creating opportunities for others.
The event will be hosted by Tom Gabriel, President and CEO of United Way of Westchester and Putnam. Dr. Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of The Business Council of Westchester, and Dr. Lena Samuel, family medicine physician and global health leader serving Rockland County from in Palisades, NY will present the awards.
