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September 03, 2025

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Prince-Eason leaves a legacy of connection

On a hot June afternoon in New Orleans, the general session hall of the 2025 WBENC Annual Conference buzzed with energy. Attendees filled the theater seats, all eyes focused toward the stage where Pamela Prince-Eason, President and CEO of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, was about to speak.

Smiling, making eye contact, calling out familiar faces by name, she brought the crowd in close before ever saying a word. Appearing beside WBENC Board Chair Nedra Dickson, Eason’s message that day was simple but powerful: Stay safe, stay aware, and stay on course toward developing meaningful business relationships that improve the world. 

Just days later, on June 30, news broke that Eason had passed away suddenly. She was 62. Shock rippled through the business community, from Fortune 500 supplier sourcing professionals to first-time entrepreneurs.

For the LGBTQ+ business community — and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) in particular — the loss felt deeply personal. Eason was more than a partner. She was a true ally, a bridge between communities, and a believer that economic opportunity should be accessible to everyone.

A Vision for Inclusion

In her nearly 15 years at the helm of WBENC, Eason expanded the organization’s reach and influence far beyond women-owned certification. She forged alliances with groups championing racial equity, disability inclusion, veterans’ rights and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship because she believed diversity was not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing for business.

As the NGLCC reflected in a statement issued after her passing, “Pam was far more than a leader — she was a light in the supplier diversity and economic equity community. Her tireless commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs, especially those most underrepresented, helped shape a more inclusive and equitable business landscape in the U.S. and around the world.”

For NGLCC’s co-founders and leaders, CEO Chance Mitchell and President Justin Nelson, Eason’s  allyship wasn’t symbolic — it was active.

WBENC joined the NGLCC in the National Business Inclusion Consortium, which today includes Disability:IN, the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA), the U.S. Black Chambers (USBC), the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC), WEConnect International, and Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP).

The groups have stood side by side in advocating for equity. Eason understood that inclusion meant opening doors in every direction, and she backed that vision with resources, partnerships and personal involvement.

An International Perspective

Eason’s reach extended well beyond U.S. borders. Elizabeth Vazquez, president and CEO of WEConnect International, recalled Eason’s warmth and leadership at the International Day event held in New Orleans just before the WBENC event:

“All week, Pam shared her optimism, encouragement and love,” Vazquez and her organization said in a LinkedIn post. “On behalf of the entire WEConnect International community, we extend our deepest sympathies to Pam’s loved ones. We are grateful for her leadership, generosity and passion for opportunity and prosperity for all. Pam’s life and vision will continue to guide us as we all navigate the future together.”

Eason knew the global economy thrived when more voices were at the table. That belief led to partnerships that spanned continents, and to collaborations that helped women entrepreneurs tap into new markets and broaden their networks.

The Connector in Chief

One of Eason’s greatest gifts was bringing people together — not just in a room, but in meaningful collaboration. Ramiro Cavazos, president and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber, remembered her as both a friend and a force:

“Her dedication to building a more accessible business ecosystem, her generosity of spirit, and her belief in the power of entrepreneurship left a lasting impact,” he said in a press release. “We were honored to work alongside her, learn from her, and witness her legacy in action.”

That collaborative spirit also marked her relationships with organizations like the Go for the Greens Foundation, dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs, where Co-Founders Cindy Chace and Diane Sears noted that Eason’s personal touch will be remembered. “Many of us on our leadership team have memories of Pam that make us smile,” Chace said in a LinkedIn Post. “She touched so many lives, and we are fortunate we got to know and work with her.”

From national policy boards to local mentorship programs, Eason created bridges that others will walk across for years to come.

A Leader with Heart

Colleagues often remarked that Eason’s brilliance was matched only by her humanity. Angela Dingle, president and CEO of WIPP, put it plainly in a public statement: “She wore so many hats: wife, mother, grandmother, mentor, friend and confidant — and she wore them all with ease and grace.”

Nancy Allen, president and CEO of the Women’s Business Enterprise Council of Florida, said in a LinkedIn post that Eason was the kind of leader she aspired to be: “visionary, compassionate and unwavering in her commitment to inclusion and impact.”

The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) described Eason, in a press release, as “a trailblazer whose impact will forever shape this work and the lives of so many.”

Those were among numerous other accolades. Under Eason’s leadership, WBENC expanded corporate partnerships, grew programming and became a model for how certification and advocacy could work hand in hand. She pushed hard for measurable progress, but she also noticed when someone in the back of the room looked uncertain and went over to put that person at ease.

The Personal Touch

While Eason’s resume was impressive — degrees from East Tennessee State University and Johns Hopkins University, senior leadership at Pfizer, and almost 15 years as WBENC’s CEO — her legacy is just as defined by the way she showed up in life.

Her official obituary in the Kingsport (TN) Times-News paints a portrait of a woman whose family was at the center of her world. She was married to her husband, John, for 33 years, and adored her children Tabitha, Heather, and Lindsey, as well as her seven grandchildren, who knew her lovingly as “Pam Pam.” She was also inseparable from her mother, Betty Jo, with the two traveling extensively together in recent years.

She loved Jeep adventures, tennis matches, cheering on the Lady Vols from the University of Tennessee, and singing along to country music and Jimmy Buffett. Her presence was magnetic — whether in a high-stakes boardroom or gathered around a dining room table playing games.

Eason was famously humble. She rarely talked about herself, preferring to lift up those around her. Friends recall her celebrating others’ wins as if they were her own — and remembering details about people, even if she’d only met them once.

A Loss Felt Across Communities

The network of organizations honoring her after her passing reads like a map of the supplier diversity movement. Each brought forward a slightly different memory, but all spoke of the same qualities — her warmth, her strategic vision, and her belief in the transformative power of entrepreneurship.

Jill Houghton, president and CEO of Disability:IN, said Eason “embraced Disability Owned Businesses and was leaning in with heart and purpose on WBENC’s accessibility journey.”

National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) CEO Jen Earle emphasized Eason’s focus on expanding access to capital and opportunity: “Across the women’s business community, she was known for her dedication to helping entrepreneurs grow and reach new heights.”

These voices, together, form a chorus — one that speaks to the depth and breadth of her influence.

Looking Ahead

Eason’s passing leaves a void — but also a clear path forward. Those who worked alongside her know that the best way to honor her is to continue the work she championed: fostering equity, building alliances, and never forgetting the people at the heart of every business story.

A public Celebration of Life will be held in Washington, D.C. on October 9, 2025, bringing together the communities she wove together over decades. Details will be announced later, but the date alone is already marked on calendars across the supplier diversity world.

In the meantime, her influence lives on — in the entrepreneurs she encouraged, the partnerships she brokered, the policies she helped shape, and the friends she made along the way.

To learn more about WBENC, visit wbenc.org.