We’re BACK!
Over 200 Women Veterans, allies, sponsors and friends converged in Arlington, VA, for WVI NatCon 2026! We kicked things off with the Boots to Bonds Meet and Greet on Thursday November 5, in a style only WVIF can make happen! The energy, the music, the laughter – it was on fire! The evening was a great example of the community feeling that WVIF is known for. Past attendees reconnected with friends, new attendees made new friends, and many commented that the start of the conference weekend feels a lot like coming home, being with family.
Day 1 – The Conference Begins!
President and CEO Ginger Miller welcomed attendees, and celebrated WVIF’s big milestone: the organization’s 15th anniversary! Fifteen years of “recognizing the service and sacrifice” of Women Veterans, Ginger said.
She reflected on WVIF’s growth over the last 15 years, from its beginning as a small group of Women Veterans seeking community, connection, and empowerment, to a national 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with over 1,500 members and four chapters across the United States. To the sound of great applause, Ginger thanked the numerous sponsors who supported WVI NatCon 2026.
“We work hard to build real relationships at WVI,” Ginger said. “This has been amazing.”
Purpose, Leadership and Service
For the first main stage event, Ginger welcomed Chanel Bankston-Carter, Army Veteran and Executive Director of the Office of Small Business and Disadvantaged Business Utilization at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, for an executive leadership fireside chat.
Asked about her journey from service member to Executive Director of OSBDBU, Ms. Bankston-Carter spoke about the ways she leveraged her leadership and service experience in uniform into a successful post-military career. “Leaders don’t wake up one day thinking, ‘I want to be a leader,'” she said. “It’s something that’s in you.”
From her experience growing up, through active duty, and beyond, she felt compelled to take care of people around her, lead by example, and help others in their own journeys. “I wanted to make sure that everything I did, that I was giving back,” she said.
Ms. Bankston-Carter also discussed Women Veterans in entrepreneurship, noting the OSDBU resources available to Women Veteran entrepreneurs. She urged Women Veteran entrepreneurs to compete boldly, even in spaces where few women are found. She encouraged them to speak plainly about their accomplishments, and rise.
“You are multipliers,” she said, urging perseverance, refusal to accept no, and a willingness to do the unexpected.
Advancing Women’s Health through Access, Awareness & Empowerment
Sundonia J.W. Wonnum, PhD, the Chief Officer of the Office of Women’s Health at the Veterans Health Administration, delivered a keynote address that focused on women’s health resources and support at VHA.
Dr. Wonnum outlined the Veterans Health Administration’s mission to lead the nation in Women Veterans’ healthcare and to ensure that women who served trust the care they receive and experience it in a safe environment.
She detailed the agency’s goals:
- Providing optimal access to trauma-informed, comprehensive care
- Tailoring services to women veterans’ evolving needs
- Reducing barriers to care during the transition to civilian life
- Delivering the highest quality healthcare
She also highlighted the heaRT program for transitioning service women and the Center for Women Veterans, urging attendees to take advantage of these benefits.
Don’t Hold It. Say It.
Shravya Kovel, Director of Clinical Education & Marketing and Pelvic Health Clinical Specialist at Pelvital USA, Inc., delivered a featured presentation that empowered attendees to be proactive advocates in their own health journey. Flyte by Pelvital is a Mission Sponsor of WVI NatCon 2026. She began by addressing one of WVIF’s three Pillars of Impact, Wellness. Dr. Kovel spoke to this, talking about a women’s wellness issue that is critical to overall health but not often talked about: urinary health.
Dr. Kovel provided insight into:
- the commonness of urinary leaks
- the impact of military service on women’s pelvic floor
- ways to speak to providers about urinary health
- ways to ask for treatment and be your own advocate
Dr. Kovel addressed how urinary health problems can ripple outward, affecting a wide range of other aspects of a woman’s health and daily life. She encouraged women to act as their own advocates, to insist on exploring treatment options, and to ask providers about approaches that can support them with care at home.
3 Tracks, 1 Mission: Workshops at WVI NatCon 2026
The workshop slate was a highlight of WVI NatCon 2026, with sessions running morning and afternoon across three tracks: Health and Wellness, Transition, and Empowerment. Dozens of speakers applied to present, and the competitive selection process produced a standout cohort of presenters who brought expertise, candor, and lived experience to every session.
Their topics met Women Veterans where they are, from menopause and nutrition to the hidden toll of stress on the body, from healing the inner child to making sound decisions under pressure, and from charting the next chapter after service to building the support networks that carry women through it.
Attendees left with practical tools, fresh perspective, and a stronger sense of community.
Inclusive Research, Better Health
The American Diabetes Association, Valor Sponsor for WVI NatCon 2026, presented a panel of experts that explored the role of clinical research in healthcare, with a focus on Women Veterans. Panelists reviewed how clinical research works, what to keep in mind when deciding whether to take part in a study, and how to be your own advocate in healthcare settings by asking questions, understanding your options, and speaking up for your needs.
Participation matters because it shapes care for future generations. As Major Thandi Myeni, an ophthalmologist at Ronald L. Anderson Medical Practice, put it, “We don’t know what we don’t study.”
Women Veterans have historically been underrepresented in research, so more studies are needed to develop treatments that address their health needs. Panelists encouraged attendees to make informed decisions about participating, knowing that their involvement can help improve care for Women Veterans now and in the future.
Supporting Wellness and Recovery Through PTS Service Dogs
Valor Sponsor of WVI NatCon 2026, the American Humane Society, brought the conference a first: furry friends on the main stage! Tracy Jones, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at the American Humane Society spoke about AHS’s Pups4Patriots™️ program and its impact on Veterans’ lives.
“In the last nine years, we’ve paired more than 160 veterans with service dogs,” Ms. Jones said.
Service dogs, Ms. Jones said, help Veterans navigate day to day life and stressors related to PTSD, anxiety, depression, and more. After 18 months of intense training, the Pups4Patriots™️ program carefully pairs service dogs with Veterans. To be successfully paired, service dogs’ training must be additionally tailored to suit specific needs for the Veteran. Service dogs become skilled in special response behaviors, according to the Veteran’s needs, such as standing behind the Veteran to watch what is behind her back, applying calm and comforting pressure, or even reminding the Veteran to take her medicine.
Army Veteran Rose Artis shared the story of her journey with her service dog Tiny Tim.
After feeling like the “ghosts” of deployment followed her home, she said, “Sometimes hope arrives when you least expect it.” Through a supportive network, she was connected to Pups4Patriots™️ and paired with Tiny Tim, a service dog who provides safety and comfort and helps her manage the effects of trauma.
“Tiny taught me that being a Veteran does not mean that you have to fight every battle alone,” she said.
Women Veterans Entrepreneurship Collective (WVEC) Partner Panel
This panel brought together two of the Women Veterans Entrepreneurship Collective’s (WVEC) partners to discuss how their collaboration with WVIF’s new WVEC initiative offers Women Veterans pathways to entrepreneurial success.
ACP Ambassador Alecia Tolver of American Corporate Partners shared how a mentor helped her through the record-scratching moment of leaving the military and wondering what comes next.
She noted that “a lot of times we’re carrying things that we don’t need to carry,” and in business, those are the things that get in the way of advancing your business toward success. She said that a mentor can help identify that clutter, keep you accountable, and connect you to the resources that help you take that first step.
ACP, Ms. Tolver explained, is “not just a mentorship organization, we’re a relationship builder,” and she urged attendees to stack the resources available to them and leverage that to help their business thrive. ACP partners with WVEC as part of a broader ecosystem. Ms. Tolver encouraged attendees to put themselves in the spaces where they are close to people and partners who can share what they need, even before they know they need it. WVEC is one of those spaces, she said.
Barbara E. Carson of the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) described how IVMF serves Veteran entrepreneurs at every stage, from those just thinking about an idea to multimillionaires ready to sell.
Ms. Carson explained that IVMF’s purpose is to empower Women Veteran entrepreneurs with the resources and programs they need to thrive. For Women Veterans just starting out, programs like V-WISE provide education in foundational skills, along with comprehensive wraparound support. Ms. Carson said IVMF helps break down barriers by giving Women Veteran entrepreneurs access to mentorship, resources, and a clear framework that makes the enormous undertaking of entrepreneurship manageable, so they can move forward confidently.
Partnering with WVEC seemed like a natural fit, Ms. Carson said. Both are committed to linking Women Veteran entrepreneurs with the right resources and support, not duplicating services or competing with each other. By working in partnership, IVMF and WVEC strengthen the support network every Women Veteran entrepreneur can draw on.
As the panel closed out Day One of WVI NatCon, attendees were already signing up to join WVEC.
Day 2 of WVI NatCon Begins with Chantile Stovall
Chantile Stovall, Executive Director of Veteran Readiness & Employment, delivered an opening keynote address, focusing on turning readiness into post-military opportunity.
When Veterans transition to civilian life, she said, many might struggle with defining their post-military purpose or identifying a clear professional path. This could feel like they aren’t “ready” for the post-military chapter.
But, Ms. Stovall said, “Readiness rarely feels the way we expect it to.” She explained that many think readiness is certainty or perfection. But, readiness is actually about acting before every question is answered or being confident that your preparedness will carry you through uncharted circumstances.
“So how do we turn readiness into opportunity?” she asked. VR&E is a place to start.
“VR&E is in the business of helping Veterans build their next chapter,” she said.
Part of that, Ms. Stovall added, is helping Veterans identify what they truly want to do, not what they think they have to do or should do.
“We look at the whole person,” she said. “We look at your experiences and your strengths.” After that, VR&E will help them develop a plan, which could involve apprenticeships, graduate school, internships or certifications.
Ms. Stovall ended by saying that VR&E serves as a bridge, which can be life-changing. She’s been gratified to see Veterans overcome the barriers during their transition experiences and discover opportunities and success.
WVIF Board Leadership Panel: Women Veterans Shaping What’s Next
WVIF President and CEO Ginger Miller led a panel of WVIF Board Members to discuss Women Veterans leading at the highest echelons of their industries and making changes where they see need.
“You just can’t sit around and think about it, you’ve got to be about it,” Ginger said.
Ginger was joined by Dr. Chambala Roach from HCA Healthcare, Emma Morgan from Amazon, and Meg Hendricks from Fiserv.
Asked about how service has impacted their approach to leadership and building initiatives, Ms. Morgan reflected on the ways that groups of women come together and take action. “There’s always that invisible thread,” said Ms. Morgan “We connect. We get it straightaway.”
Dr. Roach talked about her recent experience transitioning to corporate America. “Everything that you’ve done in the military is going to help you in corporate America,” she said. “That drive is going to serve you.”
The panel also addressed how Women Veteran leaders can leverage their experience to help other Women Veterans advance.
“Keep being visible, keep being bold,” Ms. Morgan said. She encouraged attendees to share their experiences and raise their voices to advocate for change, clearly communicating the barriers and challenges Women Veterans face. Ms. Morgan challenged each attendee to tell five other women about WVIF so that more women can be connected to support and community. She set a goal of doubling attendance at WVI NatCon next year so more Women Veterans can connect with the people and resources available to them.
Dr. Roach addressed how to leverage networks, stressing the importance of tapping into every area of one’s network, not just peers but employers too. After a chance meeting with Ms. Hendricks, their conversations led to ideas for urging employers to provide funding and support for initiatives and organizations like WVIF, which serve Women Veterans.
Turning to what comes next, speakers looked ahead to the next 15 years of supporting Women Veterans, as WVIF marks its 15th anniversary and the Women Veteran population is projected to double by 2040.
“I’m super encouraged by things like WVEC,” Ms. Hendricks said. “Giving access – that is where we’re the bridge.” She emphasized the need to keep building bridges between resources and networks rather than trying to reinvent the wheel.
“My goal is to be a master-connector,” Ms. Hendricks said.
“I’ll second that!” added Ms. Morgan. “The doors are open, and the future is bright.”
Workshops Relevant to the Modern Woman Veteran
Morning workshops at WVI NatCon 2026 tackled the realities Women Veterans face as they navigate life after service in a fast-changing world.
Transition sessions asked attendees to step out of the “costume” of past roles and take stock of how their existing skills translate into new careers and opportunities. Another session explored how to live, lead, and create with AI, a timely look at the tools reshaping the modern workplace and lifestyle.
Health and Wellness sessions addressed the toll that constant change and caregiving can take, with one focused on setting boundaries, recognizing the signs of being overextended, and learning to take care of oneself.
Together, the sessions gave participants practical ways to reinvent, adapt, and lead with confidence in the next chapter.
Women Veterans Forum
To close out conference activities, Ginger hosted a Women Veterans Forum, bringing several experts to the stage to talk about important issues that impact Women Veterans, including careers, breast cancer, and ….
Kim Lott, a Navy Veteran and Community & State Outreach Administrator at DirectEmployers Association, spoke about DirectEmployers’ partnership with WVIF to enhance the job search experience for Women Veterans. She walked attendees through WVIF’s careers page, where Women Veterans can search open positions and filter by industry, title, location, and more. The listings update constantly, making the page a reliable tool for anyone looking for their next opportunity.
Attendees heard the personal story of one Woman Veteran’s experience with breast cancer. This heart to heart focused on diagnosis, treatment, and the impact on emotional and psychological wellness. The conversation also addressed how to access support and treatment through VA benefits, and then opened the floor for questions, answers, and comments. Women in attendance shared resources, stories, and encouragement.
