Pamela Prince Obituary-Death News; Pamela Prince Eason, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council CEO, Dies
The nation’s business and leadership community is mourning the loss of a visionary force with the sudden passing of Pamela Prince Eason of Piney Flats, Tennessee.
Pamela, the long-serving President and CEO of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), died unexpectedly, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of advocacy, innovation, and empowerment for women and underrepresented entrepreneurs across the country.
Since stepping into her role at WBENC in 2011, Pamela redefined what it meant to be a leader in supplier diversity and women’s business development. Under her transformative leadership, WBENC grew into one of the country’s most powerful champions for women entrepreneurs.
She expanded the organization’s influence within the Fortune 500, while launching dedicated initiatives to uplift marginalized communities, including Women of Color and LGBTQ+ business owners.
Her tireless commitment helped thousands of women-owned businesses find visibility, support, and opportunity. Pamela was not only a leader but also a connector. She brought together key stakeholder organizations whose missions aligned with WBENC, fostering unprecedented collaboration.
Through partnerships with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), WEConnect International, and others, she helped shape a more inclusive and equitable landscape for business owners of all backgrounds.
Her influence extended into the realm of federal policy. Pamela was serving her third term on the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) at the time of her passing, offering crucial guidance to the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on issues affecting women in business.
Her voice was a trusted source of insight and advocacy, helping shape national conversations around entrepreneurship and equity. Pamela’s earlier career laid a strong foundation for her trailblazing work.
She served as Vice President of Worldwide Procurement at Pfizer Inc., and previously held senior leadership roles at Texas Instruments, GSE Systems, and Warner-Lambert.
Her blend of corporate expertise and entrepreneurial acumen—gained as a former co-owner of RMR Associates—allowed her to bring real-world solutions to complex business challenges.
Recognized for her unmatched contributions, Pamela was honored with numerous prestigious awards. She was inducted into the Women’s Business Enterprise Hall of Fame and the Enterprising Women Hall of Fame, and received the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) Woman of Achievement award.
She was also recently celebrated at the 2023 Gala of Power Women Moves at the Nexus Club and will be featured in the upcoming Women Mean Business book, where she is profiled among other powerful female trailblazers.
Beyond her remarkable professional accomplishments, Pamela was deeply grounded in her personal life. She earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from East Tennessee State University and went on to graduate magna cum laude from Johns Hopkins University with a master’s in international business and finance.
She cherished time spent with her family. She and her husband John shared a beautiful life together, raising three children and enjoying the love of six grandchildren. Family moments—often spent playing tennis, basketball, or snowboarding—were among Pamela’s greatest joys.
Pamela Prince Eason’s sudden passing is an immeasurable loss. She was a fierce advocate, a brilliant strategist, and a compassionate leader whose work uplifted and inspired countless lives.
Her legacy will live on through the continued growth of the WBEs she championed and the communities she served so faithfully. She will be dearly missed, never forgotten, and remembered always as a woman who truly moved the world forward.
