Women in Defense

What Women in Defense does

Women in Defense (WID) Michigan Chapter, founded in 2007, is a non-profit professional networking and development organization operating as an affiliate chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and recognized as the largest WID chapter among 22 nationally. Its charter constituency comprises women and men working in or entering the U.S. defense and national security industry across Michigan, spanning defense contractors, all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, government agencies, academia, think tanks, and professional services firms. The chapter serves this population through a portfolio of programs: a year-long mentorship program pairing defense professionals, a scholarship program (over $100,000 awarded since 2009) supporting women pursuing defense and STEM careers, a STEM initiative launched in 2010 that includes annual Pi Day events, and two recurring awards programs — the Horizon Leadership Awards and the Excellence in Leadership Award, both running since 2009.

The organization's core offering is membership-based, with access managed through NDIA's eWeb portal, and layered with event-driven programming including an annual Black Tie Gala, Scholarship Golf Outing, Small Business Summit, ReThink/ReInvent Women's Leadership Forum, and a monthly Lunch & Leadership Series. Corporate sponsorship is the primary commercial mechanism, structured as three annual tiers: Gold ($15,000, capped at 4 slots), Silver ($7,000, capped at 6 slots), and Bronze ($3,500, capped at 8 slots), supplemented by event-level sponsorships (e.g., the 17th Annual Scholarship Golf Outing in July 2025 attracted 35+ sponsors and raised over $25,000) and individual event registration fees ($150–$185 gala tickets; $35–$45 social tickets). Geographic footprint is concentrated in Michigan, with primary programming in the Shelby Township/Macomb County area and West Michigan events in Grand Rapids, while drawing on NDIA's national infrastructure reaching 1,550 corporate and 64,000+ individual members. The chapter does not develop proprietary technology products; its operational model is community- and event-led, with digital presence handled through standard website, email, and social channels.

Revenue is concentrated in three streams — annual corporate sponsorship packages, event sponsorships, and individual membership dues/registration fees — making the organization sensitive to defense industry sponsor retention and event turnout. The leadership is a volunteer board of directors drawn from WID Michigan's defense employer base (Systems X, Rehmann, General Dynamics Land Systems, NAMC, Warner Norcross + Judd, Baker Engineering, Gideon Defense, etc.), reflecting the chapter's deep coupling between its governance and its primary sponsor ecosystem.

Name

Women in Defense

Legal name

Women in Defense Michigan Chapter

Website

https://wid-mi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Women in Defense (WID) Michigan Chapter is a non-profit professional networking organization, founded in 2007 and affiliated with the National Defense Industrial Association, serving women and men in Michigan's defense and national security industry through memberships, scholarships, mentorship, STEM programs, and corporate-sponsored events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Sponsorship Packages: Corporate sponsorships at three tiers: Gold ($15,000), Silver ($7,000), Bronze ($3,500) providing brand visibility, event access, and recognition throughout the sponsorship year.
2. Event Sponsorships: Customized event-level sponsorship opportunities for individual events such as golf outings, galas, and networking events.
3. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to NDIA collaborative community, divisions, policy updates, mentoring opportunities, and local chapter participation.
4. Event Registration Fees: Ticket sales for galas ($150 members, $185 non-members), networking events, leadership forums, and educational programs.
5. Annual Membership Social: Special event ticketing such as Mingle Jingle membership social at $35 for members and $45 for future members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Women in Defense (WID) Michigan Chapter is a non-profit professional networking and development organization serving women and men across Michigan who contribute to national defense and security. The chapter delivers strategic networking, education programs, mentorship pairings, scholarships for women in STEM, leadership development forums, industry recognition awards, and signature events. As an affiliate of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and the largest WID chapter in the country, it connects members to a national network of 1,550 corporate and 64,000+ individual members.

Product overview

Women in Defense Michigan Chapter operates as a membership-based professional networking and development organization rather than a technology product company. The organization offers a portfolio of programs including membership services, scholarship programs for women in STEM fields (high school and college levels), a year-long mentorship program pairing defense industry professionals, STEM initiatives with annual Pi Day events, industry awards (Horizon Leadership Awards and Excellence in Leadership Award), and various events including the annual Small Business Summit, Women's Leadership Forum, Black Tie Gala, Scholarship Golf Outing, and monthly Lunch & Leadership Series. Sponsorship tiers provide corporate partners with brand visibility. The organization is affiliated with the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and represents the largest WID chapter in the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Program Annual professional membership providing access to strategic networking, education programs, career development, mentorship opportunities, NDIA affiliation, divisions, policy updates, and local chapter participation for individuals contributing to national defense and security.
• Mentorship Program Year-long structured mentorship program matching defense industry professionals for professional growth, with mentor-protege pairings meeting monthly, kick-off networking events, and professional development activities throughout the program year.
• Scholarship Programs Financial support programs for women pursuing STEM careers and defense industry paths, including high school scholarships for Michigan university-bound students and college scholarships for students with at least junior status, with over $100,000 awarded since inception.
• Annual Sponsorship Program Tiered corporate sponsorship packages (Gold $15,000, Silver $7,000, Bronze $3,500) providing brand visibility, event access, multiple memberships, golf foursomes, gala tickets, logo placement on website, and recognition throughout the sponsorship year.
• Small Business Summit Annual event connecting small businesses with Department of Defense leaders, prime contractors, and industry professionals to learn about DOD initiatives and opportunities for small business engagement in the defense sector.
• ReThink/ReInvent Women's Leadership Forum Annual leadership development forum designed by women for women, featuring breakout sessions on workplace culture, employee retention, leadership strengths, mentorship, and cross-company communication.
• Defense After Dark Gala Annual black-tie gala featuring networking, entertainment, and recognition of outstanding achievements in the defense industry, with sponsorship opportunities supporting mentorship, STEM, and scholarship programs.
• Lunch & Leadership Series Monthly virtual program featuring speakers and topics aimed to educate, motivate, and inspire defense industry professionals, covering personal and professional development topics.
• Scholarship Golf Outing Annual fundraising golf event supporting scholarship programs, with the 17th annual outing in July 2025 raising over $25,000 with more than 144 golfers participating, contributing to over $150,000 invested in scholarships over six years.
• STEM Initiative Programs engaging local schools and businesses since 2010 to encourage young women to pursue STEM careers, including annual Pi Day virtual events with hands-on STEM kits for middle and high school students.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than $100,000 in scholarships awarded since program inception in 2009
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, secondary and minor.

• Golf Outing Event Sponsors (35+ companies)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 202535+ sponsors for 17th Annual Scholarship Golf Outing including: Actalent Inc., ADS Inc., American Rheinmetall, BAE Systems, Capture Management Solutions, Farm Bureau Insurance, Geisler Company, General Dynamics Land Systems, GM Defense, Granger Construction, Honigman, JEM Computers, M3 Defense, McNally Industries, Media Solutions, Metalbuilt, Models & Tools, ND Defense, NTL Industries, Rafael Systems, Rheinmetall, Roush Defense, SAPA Transmissions, Selflock Screw Products, Suburban Bolt, SME, Stratcomm, and others.
• National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWID Michigan is an official affiliate/chapter of NDIA. This partnership provides access to NDIA's collaborative community, divisions, policy resources, national events, and broader membership base of 1,550 corporate and 64,000+ individual members. NDIA promotes best practices, policy, and technology for national security.
• BAE SystemsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Sponsor of WID Michigan. Recognized for unwavering support for advancing women in national security and defense. BAE Systems provides ongoing visibility and financial support for chapter programming and initiatives.
• RehmannmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Sponsor of WID Michigan. Recognized for commitment to empowering women and strengthening the defense sector through financial clarity and strategic insight. Rehmann is a financial consulting firm serving the defense industry.
• Baker Engineering LLCmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in presenting the 'A Salute to Unsung Heroes of Defense' series, highlighting women whose contributions have shaped defense and national security. Baker Engineering provides sponsorship support for this monthly spotlight series.
• RheinmetallsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual sponsor providing support for chapter events and programming. Rheinmetall is a defense and automotive technology company with operations relevant to Michigan defense ecosystem.
• Systems XsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner company with executive leadership involved in WID Michigan board leadership. Systems X provides IT strategies and services.
• Warner Norcross + Judd LLPsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual sponsor and legal partner with multiple board members (Aida Dismondy, Director of Mentorship; Sue Tellier, Immediate Past President). Provides legal and professional services to defense industry clients.
• National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember-led 501(c)(3) non-profit providing professional opportunities and connections that result in cutting-edge technology for the U.S. Military. WID MI Vice President Alissa Roath serves as NAMC CEO. NAMC co-presents Small Business Summit.
• General Dynamics Land SystemsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor defense contractor sponsor of multiple chapter events including golf outings and galas. Board member Brittani Chambers serves as Sr. Engineering Communications Specialist.
• Macomb CountysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partner supporting defense ecosystem development. Macomb County is home to significant defense manufacturing and serves as key geography for WID Michigan programming.
• NDIA Michigan ChaptermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister chapter relationship with NDIA Michigan Chapter. Joint events including Fun on the West Side with AUSA Arsenal of Democracy, combining defense industry networking across organizations.
• LIFT (Detroit)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue and food/beverage sponsor for STEM Pi-Day events. LIFT is a manufacturing innovation hub in Detroit focused on advanced manufacturing and workforce development.
• WID Boston ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative STEM programming partner for annual Pi-Day virtual events. Multi-chapter collaboration on STEM initiatives spanning Michigan, Boston, and Arizona chapters.
• WID Arizona ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative STEM programming partner for annual Pi-Day virtual events. Multi-chapter collaboration on STEM initiatives spanning Michigan, Boston, and Arizona chapters.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Women in Defense National: National-level WID organization under NDIA providing the umbrella brand and national programming. WID Michigan is its largest chapter and directly affiliates with this entity for membership, policy access, and national events.
• Society of Women Engineers (SWE): Large non-profit advancing women in engineering with scholarships, awards, mentoring, and STEM outreach. WID Michigan's STEM and scholarship initiatives mirror SWE's mission and programming model.
• Air & Space Forces Association: Independent, nonprofit aerospace association supporting the Air and Space Forces with memberships, chapters, scholarships, and industry events. Closely comparable non-profit professional association serving the defense community.
• Navy League of the United States: National civilian organization supporting sea services and defense industry with membership, councils, and events. Operates a comparable non-profit, membership-driven model serving defense and national security stakeholders.
• Association of the United States Army (AUSA): Established national professional association for the U.S. Army and broader defense community. Comparable non-profit model with membership dues, events, sponsorships, and industry networking serving overlapping defense audiences.

Direct peers

• Women in Defense Boston Chapter: Sister WID chapter collaborating on joint STEM Pi Day events with WID Michigan. Operates the same non-profit chapter model under the WID/NDIA umbrella with comparable programming and sponsorship tiers.
• Women in Aerospace (WIA): Professional organization dedicated to expanding women's representation in the aerospace and defense community. Closely aligned mission, scholarship/award programming, and corporate sponsorship structure with WID Michigan.
• NDIA Michigan Chapter: Sister NDIA chapter serving the same Michigan defense community with joint events (e.g., Fun on the West Side with AUSA Arsenal of Democracy). Operates as a parallel defense industry networking organization with overlapping membership base.
• Women in Defense Arizona Chapter: Sister WID chapter collaborating with WID Michigan on multi-chapter STEM initiatives. Comparable non-profit chapter model under WID/NDIA serving a regional defense industry ecosystem.

Others

• National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC): Member-led 501(c)(3) non-profit providing professional connections that deliver cutting-edge technology to the U.S. Military. WID Michigan's VP (Alissa Roath) serves as NAMC CEO, and the two co-present the Small Business Summit, indicating tight programmatic partnership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wid.michigan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women-in-defense-michigan
• Xx.com/wid_michigan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Women in Defense