Join us to honor outstanding women in our local life sciences sector! The HERstory Gala is the signature event for WIB-Capital Region and its supporters, where we highlight women trailblazers in the life sciences who have made a significant impact in the metro area. This elegant event attracts men and women from industry, government, non-profit organizations, and academia across the region. It provides unique opportunities to meet with some of the region’s most successful women. Additionally, awards will be presented to the WIB Inclusion Grantee and Rising Star Award Winner.

Notes: Dress code is business or cocktail attire. Each ticket includes two drink tickets. Please make a dinner selection at checkout. The options are: Mediterranean Chicken (roasted tomato, fennel, artichoke hearts, olives, Madeira sauce), Seared Salmon (lemon butter sauce), and Vegetarian Roulade (eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, onions, tomato coulis, vegan and gluten-free). All entrees will be served with a salad (Baby greens, oranges, apples, strawberries, caramelized walnuts, blue cheese, & orange-infused olive oil), risotto, mixed vegetables, and tiramisu for dessert. Allergies and dietary restrictions can be accommodated if specified during registration.

Notes for purchasing tables:

• Tables of eight are available for purchase. Select the Table ticket at checkout.
• When you purchase a Table ticket, you can enter Guest 1, Guest 2, etc, if you don't have your guest information at checkout. A link to a form will be included in your registration confirmation email to add these details when you have them.

Program

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.  Cocktails and networking
7:00 p.m. – 7:50 p.m.  Welcome, introduction, seated dinner
7:50 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.  Speaker introduction, keynote addresses
8:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.  Q&A with audience
8:45 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.  WIB Inclusion Grant and Rising Star Award presentations
9:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.  Continued networking, group pictures

Speaker Bios

Liz Powell, Esq, MPH, Founder & CEO of G2G Consulting and Women’s Health Advocates

Since starting G2G Consulting in 2007, G2G has secured over $550 million in government funding, shaped policy for health and high-tech innovation for businesses and nonprofits, managed grassroots mobilization advocacy campaigns, and secured CMS reimbursement. In 2025, Liz founded Women’s Health Advocates, which is a culmination of several coalitions she launched and managed over the years. With members in 50 states, it organized the first-ever Women’s Health Capitol Hill Day, three congressional briefings, eight events throughout the country, and secured legislative success. She serves on the steering committee for the Innovation Equity Forum (IEF) led by the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health and the Gates Foundation. Previously, she served as Legislative Director in Congress, a Policy Analyst for the UK House of Commons Health Committee, and as congressional and presidential campaign staff. Awarded the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year and Women of Achievement awards, Liz earned her MPH from Harvard, JD from George Washington, and BA from Colgate.

Ellington West, Co-Founder and CEO of Sonavi Labs 

Ellington is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sonavi Labs, a medical device and software company based in Baltimore, Maryland. She brings over a decade of experience in healthcare business development, market research, and organizational leadership to the company and oversees the development and commercialization of Sonavi Labs’ inaugural product line. Under Ellington’s leadership, Sonavi Labs has evolved from a Johns Hopkins research project into a globally recognized, pioneering health technology company. Since its founding in 2017, Sonavi Labs has raised more than $6.5 million in funding, received FDA approval for the Feelix® hardware platform, and been awarded nine patents. Ellington has been recognized by Inc. as one of the Top 100 Female Founders of 2021 and by the Cartier Women’s Initiative as a North American Fellow. She has also been honored by the Baltimore Business Journal as an Enterprising Woman of Excellence and by the Baltimore Sun as one of the 25 Women to Watch in Healthcare. Ellington and her team have earned top honors in several international competitions, including winning the Health, Tech, and Wearables category at SXSW 2022 and the Early Stage Pitch Competition at HLTH 2021. She is frequently invited to speak as an industry leader for organizations such as the American Telehealth Association, Johnson & Johnson, and the National Society of Black Engineers. Beyond her work at Sonavi Labs, she serves as a mentor and advisor to the Consortium for Technology and Innovation in Pediatrics, where she develops programming to support early-stage health innovators. Ellington also serves on the Living Classrooms Board of Trustees and was appointed by the Governor to the Maryland Life Sciences Advisory Board in 2022. In 2024, Ellington expanded her leadership footprint by becoming an owner and operator of Harbor Designs and Manufacturing, an ISO certified advanced manufacturing and product development firm based in Baltimore. Harbor Designs partners with early-stage companies, universities, and research institutions to bring complex hardware and medical device innovations to market through end-to-end design, prototyping, and production. The company is a cornerstone of Baltimore’s growing innovation ecosystem, supporting regional job creation, economic growth, and the advancement of U.S.-based manufacturing. Through both Sonavi Labs and Harbor Designs and Manufacturing, Ellington is shaping the future of medical innovation by merging advanced technology, equitable design, and local impact. Her mission-driven leadership continues to create opportunities for collaboration across healthcare, manufacturing, and community development, bridging the gap between invention and access.

Pricing Information

Register by February 20

• Members/Guests: $100
• Student Members: $40
• Non-Members*: $150

Register after February 20

• Members/Guests: $115
• Student Members: $55
• Non-Members*: $165

Table Sponsor

Parking Information

Parking is available on-site in the Hilton Parking Lot and Garage, included with the ticket price.

Directions from Public Transit

Hilton Rockville is a 4-minute walk from the Twinbrook Metro station on the Red Line.

Accessibility Accommodations

This location is wheelchair accessible. If you need additional accommodations, please contact us before the event at capitalregiongala@womeninbio.org.

Sponsors