Event planner says she hasn't been paid for a year

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A year is a long time to go without getting paid for a job, and so 7 On Your Side took up the cause of several people who worked at a local event that was supposed to help empower women.

A mom trying to make a living as a part-time freelancer and a large theatrical production company both trusted they would would eventually get what they deserved because of the organizer's reputation and the great cause for which they were working. But they were wrong.

When event producer Renita Schnure signed on to work for the WIE Symposium, a women's empowerment summit in Soho, she was planning for her second child. Fast forward a year, her son Austin's now close to cutting his first tooth, and Renita's still waiting for her check to be cut by the WIE founder and CEO, Dee Poku.

"I would hate to think that a women that was empowering women was stiffing another woman. And she said she promised she's not stiffing me," says Renita.

But Renita says after working for 3 weeks managing the 1-day event for Poku, whose WIE Website's filled with photos and videos of herself and the high-powered women attending her symposium through the years, she feels like a woman scorned. How much money is she owed?

Schnure: "$2,911."

Nina Pineda: "How much have you..."

Scnure: "Not one penny."

Not even a Penny from Poku who publicly laments about the way men treat women.

"Women are not treated very respectfully," says Poku.

"If she would've, 12 months ago, said I can't pay you. I can pay you in installments I would've been fine with that," says Schnure.

Instead Renita says Dee Poku just turned a blind eye both to hers and others outstanding bills.

"No communication whatsoever. Not even a reason as to nonpayment. Nothing at all," says Scott Goodman, Chief Financial Officer of BMI-Blackbird. He says his production company was hired for equipment rental at the WIE event. He also can't collect.

Pineda: "So, $8,600 and how much have you received?"

Goodman: "Zero, nothing."

CFO Scott Goodman's baffled by the bold-faced diss especially after discounting the deal to help Dee.

"I was surprised because the information we got on Dee, this is someone who's out there, connected and this is totally unexpected," says Goodman.

We tried to get answers for the unpaid vendors, our calls, emails and messages on social media were ignored.

Nina on phone to Poku: "Dee, how can you say you're empowering women when you're not paying the women who work for you?"

And so were went on two visits to her penthouse Manhattan apartment.

Receptionist: "She said she wasn't expecting anybody and her son is asleep."

After our initial calls, Renita says she got an offer for payment in installments if she didn't speak to us. But Renita declined the offer when she says Poku wouldn't give her a firm date on when the payments would start.

Renita says she got an offer for payment in installments if she didn't speak to 7 On Your Side. But she thought it was more important to warn others about rendering services for weeks without at least a deposit. Both unpaid vendors plan to continue to pursue their money, and so will 7 On Your Side.