Women's Business Development Council Announces Panelists for "Women With Impact"

From Connecticut Women's Business Development Council:

STAMFORD, CT - The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC), of Connecticut, announced the panelists for the Women with Impact Annual Business Breakfast & Symposium taking place on Friday, September 23, 2016, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich, 1800 East Putnam Avenue, Old Greenwich, Connecticut. This fifteenth annual WBDC fundraising event will host over 650 guests and draws national and regional business, political and social leaders.

Fran Pastore, president of WBDC stated, “Since women nationally received the legal right to vote in 1920, their power to influence developments in business, the economy, and social needs has been a lifeblood for positive actions in this country.” She continued, “WBDC’s Women with Impact Business Breakfast & Symposium will enrich the dialog among business leaders, politicians, employers and employees across Connecticut.”

The Business Breakfast & Symposium will include a panel discussion with breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. followed by a selection of workshops led by industry leaders on a variety of related business topics.

With the United States Presidential elections just weeks after the WBDC Breakfast, the panelists will be discussing needed critical economic changes that can strengthen women’s entrepreneurship. This is the fastest growing segment of the nation’s economy.* The moderator will be Lesley Jane Seymour, media entrepreneur and former Editor-in-Chief of More magazine. The panelists are:

Kimberly A. Blackwell, CEO, PMM Agency- She is one of only 8 CEOs on the National Women’s Business Council, the federal advisory council serving the President, the Congress, and SBA on issues of economic importance to women business owners. She is also an internationally respected entrepreneur whose brand management firm represents global corporations worth billions of dollars and named one of Ebony Magazine’s 2015 EBONY Power 100.

Margaret Price, CEO, Ridgefield Supply Company – As one of only a handful of female executives in the lumber and building material industry, Margaret has spent 20 years driving sales growth and business expansion for her family owned company.

Betty Spence, president, National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) – Beverly leads the nation’s largest association for women professionals and business owners that provides education, networking, and advocacy. As the founder of The Spence Group, Betty consults with organizations on the advancement of women, conducts leadership workshops, and implements sponsorship initiatives.

Allison Schieffelin Walker, Chairman and CEO, The Lighting Quotient – Allison is an important contributor to the manufacturing industry in Connecticut and beyond. She works with public policy officials and legislators to fill and grow manufacturing jobs and opportunities, bringing a resurgence and revitalization to the Connecticut manufacturing industry.

WBDC will be presenting Seema R. Hingorani, Founder and Chair, Girls Who Invest, Inc., with the WBDC Woman of Impact Award and State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff will receive the WBDC Outstanding Leader Award.

Jill R. Hummel, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut, is the Chair of the WBDC Women with Impact Breakfast. Wells Fargo is the Marquee sponsor with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Hearst Media Services and Seema R. Hingorani as Platinum sponsors.

“It is an honor for me, personally, and Anthem, to support the Women’s Business Development Council. The state-wide not-for-profit understands and strengthens the power of women to develop and create businesses that support their families, their communities and economic growth in Connecticut, creating a stronger Connecticut for everyone. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is proud to be a major stake holder in their work.”

The tickets for the WBDC Women with Impact Business Breakfast and Symposium are $175 for individual seats, and tables of 10 range from $2,500 to $20,000. For more information or to buy tickets please contact WBDCBreakfast@longpointgroup.com or call 203-353-1750.

The Business Breakfast and Symposium will be followed by three workshops that are free of charge and open to the public from 10:20AM-11:30AM. The Workshops topics are: Marketing Your Business in the Age of Social Media, Paid Leave: Great for Employees. Great for Business; and, The State of Women Entrepreneurs – A Q&A with Industry Experts. Advance registration is required. Please contact Megan Wormser at 203-353-1750 or register at www.ctwbdc.org.

In 2015, WBDC clients launched or expanded over 375 new businesses, and maintained or added close to 820 jobs in Connecticut, resulting in $5 million in additional tax revenue to the state’s economy. WBDC develops women business leaders and strengthens the economy of Connecticut by providing financial, entrepreneurial and access-to-capital educational programs to start-ups, emerging and established business owners.

The WBDC, a 501(c)(3) founded in 1997, is headquartered in Stamford and has offices in Danbury, Derby and Hartford. Visit WBDC at ctwbdc.org, follow on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram at ctwbdc.

* www.nwbc.gov

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