Elgin Area Chamber Of Commerce: Celebrate HERstory Month

Press release from the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce:

March 09, 2022

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will celebrate Women's HERstory Month throughout March 2022. DCEO, through its Offices of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE) and Regional Economic Development (RED), will present virtual events featuring business resources and advice from women leaders, recognize women-owned businesses throughout the state, and showcase our commitment to investing in women. Please join us for these first two virtual events, as we celebrate and elevate HER in Illinois!

Illinois Financial Capital Resources for HER
Thursday| March 10, 2022 | 10:00-11:00 AM | webinar

Securing financial capital is a major obstacle for women-owned businesses, and it’s even more challenging for businesses owned by women of color due to historical inequities. With women being underinvested - only receiving around 2% of venture funding in 2021 compared to men, we’ll discuss avenues for financial capital to help women in Illinois start, sustain, and expand their businesses during the continued COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Welcome
Kala Lambert: Southeast Region Manager, DCEO-Office of Regional Economic Development (RED)
Michelle Lura White: Women’s Business Development Manager, DCEO-Office of Minority Economic Empowerment
(OMEE)
Vanessa Uribe: Deputy Director, DCEO-Office of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE)

Moderator
Dr. Gloria Sweida: Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s (SIUE) School of Business

Panelists
Abigail “Abby” Scanlan: Director of Access to Capital for the WBDC, Women's Business Development Center
Darrah Perryman: Outreach and Marketing Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)-Illinois District Office
Kristi Dula: Deputy Director, DCEO-Office of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Technology (EIT)
Sadia Naveed: Vice President–Lending Specialist Small Business, Bank of America
Emily Mattes: Vice President of Business Banking, First Women’s Bank

Empowering HER with Resources: How Illinois Supports Women-Owned Businesses
Wednesday | March 23, 2022 | 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | webinar

Whether you’re already a woman business owner or aspiring to be one, please join us in a virtual panel event to learn about no-cost (free) resources to help promote your business, such as one-on-one business advising, business education programs, and online business directories. We’ll also share more about the advocacy and policy work being done behind the scenes to ensure women entrepreneurs have the support they need to be successful.

Welcome
Kala Lambert: Southeast Region Manager, DCEO-Office of Regional Economic Development (RED)
Michelle Lura White: Women’s Business Development Manager, DCEO-Office of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE)
Vanessa Uribe: Deputy Director, DCEO-Office of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE)

Moderator
Valeri Werpetinski: Associate Director of Entrepreneurial Education, University of Illinois’ Gies College of Business’ Origin Ventures Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership

Panelists
Darrah Perryman: Outreach and Marketing Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)-Illinois District Office
Ericka White: Assistant State Director, Illinois Small Business Development Center (IL SBDC)
IB Majekodunmi: Founder, refinecltv
Liem Le: Outreach Director, Goldman Sachs 10KSB
Maura Mitchell: Managing Director of Entrepreneurial Services, Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC)