Members to Discuss Economy, Politics, Business Growth at 2008 Women's Business Conference
NAWBO Members to Tackle Tough Economic Climate, Assess Changing National Political Developments, Map Strategies for Business Growth in '09 and Elect New Leaders during June 12-14, 2008 Women's Business Conference at Arizona Biltmore
Women’s Business Conference gets down to business with Presidential Campaign Forum amid troubling talk of tightening business credit, subprime mortgage meltdowns, home foreclosures and soaring gas prices. Women business leaders to focus on the environmental awareness as ‘NAWBO Goes Green’.
(Phoenix, AZ, June 9, 2008) — Members of the National Association of Women Business Owners® (NAWBO®), the nation's largest organization of women business owners, will convene for their 2008 annual conference at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa on Thursday, June 12 through Saturday, June 14 with some of the most turbulent and challenging economic times since Ronald Reagan was President in the 1980s uppermost on their minds. The continuing crisis in home mortgage lending and home foreclosures have had a sustained impact on business credit and banking markets.
Emergency economic relief is not immediately in sight. Layoffs in major business sectors are rising. Gasoline costs are soaring. All businesses are affected by the ripple effect of our nation’s downturn. Women-owned businesses have become a bulwark for local jobs and new business development in the past two decades. NAWBO® members will arrive in Phoenix seeking strategies for business survival in tough economic times and a roadmap for sustaining business growth in 2009 and beyond.
National Politics Takes Center Stage at June 12 at NAWBO Presidential Campaign Forum
Carly Fiorina, former chair and CEO of global technology giant HP (Hewlett-Packard) representing Republican Party presumptive nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) will face-off in a moderated discussion of presidential campaign issues and politics with Ann M. Fudge, former chair and CEO of global advertising giant Young & Rubicam Brands representing presumptive Democratic Party nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Illinois).
Ms. Fiorina and Ms. Fudge will discuss their respective GOP and Democratic Party November Election campaigns for President of the United States during a special NAWBO® Presidential Campaign Forum on Thursday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Aztec Room at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. They will discuss the state of the U.S. economy, healthcare reform, federal immigration policy and many other issues of critical concern to women in business and women-owned businesses.
Survey: Economy, Healthcare and Fuel Costs Rank as Top Concerns for Women Business Owners
According to a January 2008 public opinion survey of NAWBO® members conducted by Washington, D.C.-based Center for Women’s Business Research on behalf of the National Association of Women Business Owners®, the state of the economy, cost and availability of health insurance, fuel and other energy costs, and business taxes rank as the top issues impacting the women’s business community this year.
When provided a list of nine key business issues, fully 93% of NAWBO® members responded that the faltering national economy is an extremely important or very important issue for them as business owners, making it their top overall concern among all issues in 2008. 82% of NAWBO® felt the cost and availability of health insurance [for owners and employees] was extremely important or very important to them. 81% cited fuel prices and other energy costs and 75% cited business tax issues as a significant concern.
Local and National News Media Coverage is Invited
The news media is invited to attend and provide coverage of the National Association of Women Owners’ (NAWBO®) 2008 Women’s Business Conference from June 12-14, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, in Phoenix, Ariz. An opening day news availability is scheduled for Thursday, June 12 at 2:30 p.m. with members of the Board of Directors of NAWBO®, the organization’s annual conference corporate sponsors and the NAWBO® 2008 Women’s Business Award recipients.
In the first half of 2008, women business owners have created a rising tide of entrepreneurship and shaped the larger business environment as they built greater success for themselves as business leaders. United around their common goals, these powerful women have defined new standards of business start-up, ownership and prosperity that has forever changed the social, political, and economic landscape in the United States.
The theme of the NAWBO® 2008 Women’s Business Conference is “together : rising”. This premier annual event will draw women entrepreneurs from across the country looking to grow their businesses, advance their leadership skills, and create lasting change in the business culture. Honorable Jan Brewer, Secretary of State for the State of Arizona will open the conference on Thursday, June 12 with welcome remarks on how state and local governments can do more to take bureaucracy out of business entrepreneurship.
Honorable Phil Gordon, Mayor of Phoenix, will celebrate the spirit of the Arizona’s culture and promote its Sun Belt business-friendly atmosphere at a June 12 opening reception. Jones New York, the foremost brand in classic women’s apparel will team with Lloyd Boston, noted celebrity fashion stylist, for a special “together : rising” NAWBO® conference fashion show that will run the women’s business couture gamut from the red carpet to the boardroom to the shop floor.
As the greening of America takes center stage, NAWBO will host a green conference with American Express OPEN providing reusable water bottles and permanent markers to identify attendees’ water bottles. In addition, GM, a conference Gold sponsor, will display its LIST CAR, a hybrid vehicle.
Green Car Journal, the leading automotive environmental magazine, has recognized GM’s commitment to advanced automotive technologies and production of sustainable vehicles. GM’s upcoming Chevrolet “Volt”, a plug-in battery-powered prototype concept car, reaffirms the automaker’s focus on propulsion alternatives that improve fuel economy and reduce carbon emissions.
GM has three hybrids ranked in the top five vehicles for Green Car Journal's Green Car of the Year Award®, including the 2008 Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid, 2008 Chevy Tahoe hybrid and the 2008 Chevy Malibu hybrid. The 2008 Chevy Malibu hybrid will be on display at the conference venue.
Keynote remarks from remarkable women and business leaders:
- Rita Davenport, President of Arbonne International and author of Making Time, Making Money
- Laura Liswood, Secretary General, Council of Women World Leaders and Senior Advisor, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
- Nely Galan, Television producer, owner of Galan Entertainment, and cast member of "The Apprentice: Celebrity Edition"
- Oren Harari, Author, competitive advantage expert, and former consultant with The Tom Peters Group
Reporters interested in content for stories on business issues including entrepreneurship, financing, marketing, technology, and inventiveness should attend this meeting. A complete listing of sessions is available on the NAWBO website at www.nawbo.org/wbc2008. For a press registration, contact Shawn Taylor Zelman at (703) 506-3268, cell: (703) 727-4216, szelman@nawbo.org. For more information, visit www.nawbo.org.
In addition, NAWBO thanks our conference sponsors for their support of women entrepreneurs. View the list of sponsors on our conference page.
For a complete list of NAWBO’s Corporate Partners, visit our corporate partners page.
About NAWBO: Founded in 1975, NAWBO propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide. More than thirty years later, NAWBO is still the only organization that solely represents the interest of women entrepreneurs in all industries. The organization’s mission is to strengthen the wealth-creating capacity of its members and promote economic development; to create innovative and effective change in the business culture; to build strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations; and to transform public policy and influence opinion makers. Visit www.nawbo.org for more information.
Contact: Shawn Taylor Zelman, szelman@nawbo.org
Brynn Slate, bslate@nawbo.org
703-506-3268
Shawn’s Cell: 703-727-4216
www.nawbo.org
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