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BRAVE IS...
Everyone wants to be courageous in life and business. But what does your brave look like? It’s different for everyone, but as women business owners, we have left comfortable jobs to start our own ventures. We have done business the world over. We have met with senators and members of Congress. We have sat on executive boards. We have taken major financial risks. Whatever “brave” means to you, this year’s theme of “Brave Is” will help you put yourself out there, push through fears and say “yes” to life and business even more.

Tweets by NAWBONational

keynote speaker

Glennon Doyle

Author, Activist, Founder of Together Rising

Glennon Doyle is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller UNTAMED, a Reese’s Book Club selection. She's also the author of New York Times bestsellers LOVE WARRIOR (an Oprah’s Book Club selection) and CARRY ON, WARRIOR. An activist and thought leader, Glennon is the founder and president of Together Rising, an all-women led nonprofit organization that has revolutionized grassroots philanthropy – raising over $25 million for women, families, and children in crisis. She lives in Florida with her wife and three children.

Registration Fees - All Inclusive

Includes Live Stream and OnDemand of Annual Membership Meeting, 2 General Sessions and Breakouts, Virtual Resources, Matchmaking Opportunities, and Conference Swag Bag.

member
$195

non-member
$250

Join hundreds of women entrepreneurs as we come together to capitalize on this incredible moment in time.

Agenda

Monday, September 21, 2020 - Annual Membership Meeting - All Times Listed are ET

time
description
location

10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Fitness Session

Sponsored by Camp Gladiator

VCC
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
State of NAWBO: 2020 Accomplishments and Intiatives

Chapter Awards Ceremony with Wells Fargo

VCC
2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
General Session Fireside Chat - Women Voting: 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage

The upcoming elections will be important for all Americans, but especially for America’s women business owners and entrepreneurs. Learn from AARP’s Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond in this fireside chat about the importance of your voice and the impact it has on national and local elections. It’s when we have our say in leadership, legislation and policy that will have a direct impact on our business communities. This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. It gave women a spot at the table, made the table more inclusive and is a reminder of how far women have come over the last century. The women’s vote is powerful—plain and simple.

Presented by Nancy LeaMond, Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Engagement Officer at AARP

Sponsored by AARP

VCC
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Creating Leaders for a World of Change – Choices That Make Good Leaders Great & NAWBO 45^th Anniversary Reflection

Fireside Chat with NAWBO Co-Founders Denise Cavanaugh and Dottie Gandy
Moderated by Crystal Arredondo, Past National Chair (2015-2016)

VCC

Thursday, October 1 - Extended Learning Sessions - All Times Listed are EST

time
description
location

12:00 - 12:45 p.m.
Breakout 1: Boost Your Social Media Influence with Instagram 201

Presented and Sponsored by Facebook/Instagram

VCC
3:00 - 3:45 p.m.
Breakout 2: Up Your Speaking Game to Attract New Business and Opportunities

While opportunities abound for business leaders to present their expertise at
conferences and meeting —leading to new accounts, projects and contacts and building reputation—many retreat from center stage or underperform. In this experiential session, Anne B. Freedman, CEO of Speakout, Inc., will help you up your speaking game, from how to open your message to how to shine no matter what happens.

Presented by Anne B. Freedman, CEO of Speakout, Inc.

VCC
5:00 - 5:45 p.m.
EXPO: Virtual Exhibit Hall

VCC
5:00 - 5:45 p.m.
Networking and Matchmaking

VCC

Thursday, September 24 - Extended Learning Sessions - All Times Listed are ET

time
description
location

12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Networking

VCC
12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
EXPO in Virtual Exhibit Hall

VCC
12:00 - 12:45 p.m.
Ready to Go Live? On-Camera Makeup Tips From a Pro

Before you hop on your next video conference, make sure you’re looking and feeling your best with these on-camera tips. Professional make-up artist Cathi Singh will walk you through the entire virtual set-up process, including finding your light, watching those angles and choosing your background. She’ll share favorite products from her own make-up kit and tell you what products to avoid on camera, too. Flattering hairstyles, options for false lashes and blotting sheets and powder—she’ll cover all this and more in this fun session!

Presented by Cathi Singh, Owner LemonPenny Productions

VCC
3:00 - 3:45 p.m.
Breakout 1: Strategic Planning: Refocus, Reset, or Pivot?

Strategic planning often gets a bad reputation as being extraneous, complicated and dare I say… boring. Olalah will share a few of her trade secrets to ensure your strategic planning efforts spark dynamic thinking and create traction in days – not months. Olalah will challenge you to think “beyond the horizon” to determine when it’s time to refocus, reset or do a full pivot in order to maintain your industry relevance. Delivered in her signature fast-paced, buckle up and hold on style, Olalah will show you how to:
- identify high-impact areas of your business
- explore and execute what’s possible
- make your business more recession proof
- achieve strategy excellence
Presented by Olalah Njenga, CEO YellowWood Group
VCC
3:00 - 3:45 p.m.
Breakout Session 2: Recreating Your Executive Presence at Home

In today’s remote work environment, we’re missing the affluence of executive offices, name placards and reserved parking spots. Honor and release those feelings, and get ready to recreate your executive presence at home with help from this interior design coach to top executives. Gain the confidence, design fundamentals and pro tips you need to recreate any space—from your home office to your living room—so that it’s the perfect reflection of you.

Presented by Monica Viramontes, Founder of Evolving by Design

VCC
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Mixology: A Spirited Session with Tim Laird, America’s C.E.O. - Chief Entertaining Officer

Tim will be shaking things up and sharing the history of distilling, cocktails, and trends along with ideas on how to make cocktails at home and easy entertaining. He will explain how it was Alcohol, not Tea, that caused the American Revolution. You will learn the best techniques in making cocktails and find out if James Bond was correct when he ordered his cocktail, “Shaken not stirred.” Tim will show the basics of setting up a home bar and the latest trends in spirits, cocktails, and garnishes. He created a signature cocktail just for NAWBO, the NAWBO Breeze, and will demonstrate how to make it at home. Finally, Tim takes the intimidation out of home entertaining and offers valuable tips to make it easy and fun for your guests and for you as the host.

Presented by Tim Laird, Chief Entertaining Officer at Brown-Forman Co.

VCC

Tuesday, September 22, 2020 - Women's Business Conference Day 2 - All Times Listed are ET

time
description
location

10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Fitness Session

Sponsored by Camp Gladiator

VCC
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Fireside Chat with Glennon Doyle, Award-winning Author and Activist
Moderated by Eva Saha, Professional Presenter and TV Personality

Remarks from Presenting Sponsor Bank of America

VCC
1:45 – 2:45 p.m.
Dell Cyber Security Workshop: Secure Yourself and Your Data

With so many of us working exclusively from home since the start of COVID-19, cyber security risk has been on the rise and our defenses challenged. Join Matt Papendorf as he looks into the current threat trends in cyber security and the online Wi-Fi landscape. He’ll help you better understand just how the current remote work environment is a breeding ground for hacker activity. He’ll also share five simple steps and practices for you to take now to secure yourself and your data for the future.

Presented by Matt Papendorf, North American OEM Brand Manager at Dell Security

VCC
1:45 – 2:45 p.m.
Workshop 2: Assessing the Financial Impact of Strategic Decisions in Uncertain Times

Learn the importance of aggressive cash flow management in a challenging business environment in this interactive session. We’ll address how to assess the financial health of your business and how to evaluate the effects of an external shock like a global pandemic on your business. Using scenarios, we’ll also evaluate different funding options, revenue streams and other potential pivots your business could pursue and weigh the pros and cons of each. Ultimately, we’ll leave you with an understanding of how to account for uncertainty in challenging times, and the importance of using financial metrics to steer your business to new opportunities and/or a “new normal.”

Presented by Dr. Richard Bliss and Edward Byrne

Sponsored by Goldman Sachs10,000 Small Businesses

VCC
3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
Breakout 1: Your Financial House: Access to Capital, Loans (PPP or other), Cash Flow, and Financial Strategic Planning

Sponsored by Bank of America

VCC
3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
Breakout 2: Shifting Your Marketing Strategy Post-COVID

Presented by Jenn Lisak Golding, Founder and CEO at Sapphire Strategy

VCC
3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
Breakout 3: The Power of Storytelling

Stories are one of the most powerful tools you can use to inspire trust and connect with your audience. In this skill-building breakout, former opera singer turned entrepreneur and public speaking expert Allison Shapira shows you how to find, craft, and tell personal and professional stories. This program is highly interactive, engaging, and practical. Participants will leave the program inspired by each others’ stories and excited to use their own stories – in their business or in their community.

Key Take-Aways:
- Discover your own personal and professional stories
- Learn to craft and tell a compelling story
- Understand how to use stories in your next meeting, pitch, or presentation
Presented by Allison Shapira, Founder and CEO of Global Public Speaking
VCC
4:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Wine and Cheese Celebration

Presented by Sharon Harris, Owner and Director of winemaking, RARECAT Wines

and Kelly Scanlon, NAWBO National Institute Board of Directors

VCC
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Networking

VCC
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
EXPO: Virtual Exhibit Hall

VCC

Tuesday, September 29 - Extended Learning Sessions - All Times Listed are ET

time
description
location

12:00 - 12:45 p.m.
Breakout 1: Making the Best of 2020: Protecting Your Business in a World of Uncertainty

2020 turned the world—and your business—on its head. In the midst of the chaos, employers are navigating the ever-changing tides in the law and surges in the pandemic. Join this session for a discussion on the latest laws and trends that you need to know to protect your business and move forward safely. We will discuss the new legal challenges employers are facing and the practical implications of managing employees in this extraordinary time.

Presented by Anne Duprey, Employment and Labor Member at Frost Brown Todd

Sponsored by Frost Brown Todd

VCC
3:00 - 3:45 p.m.
Breakout 2: Health is Wealth for Entrepreneurs

As a woman entrepreneur, your business is only as good as you are. It’s more important than ever to optimize your health so that you’re in a mindset to lead your company through these times, and times to come. Don’t fall into the trap of sacrificing your health while striving for success and achievement. There’s a better way! This session will feature Kristel Bauer PA-C sharing tools and mind/body techniques you can use to manage stress and have the energy and focus you need to optimize your performance.

Presented by Kristel Bauer PA-C, Founder of Live Greatly

VCC
5:00 - 5:45 p.m.
EXPO: Virtual Exhibit Hall

VCC
5:00 - 5:45 p.m.
Networking and Matchmaking

VCC

Wednesday, September 23 - Women's Business Conference Day 3 - All Times Listed are ET

time
description
location

10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Fitness Session

Sponsored by Camp Gladiator

VCC
12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
General Session Panel Discussion: The Brave World of Leading Ladies

Sponsored by Dell

VCC
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Breakout 1: Is Certification the Edge Your Business Needs?

Businesses can use every edge to succeed right now, but is certification the one your business needs? Do I really need it? Is it worth the effort? Will it really open doors to new opportunities? Also, which certifying organization is right for me? Experts on this supplier diversity panel—representing UPS, Verizon, NWBOC and WBENC as well as women business owners on both sides of the certification conversation—will address these questions and more!
Key takeaways:
- Advantages of being certified as a woman business owner
- Different certifying organizations and what they can offer you
- Why certification is important and valuable to corporations
- How to determine if it’s right for your business
Moderated by Kris Oswold, Vice President, Global Procurement - Supplier Diversity at UPS

Sponsored by UPS and Verizon
VCC
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Workshop 2: Dell Microsoft Workshop

VCC
4:00 - 4:45 p.m.
Breakout 1: Power of Inclusion

Differences in race, gender, religion, and sexuality are often used to reinforce power imbalances, but what would happen if we were able to use our diversity to create new, more inclusive power structures? Deanna Singh will take the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion conversation from theory to action. As a woman of color with executive leadership roles across many different sectors, she has first-hand experience with how to help individuals and organizations move their efforts forward. She uses the art of storytelling to illustrate the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work and provides real tools to implement strategies that will help shift organizational culture.

Presented by Deanna Singh, Founder and Chief Change Agent at Flying Elephant

Remarks by Carolyn Rodz, Founder and CEO at Hello Alice

Sponsored by Hello Alice

VCC
4:00 - 4:45 p.m.
Breakout 2: Assessing and Minimizing Employment Risk in a Post-Pandemic World

COVID-19 has impacted the American (and global) workforce in ways that we've not yet fully realized. As businesses manage this new legal landscape, they are having to reinvent and reimagine the way they’ve worked with their employees to maximize efficiency and minimize risk. This presentation will focus on how the workplace has changed due to COVID-19, what changes are likely to stick around, and what are some of the best practices to minimize risk that have emerged as the American workforce went back to work.

Presented by Catherine Burgett, Managing Associate at Frost Brown Todd

Sponsored by Frost Brown Todd

VCC
4:00 - 4:45 p.m.
Breakout 3: WBOs and Working Adults with Kids Face a Whole New Level of Challenge This Fall

Running or contributing to a business during this time of COVID-19 is challenging enough. But for women business owners and working adults with kids, this fall will add a whole new level of challenge as they try to successfully navigate their work while supporting their kids’ online education or providing childcare for their youngest. There’s no road map. In fact, studies show these new responsibilities are falling disproportionally on women, and many are being forced to leave the workplace as a result. During this session, education, childcare and employment/HR experts will address and offer solutions to these challenges of working parents as well as to the concerns of business owners with employees who no longer have the same time to commit, are concerned over the risk of returning to an office environment or are considering leaving their jobs for better pay.

VCC
5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
Panel Discussion with three Women Business Owner Finalists

Moderated by Karen Harrision, Senior Vice President, National SBA Executive, Bank of America

Presented by Bank of America

VCC
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Annual Awards Gala
- Woman Business Owner of the Year presented by Bank of America
- Dr. Tererai Trent Award
- Susan Hager Legacy Award
- Gillian Rudd Business Leadership Award
Fireside Chat with Susan Hager and Gillian Rudd Awardees
Moderated by Jacqueline Hayes, NAWBO National Board of Directors

Living Room Acoustic Session with National Blues, Rock and R&B Recording Artist Jackie Venson
VCC

Panel Moderator

Kristel Bauer PA-C

Founder of Live Greatly

Kristel is a female entrepreneur in wellness with an extensive healthcare background, a keynote speaker and a podcast host striving to inspire people to optimize their health and attain a mindset for success. As an integrative medicine fellow, physician assistant and Reiki master, Kristel founded Live Greatly to share her findings on how to achieve optimal health in mind, body and spirit and attain success. Kristel empowers her audience to overcome their fears and live life from a place of joy, self-love and success.

Richard Bliss

National Academic Director of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program

Richard is a professor of finance at Babson College and the National Academic Director of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. He is part of the team that designed the curriculum and trained the faculty and staff at program delivery sites across the country and served as the Babson Launch Faculty for LaGuardia Community College, City Colleges of Chicago, Community College of Philadelphia, Detroit (Wayne State University, Macomb County Community College and Oakland County Community College) and Community College of Rhode Island. Richard has a PhD in Finance.

Usha Boddapu

Founder & CEO of ESOLVIT, Inc.

Usha is a national award winner with 23-plus years of experience in the tech industry. She is founder and CEO of ESOLVIT, Inc., an IT solutions company, and president and chief AI scientist at ARYTIC, Inc., an artificial intelligence predictive hiring platform. In both roles, she applies her entrepreneurial mettle and technology expertise to the task of providing information technology services and solutions to clients nationwide. She is an accomplished tech executive and with ESOLVIT, she has a platform for helping other female entrepreneurs and for funneling some of her company’s success back to nonprofits.

Catherine Burgett

Managing Associate at Frost Brown Todd

Catherine is a member in Frost Brown Todd’s Columbus office where her practice focuses on the representation of both public and private employers in a broad range of labor and employment matters, including traditional labor work, employment litigation, breach of contract and advising employers on a daily basis regarding employment issues. She represents a wide variety of small, mid-size and large employers in the health care, manufacturing, logistics, technology, food service, construction, retail and customer service industries, as well as several public sector entities in Ohio and surrounding states. She is a regular speaker on labor and employment and human resources topics.

Edward Byrne

National Deputy Director at Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program

Edward is national deputy director for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program where he oversees the day-to-day operations of the program nationally. In his role, he is responsible for the alumni program, measurement and evaluation, and oversees the delivery of the program across the 16 sites. Edward joined the program in 2016 as alumni manager for the national blended cohorts at Babson and later became the national alumni director, overseeing the programming for then more than 7,000 alumni of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses across all 50 states and U.S. territories. He is the son of two small business owners.

Denise Cavanaugh

Past NAWBO National Chair 1980-1981

Denise met Dottie Cook in Washington, DC in 1973 and started Cook/Cavanaugh Associates—expanding the services of Dottie’s firm, Job Market. She retired from CHPMintz.com in the fall of 2018. CHPM continues to provide management counsel, strategic planning and leadership support to staff and boards of wide range of professional associations and non-profit organizations serving a variety of local, national and international constituencies. Denise served as NAWBO National Chair in 1980-1981.

Lisa Coppola

Founder of The Coppola Firm

Lisa Coppola is an entrepreneur with a background in advertising and marketing as well as a 25-plus-year career as an attorney partnering with clients in business planning, litigation, and human resources and charter school law. Lisa is a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. For years she’s been named a “Super Lawyer” and has been recognized by Business First as a Legal Elite and Woman of Influence. She was the first WNY attorney to receive the New York Bar Association’s statewide award for outstanding pro bono service. She co-owns The English Gardener, Buffalo-Niagara’s premier garden-design company. Currently, Lisa serves on the NAWBO National Board of Directors.

Yasmin Davidds

CEO of the Multicultural Women Executive Leadership Foundation

Yasmin is an entrepreneur, organizational psychologist and CEO of the Multicultural Women Executive Leadership Foundation, Women’s Institute of Negotiation and Dr. Yasmin Davidds Leadership Institute, organizations dedicated to the teaching, instruction and development of leadership competencies primarily focused on women. Her commitment to the empowerment and development of all women leaders has brought her recognition and acclaim from the U.S. Congress and California State Senate and Assembly. She has been recognized as an influential and leading Latina by Hispanic Magazine and in “The Book of Latina Women.”

Anne Duprey

Employment & Labor Member at Frost Brown Todd

Anne (“Annee”) is a member in Frost Brown Todd’s Columbus office who focuses her practice on the representation of employers in a broad spectrum of labor and employment matters, including employment litigation, traditional labor work and advising employers on day-to-day personnel issues. She has represented a wide variety of small, mid-size and large employers, including those in the manufacturing, logistics, technology, food service, construction, retail, health care and customer service industries, as well as several Ohio municipalities. She is a regular speaker on labor and employment trends, discrimination and harassment issues and best employment practices.is a regular speaker on labor and employment trends, discrimination and harassment issues, and best employment practices.

Anne Freedman

Founder & President of Speakout, Inc.

Anne is an internationally recognized business communication and executive presentation consultant, corporate trainer, author and e-course developer. As founder and president of Speakout, Inc., a Miami-based company established in 1990, her mission in life is “to help prevent everyone from ever having to listen to or give another boring speech or ineffective presentation. And to keep the art of face-to-face communication alive and well!"

Dottie Gandy

NAWBO Co-Founder

Dottie is a powerful and transformative speaker, dedicated to inspiring the world to say, “Why Not!” instead of “Why Me?” She shows us that challenging life circumstances are not dead ends but, rather, opportunities to say yes to life. Her career spans 40-plus years as a corporate executive, business owner, author and speaker. Her proudest moments include co-founding NAWBO and being in the crowd when Dr. Martin Luther King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Jenn Lisak Golding

President & CEO of Sapphire Strategy

Jenn is President and CEO of Sapphire Strategy, an all-female digital marketing agency that blends rich data with experienced-back intuition to optimize marketing performance for technology companies, professional services businesses and nonprofits. An award-winning strategist, Jenn developed the Sapphire Lifecycle Model: an evidence-based audit tool and blueprint for high-performing marketing investments. She was the youngest member of the Indianapolis Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 class in 2017. In her spare time, Jenn is a Mary Kay consultant. She’s also passionate about giving back to the community, specifically focusing on women and girls.

Karen Harrison

Senior Vice President, National SBA executive at Bank of America

Karen serves as senior vice president, national SBA executive at Bank of America. Her national team is responsible for delivering credit solutions to business owners across the United States, while also ensuring clients benefit from the full franchise value of Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. As a preferred lender for the SBA, Bank of America is one of the leading SBA lenders in the nation, helping business clients secure the capital they need to meet their business priorities. A 25-year banking veteran, Karen has held senior executive management positions at leading financial institutions prior to joining Bank of America in 2011.

Cristina Morales Heaney

Chair, NAWBO National Board of Directors

Cristina Morales Heaney brings more than ten years’ experience in the corporate and nonprofit development fields to her role as U.S. Safety Services’ CEO. In 2005 she rebranded U.S. Safety Services and has since shaped the company into a leading provider of temporary medical staffing throughout Central and South Texas. Under Morales Heaney’s leadership, U.S. Safety Services has become the provider for the largest sports and entertainment center in San Antonio and provides temporary medical staffing for the majority of community sports, entertainment and conference facilities in the San Antonio area. Cristina currently serves as the Chair of the NAWBO National Board of Directors.

Nancy LeaMond

Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer

As AARP’s executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer, Nancy leads government relations and campaigns for AARP, widely seen as one of the most powerful advocacy organizations in the country. She also oversees AARP’s public education and outreach initiatives designed to help Americans take charge of their health and better plan, work and save for retirement. In addition to leading efforts to update Social Security and advocating for other retirement savings initiatives, Nancy’s team of 700 staff and 18,0000 volunteers produce and deliver unbiased tools and information to help people make effective financial decisions.

Olalah Njenga

CEO of YellowWood Group

Olalah is CEO of YellowWood Group. She is an award-winning entrepreneur, accomplished business strategist and advocate for the small business economy. Olalah’s public sector roles include the Leadership Council for the National Small Business Association and the Leadership Council for the National Federation of Independent Business of North Carolina. She holds a governor-appointed seat as the Commissioner of Small Business on the NCWorks Commission representing the commerce and workforce interests of 900,000 North Carolina business owners. Olalah served as 2019-2020 president of NAWBO-Greater Raleigh.

Kris Oswold

Vice President, Global Procurement & Supplier Diversity at UPS

Kris is a leader in global business process design and organizational transformation. With 30 years at UPS, she has built a career designing and executing global organizational change. As the Vice President leading Supplier Diversity at UPS, Kris brings a process-centric, and data-driven, perspective to the role. Under her leadership, UPS has more than doubled its spend with small and diverse businesses, and broadened its engagement and collaboration across the UPS enterprise. Kris is a member of the board of directors of WEConnect International, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, Georgia Minority Supplier Diversity Council and NMSDC Business Consortium Fund.

Matt Papendorf

North American OEM Brand Manager at Dell Security

Matthew has been the North America OEM brand manager for Dell Security for the past 5 years. Partnering with the internal product management teams, he has established a winning track record for improving knowledge and sales of endpoint security at Dell. His role encompasses everything from online media/advertising, print, social media and sales marketing to analyzing regional OEM security sales performance and making tactical recommendations on levers that drive brand awareness, product knowledge and momentum for OEM security partners. He also develops and implements sales events throughout North America.

Vikita Poindexter

CEO of Poindexter Consulting Group, LLC

Vikita is CEO of Poindexter Consulting Group, LLC. She has been known throughout her 30-plus year career as the consummate professional and go-to person for human resources. Her extensive knowledge of HR includes, but is not limited to, budget preparation, cost analysis, EEOC compliance, recruiting, Department of Labor and Standards, Department of Fair Housing, benefit administration, litigation prevention, personnel management, arbitration and contract negotiations for multi-million dollar operations. In addition, Vikita is a sought-after public speaker and serves as an advisor on labor law matters for various media outlets.

Carolyn Rodz

Founder & CEO of Hello Alice

An investment banker turned three-time award-winning Latina entrepreneur, Carolyn serves as founder and CEO of Hello Alice, a smart technology that helps business owners find the right path to start and grow their companies. Carolyn has been recognized as a “17 Women to Watch” by Inc. Magazine, testified before the U.S. Congressional House Small Business Committee and featured in a U.S. Senate report titled, “Tackling the Gender Gap: What Women Entrepreneurs Need to Thrive.” She was selected by Mayor Turner of Houston to co-chair the Women and Minority Small Business Task Force in 2019.

Eva Saha

Professional Emcee, Moderator and TV Personality

Eva is a professional emcee, moderator and presenter. She is best known for having worked as a TV personality on the Emmy Award-winning entertainment show, 190 North, on Chicago’s ABC7. Her natural, warm and commanding presence, both on and off-camera, has also made her the host of choice for a variety of live-event clients, including Cardinal Health, IDEXX, Caterpillar and Philips Healthcare. Eva is also an active volunteer for Selah Freedom and WITS Chicago, working to advance literacy and improve the welfare of disadvantaged women and children. She also supports and fundraises for causes that include international women’s rights and social justice advocacy.

Allison Shapira

Founder & CEO of Global Public Speaking

Allison is an opera singer turned keynote speaker and the founder/CEO of Global Public Speaking, a communication training firm and certified woman-owned small business. She teaches at the Harvard Kennedy School and has spent 16 years developing leadership communication programs for Fortune 50 companies, government agencies and nonprofits. Through her work with Vital Voices Global Partnership, she helps women leaders grow their business, run for office or launch a nonprofit. Allison is also the author of Speak with Impact: How to Command the Room and Influence Others.

Deanna Singh

Founder & Chief Change Agent at Flying Elephant

Deanna is an accomplished author, educator, business leader and champion for marginalized communities. As the founder and chief change agent of Flying Elephant, Deanna consults with individuals and companies that are looking to make a positive difference in the world. She is known for giving clients the tools and courage to imagine, activate and impact the world as agents of change. A social entrepreneur at her core, Deanna is also always at the forefront of social change. She has established and operated multiple social innovations, including the New York City office of LIFT, which helps people find a way out of poverty for good.

Cathi Singh

Owner of LemonPenny Productions

Cathi has been a freelance makeup artist for 12 years, working in Los Angeles, Palm Springs and San Diego, California. She specializes in television, print and commercial media as well as in live events, and she has won four NATAS Emmys. With a background in synchronized swimming, Cathi worked with waterproof and theater makeup early on, and then started her career in wardrobe styling and film. Today, she works with entertainment and sports celebrities as well as with major brands—always bringing her positive outlook to every set.

Phyllis Hill Slater

President & CEO of Hill Slater Group

For over 40 years, Phyllis served as president and CEO of Hill Slater Group (HSG), a highly successful, third-generation, family-owned engineering and architectural support firm servicing the private and public sectors of engineering, architectural and construction management communities. She currently is a sought-after speaker and provides strategic business consulting and professional development coaching services for the private and public sectors. Phyllis holds several positions as board of director, trustee, founder, co-founder, charter member, honorable member and member of various regional, national and international organizations. Additionally, she is a devoted and celebrated business advocate.

Jackie Venson

National Blues, Rock and R&B Recording Artist

Obsessed with music from an early age, singer/songwriter Jackie immersed herself in its study, attending the Berklee College of Music to practice classical piano. However, it wasn’t until she switched to the electric guitar that her passion for emotive live performance was realized. Abandoning the straight-laced world of classical for the raw power of blues and soul, Jackie has since been tirelessly honing her skills into an intoxicating amalgam of Blues, Rock, R&B and Soul with deeply heartfelt lyrics. Her new album “Vintage Machine” is set to release this fall.

Monica Viramontes

Founder & Owner of Evolving By Design

Monica is founder and owner of the award-winning Evolving By Design, a meaningful interior design studio creating engaging spaces that tell her clients’ stories while supporting their natural behavior. Her mission is to help other executives cultivate a physical space that aligns with their purpose—whether it’s an entrepreneur launching a new space, a professional growing out of an existing space or a parent in transition. Monica’s childhood spent growing up in the family construction business is what ignited her passion to become formally educated as a licensed interior architectural designer.

National Women's Business Conference - 2020

2020

September 21-23, 2020