Advancing Hoosier Women in Business seminar series

Indiana Lt. Governor Becky Skillman is bringing the sixth annual Advancing Hoosier Women in Business seminar series to Fort Wayne on Friday, June 22. The event, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, is being co-sponsored by the Chamber, the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center, and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

Also featured will be Fort Wayne Deputy Police Chief Dottie Davis as luncheon speaker, along with a panel of four successful local businesswomen, and an eight-member panel representing business resources. The seminar is open to the public, with a $25 registration fee that includes lunch and the entire program. Reservations are being made through the Fort Wayne Chamber Web site, www.fwchamber.org/hoosierwomen.

Several area businesswomen will also be a part of the Advancing Hoosier Women in Business seminar. A morning panel will consist of four successful local businesswomen who will share stories from their entrepreneurial journey. These panelists include Neco Beasley, owner of The House of Neco; Karen Goldner, president of Bowmar; Marilyn Moran-Townsend, chair and CEO of CVC Communications; and Cheryl Heller, president/owner of GIS, Inc.

An afternoon panel discussion will feature eight women representing various local and statewide business resources. Participants from state government agencies are Kristin Garvey, executive director of the Indiana Commission for Women, and Nancy Walker, certification coordinator for the Indiana Department of Administration’s Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises Division.

Five area women will present information on local and regional business resources, including: Anne Simerman, attorney at law, Barrett & McNagny LLP; Cheryl Blackman, executive director,
Community Development Corporation of Northeast Indiana; Stephanie Veit, commercial lender, Three Rivers Federal Credit Union; Mary Popovich, business advisor/marketing coordinator, Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center; Elissa McGauley, economic development specialist, City of Fort Wayne Community Development Division; and Michelle Merritt, vice president of member relations and communications, the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce.

The local seminar is being co-hosted by the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center (NEISBDC), the Indiana Office of Community & Rural Affairs (OCRA) and the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce.

Registration is currently underway for $25 per person through the Chamber Web site at www.fwchamber.org/hoosierwomen. For more information, call the Chamber at 260-424-1435 or the NEISBDC at 260-481-0500.