On Friday, May 17 the 3rd Annual Women in Business Conference will take place at The Lodge at Hocking College. This free event will unite women entrepreneurs in all stages of business development for a day and will focus on the following:
- Providing a space for networking so women entrepreneurs can create and feel a greater sense of community
- Providing professional development through speaker & breakout sessions
- Providing personal development
What’s the Agenda For the Conference?
The conference, which will take place from
8 a.m. - 3 p.m. at The Lodge, will have the following agenda:
- Trade Show • 8 AM — 3 PM
The trade show, which will include Unified Bank, OUCU, ACEnet, Ohio SBDC, Hocking College, & Athens Impact Socially Responsible Investments, will also feature a raffle that attendees can enter. Each table will have its own basket & winners will be drawn at the end of the conference. Attendees enter by business card drop (blank cards will be provided for those without business cards)
- Speaker Dr. Betty Young • · 9 AM — 9:15 AM
Dr. Young will welcome attendees to the conference.
- Session 1: What Are You Selling, and Who’s Buying • 9:15 AM — 10:15 AM
Megan Riddlebarger from Sycamore Run Early Childhood Center & the Entrepreneur in Residence with the Social Enterprise Ecosystem program at OU's Voinovich School will clarify your value proposition and how to eliminate barriers to success. A value proposition is a clear statement that explains how your product solves customers' problems or improves their situation, delivers specific benefits, and tells the ideal customer why they should buy from you and not from the competition. This session is for entrepreneurs at any stage of business development. The discussion will include reflective activities and some actionable takeaways.
- Session 2: Digital & Social Media Marketing • 11:20 AM — 11:50 AM
This session will teach you about social media marketing for small businesses, specifically Facebook and Instagram; Google Analytics and other ways of tracking digital marketing success; and other marketing platforms such as Google Adwords.
- Keynote Speaker: Dr. Geneva Murray • 12 PM — 1 PM
Dr. Murray is the Director of the Ohio University Women’s Center, a center designed to provide students, faculty, and staff with information, services, and programs that address matters of particular concern to women. Lunch from the Hocking College School of Hospitality will be served during this session.
- "We Did It So Can You" Panel • 1:15 PM — 2:30 PM
This panel discussion will consist of business owners Jennifer Chapman Kleski (KES Environmental Services), Aubrei Krummert (Real World Organizing), Tara Slingerland (Butcher’s Bites & Athens Advanced Chiropractic) & Timarie Francis (Black Diamond Bicycles). This panel is an opportunity to hear from some remarkable women business owners in the community and to learn how they came to be where they are today.
What Other Activities Will Be Going On During the Conference?
Additional activities at the conference include professional headshots, curbside consulting, and an abundant of networking opportunities.
How Can I Register to Attend This Conference?
Anyone interested in attending should reserve their spot to the conference by registering here.
How Can I Get More Information About This Conference?
Anyone needing more information about this conference can contact ACEnet's Programs & Communications Coordinator, Meggan Loveland, by email at megganr@acenetworks.org.