TodayBig crowd expected to attend annual business women's forum
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Article RatingIn an effort to provide Carlisle area women with more professional development opportunities, the Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce created a business women’s forum 14 years ago.
The program was so popular in Carlisle the first five years that officials decided to combine with the Harrisburg Regional and West Shore chambers for a regional forum.
Attendance numbers have soared ever since — growing from 150-175 women to about 1,000 — prompting organizers to relocate the program last year to the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg.
“It’s just a great opportunity to make new contacts with other attendees,” said Michelle Crowley, president of the Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce.
Women attend the forum because it’s a day of leadership and development, she explained. It also provides them a chance to visit with the nearly 150 exhibitors on-hand, as well as solicit business tips and new sales leads.
In addition, the forum offers three different periods of workshop sessions, where women from various business levels — from both small and large companies — present insight on how to create a striving business, be a good leader and learn to negotiate and communicate better, among other topics.
“The Business Women’s Forum is a wonderful gathering place for women to share and gain information, including how to best take care of their health and that of their families,” said Cindy Small, director of marketing and public relations for Carlisle Regional Medical Center.
Leadership wisdom
Keynote speaker for this year’s forum, scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday March 27, will be Courtney Lynch, co-author of “Leading from the Front.”
Lynch, who is also a co-founder of Lead Star, a consulting company dedicated to the leadership development of women, comes from the highly competitive environment of the United State Marine Corps, where 94 percent of her peers were men.
Her keynote remarks offer leadership wisdom that will help audience members become stronger leaders in all areas of their lives, including achieving a health work-life balance.
People don’t have to change in order to be in control of their lives, according to Lynch. Instead, they need to embrace their strengths and improve upon their weaknesses.
Kimberly Schaller, vice president and chief marketing officer for Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Co., will be the morning speaker at the forum. She was the first female VP in the company’s history when she was appointed in 1997.
“The Business Women’s Forum is one of the premier events in our area and each year we look forward to the excitement that the event brings to the participants,” said Robert Marquette, president and chief executive officer for Members 1st Federal Credit Union, who is the presenting sponsor of the event.
Registration costs
• $150 until the day of the event
• $199 on the day of the event
• $290 for non-chamber members
The host chambers have also partnered with the following to present the forum: African American Chamber of Central Pennsylvania, Gettysburg Adams Area, Greater Chambersburg, Hanover Area, Hispanic Chamber of Central Pennsylvania, Lebanon Valley, Shippensburg Area, and York County Regional.
The registration fee includes materials, handouts, meals, and parking. A separate registration form must be completed for each attendee.
To attend for lunch only, the cost is $60 per person.
Registration brochures can be downloaded by logging on to www.businesswomensforum.com. For more information, contact Megan Kraemer of the Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce at 717-243-4515.
