The Premier Conference for Women Entrepreneurs

The Western Women’s Business Center (WWBC) will hold its Fourth Annual Conference, “Planting Seeds, Inspiring Growth.”

The conference, which takes place on Thursday, June 21, 2018 from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Mission Health/A-B Tech Conference Center, will feature business workshops, music, interactive activities and local business leaders and distinguished speakers. Keynote speakers include Ursula Jorch, owner of Work Alchemy; Suzannah Tebbe Davis, owner of Your Awakened Life; and Kat Williams, international musician based in Asheville. A light breakfast, lunch and afternoon refreshments will be provided.

Conference partners include the Small Business Center (SBC) at A-B Tech and the Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC) at Western Carolina University. The SBC is part of a statewide community college-funded initiative with a vision to support small business and economic development in local communities. The SBTDC is the business and technology extension service of The University of North Carolina, which oversees the 16 constituent institutions of the University.

“I am proud to be a part of the annual WWBC Conference and excited to be innovating the way we do business conferences for women entrepreneurs. This year’s theme, ‘Planting Seeds, Inspiring Growth’ says it all for women entrepreneurs who have embarked on a new venture and are ready to expand and grow,” said Sharon Oxendine, WWBC Director.

“As a program of Carolina Small Business Development Fund, we are proud to be a part of the WWBC’s growth in the western region of the state,” said Lenwood V. Long, Sr., President/CEO of Carolina Small Business Development Fund. “This year, I am excited to see the impact the conference will have in the lives of women entrepreneurs and their business growth. This opportunity will provide them an opportunity to learn new skills to grow their businesses and leave them inspired to continue to work towards building their business dreams.”

The conference will host six concurrent workshops covering topics including:

• Guidelines for Strengthening Your Portfolio by Wendy Outland
• Discovering and Igniting Your Potential in Today’s World by Darlene Strickland
• Camino a Sus Sueños – Todo es Posible—Journey to your Dreams/ Everything Is Possible by Lori Garcia McCammon
• Navigating the Lending Landscape – Panel: Tonya Snider, CSBDF; Erika McGilley, NCIF; Jane Hatley, Self-Help Credit Union; Kelly Foster, Mountain BizWorks
• Essential Insurance Coverage for Business Owners – Panel: Melody Isis Herman, Pop Benefits; Jessica Cody, Trout Insurance
• From Acorn to Oak: Sustaining a Solid Financial Future by Katherine Morosani

“The A-B Tech Small Business Center is once again thrilled to collaborate with the CSBDF to offer this inspiring and invigorating program that continues to be impactful beyond the day of the event,” said Jill Sparks, Executive Director of the SBC at A-B Tech.

About the Western Women’s Business Center

The mission of the WWBC is to provide capital, high quality assistance, and programs that reduce barriers and serve as a catalyst to the success of women entrepreneurs in western North Carolina. In addition to a monthly networking workshop series, the WWBC also offers business plan development, one-on-one business development counseling, and certification assistance for federal programs and referral support for business services.

The WWBC is a program of Carolina Small Business Development Fund. For more information about WWBC, please contact Jasmine Hanks at [email protected] or (828) 633-5065.

For conference registration and information, visit carolinasmallbusiness.org/initiatives/wwbcconference2018. To inquire about a scholarship, please call Abby Suarez at (828) 348-8755.