11th Women’s Summit to be held March 13 on Bryant campus

Nearly 1,000 people are expected to attend the 2008 Women’s Summit “Inspiration and Empowerment” chaired by Kati Machtley.

Registration for the 11th Women’s Summit, which will take place on Thursday, March 13 at Bryant University, begins today. The theme for this year’s event is Inspiration and Empowerment. The Platinum Sponsor is Fidelity Investments.

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This popular conference will feature keynote speakers Michele Peluso, president and CEO of Travelocity; Geraldine A. Ferraro, the first female vice-presidential candidate who is currently a principal in the government relations practice of the national law firm Blank Rome; and Joan Countryman, former head of the Lincoln School in Providence who helped launch Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.

The Women’s Summit will also feature 19 educational presentations and panels lead by prominent women who are experts and leaders in their field. The sessions are designed to appeal to women at various levels of career development – from new professionals to those in senior executive positions.

Nearly 1,000 people are expected to attend the daylong conference, which consistently sells out each year.

“The Women’s Summit provides women with an empowering educational experience to help them advance in their careers, a network of contacts, and the inspiration to achieve their best in life and their chosen professions,” says Kati Machtley, director of the Women’s Summit.

Tory Johnson, founder of Women for Hire, gave the Opening Keynote at the 2007 Women's Summit

Jennifer Parkhurst ’97, a senior staffing consultant at Fidelity Investments who has attended the Women’s Summit for the past eight years, says that the conference provides a chance to meet and interact with professional women who have a variety of experiences.

“The Women’s Summit is a great opportunity to learn from other women and gain new knowledge that can be applied to both your personal and professional life,” says Parkhurst. “Each year I am even more motivated and inspired following the event. I strongly believe that you never know from what seed your next valuable relationship will sprout, and this event gives you that opportunity.”

Award-winning actress and human rights activist Alfre Woodard gave the Luncheon Keynote at the 2007 Women's Summit

For Anne Callahan ’05, an assurance associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Boston, attending the Women’s Summit gives her the confidence to balance work and a personal life – like so many professional women before her.

“After seeing all of the women at the Summit and listening to the presenters, it shows that it is not only possible but that it can also be rewarding,” says Callahan, who will be attending her third Women’s Summit.

She has found the sessions on leadership and seizing opportunities in the workplace the most valuable – especially in her field of public accounting, when she is regularly asked to “take charge” at client sites despite only a few years of experience.

“The sessions on leadership and dealing with difficult conversations have helped me to feel empowered in situations like these,” says Callahan.

Liz Murray, whose story was dramatized in the Lifetime movie From Homeless to Harvard, gave the Closing Keynote at the 2007 Women's Summit

Vi Pham ’05, an applications specialist at Meditech, has had the chance to take part in the event as a student and as a member of the workforce. She will be attending her fifth Women’s Summit in March.

“Attending these conferences as a young professional enables me to learn new skills, network, and learn from others, and, most importantly, instills the drive to realize my dreams,” says Pham.

A panel discussion on entrepreneurship was one of 18 breakout session at the 2007 Women's Summit lead by prominent women who are experts and leaders in their field

2008 Women's Summit Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor: Fidelity Investments

Gold Sponsor: The Amica Companies

Silver Sponsors: Amgen, Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP; National Grid; Navigant Credit Union; PricewaterhouseCoopers; Sensata Technologies; and Textron

Silver Supporter: Underwriting provided by Citizens Bank Foundation

Bronze Sponsors: GTECH; Hampton Inn & Suites; Ikon Office Solutions; Lefkowitz, Garfinkel, Champi & DeRienzo P.C.; Right Management; and Sperian

Media Sponsor: The Providence Business News

To learn more or to register, visit the Women's Summit.