Second Annual UConn School of Business Conference to “Celebrate Women Entrepreneurs” in Connecticut

Stamford, Conn. – Connecticut’s second annual statewide conference celebrating and supporting women entrepreneurs* will be held Friday, September 19, 2014, at 8:30 a.m., at UConn’s Stamford campus. Similar to last year, this event is sure to sell out and keynote speakers include: 

  • Jenny Lawton, president of MakerBot Industries, a global leader in the 3D printing industry and a serial entrepreneur
  • Dr. Linda Scott, DP world chair for entrepreneurship and innovation at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, creator of the ‘Double X Economy’ which describes the global economy of women and the roles of women and founder of Power Shift, the Oxford Forum for Women in the World Economy

Connecticut Celebrates Women Engineers

Registration is free and all business owners and entrepreneurs from early stage to high-growth companies are welcome to attend. This event begins with morning registration and complimentary continental breakfast with a welcome and opening remarks from Dr. Susan White, director, UConn Stamford campus and Claire Leonardi, CEO, Connecticut Innovations. The day concludes with an optional afternoon luncheon.

Valarie Gelb, CEO, TheBarnYardGroup and co-founder of the event stated, “As an entrepreneur there are many days I need to say to myself, ‘just do it, don’t analyze it, don’t think about it, take action and make something great happen.’ I hope women will join us at the Connecticut Celebrates Women Entrepreneurs Conference because this is where something great happens; through the people you meet, the information you receive and the energy and support you feel from others.”

Free workshops will be offered on such relevant topics as: What Investors Look for Before Funding a Venture featuring Leonardi and Jeanne Sullivan, founding principal, StarVest Partners; named by Forbes as one of the “5 Most Powerful Women Changing the World in VC and Entrepreneurship;” Marketing and Branding Your Company featuring Julie Cottineau, founder and CEO, BrandTwist and former VP, brand at Virgin; Crowdfunding and How to Make it Work featuring David Heath, co-founder, Bombas Socks and Christy Prunier, CEO, Willagirls moderated by Jane Applegate, director of strategic partnerships, Plum Alley; Realities of Being a Woman Entrepreneur featuring Lisa Bair, CEO Quantuvis, Carissa Ganelli, CEO & founder, LightningBuy, and Susan White, CEO, Turqsport moderated by Anne Ravanona, founder & CEO, Global Invest Her; and Accessing Available Resources from the State of Connecticut featuring Amy Hourigan, vice president, marketing & communications, CT Innovations, Sheila Hummel, development manager, Office of Business & Industry Development, Department of Economic and Community Development and Kimberly Cranston DeSousa, senior manager of programs, Women’s Business Development Council moderated by Janis Collins, co-founder, The Refinery.

Attendees may also exhibit their companies’ products and services at the event by renting an exhibit table at the cost of $50. There is also an optional keynote speakers’ luncheon for attendees at a cost of $50 per ticket. Net proceeds from all funds raised will go to fund scholarships for UConn Stamford students.

“Women entrepreneurs are very much a driving force in Connecticut and the tri-state area,” noted Jenny Lawton, a Fairfield, Connecticut, resident and president of MakerBot, a global leader in the 3D printer industry, which is based in Brooklyn, New York, but operates one of its retail locations in Greenwich. “It’s great to see Connecticut embrace women’s roles of leadership and entrepreneurship, and provide networking events such as this that offer support for women in business.” Lawton has long been a fixture in the Connecticut entrepreneurial business world, running the very successful Just Books stores in Greenwich and Old Greenwich, as well as Arcadia Coffee Company, and was COO of Rockin’ Water, a start-up beverage company based in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Dr. Linda Scott added, “Women’s entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful forces for growth, innovation, and well-being today. Important resources from training to capital are becoming available to help Connecticut women be part of this important trend.”

Representatives from the Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC)Connecticut Innovations, as well as other organizations will be on hand to help attendees leverage available resources from the state. A professional services pavilion has been added for 2014 to allow women entrepreneurs to connect with lawyers, accountants, marketing professionals, etc.

Connecticut Celebrates Women Entrepreneurs
Friday, September 19, 2014
8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
UConn Stamford Campus
Stamford, Connecticut

To register for this event, visit http://uconn.biz/women2014

Join or follow the Twitter conversation: twitter.com/hashtag/xcitect and #CTCelebratesWomen

For more information about participation or sponsorship for this event, contact Dina Carelli, event consultant, UConn School of Business at dina.carelli@business.uconn.edu or (203) 251-0189.


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