By Gina Jordan
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-894757.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Business and Professional Women of Tallahassee will hold a daylong conference at the civic center this Saturday. It's open to anyone, and the goal is to empower attendees in their personal lives and their careers.
The theme is "Live Beyond Existence: Becoming a Powerful Woman."
"Taking those existing issues that people have asked to talk about and expanding it so it was very well rounded for all ages, all ethnicities, all stages in someone's work career, we really came up with something for everybody. In fact, I think the challenge will be how to break out the sessions when there are two or three competing things that you want to attend."
Deanna Mims is vice president of the Tallahassee chapter of BPW. Less than two years ago, she started her own business called MarketDone. She helps new entrepreneurs, small businesses and non-profits create custom marketing plans. She attributes the fast growth of her business to her involvement with BPW. That's why she's so excited about this weekend's conference.
"It really should meet the needs of women coming out of college, women who work for the state or work for small business here in Tallahassee, women who have started their own businesses or want to, and women who are getting ready to retire or have already retired, but know that a well rounded life includes a lot of health, life balance, spiritual, educational components. And we've really got them all covered. I'm very proud of our agenda this year."
The first conference was held two years ago. Mims was there, and so was Christy Crump, now the president of BPW. Crump founded Administrative Professional Services and Solutions in January of 2008. She conducts professional development workshops, and the business is growing quickly. Crump was recently named one of the Tallahassee Democrat's "25 Women You Need to Know." She attributes a lot of what she is doing now to BPW. The group meets once a month.
"We conduct a little bit of business. We usually have a speaker that focuses on a professional development or a personal development issue, sometimes political. And then we also have a networking time at the end of our meeting for those who wish to stay and network and build their business and get to know people a little better."
Even though it's called Business and Professional Women, Crump says men can join, too. There are five guys in the Tallahassee chapter.
"We invite and embrace anyone who supports our mission, which is to empower women. Those men empower us through our relationships with them, through business that we do with them in so many different ways. So we welcome them with open arms."
Saturday's conference at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center will feature exhibits, speakers, and food. Mims hopes participants will be impressed enough to become members of the organization.
"We help each other and use each other's resources and have really found a terrific professional network. And everybody in the group are friends as well. We do things offline; things that are not connected to BPW. It's a great kind of instant community of women who have your back is what I say."
BPW/Tallahassee Second Annual Women's Conference
Saturday, April 10 from 8:00am to 5:00pm at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center
Sessions include:
improving your personal health
improving your personal finances, rebuilding credit
living your authentic life
getting politically involved
building genuine relationships
developing professionally
examining economic trends that affect you
professional speaking that connects
starting your own business
recognizing your own diversity in your group
understanding elder care
Breakfast and lunch will be provided. The cost of the conference varies, going up to $95 for non-BPW members the day of the conference. Registration is available online, and payment can be made on site.
Major sponsors include Prudential, Tallahassee Democrat, Florida Commerce Credit Union, Tallahassee Magazine, and SunShine Bank.
For more information, visit http://bpwtallahassee.com/conference.php.