Janelle Irwin Taylor
Women in Florida can now register for the state’s first of its kind professional women’s conference. The two-day event aimed at empowering women in various professions features a number of respected professionals and thought leaders, exhibits, networking opportunities, and panel discussions.
The conference runs this spring on May 19 and 20. A pre-conference reception is scheduled for the evening of May 19 at Port Tampa Bay. The next day more than 1,200 participants are expected to flood the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina to hear from a range of speakers from statewide and national companies and organizations featuring female talent.
Speakers include Jean Chatzky, financial editor for NBC’s “Today Show”; Jill Abramson, former executive editor of The New York Times and first woman to hold the most senior editorial positions at the publication; and Lori Greiner, American inventor, investor, entrepreneur, author, and cast member of the reality TV show “Shark Tank.”
More speakers are expected to be announced in the coming months.
“The goal of the Women’s Conference of Florida is to annually raise awareness of timely issues impacting women, both at work and home, such as leadership, mentorship and paying it forward, personal finances, social change, and more,” said Arlene DiBenigno, president of the Women’s Conference of Florida and managing partner of full-service communications firm Conversa. “These speakers reflect the caliber of talent and expertise Florida’s professional women have expressed they want to learn from and be inspired by, as their stories of overcoming obstacles and achieving success resonate with a wide-variety of attendees.”
The event is primarily sponsored by a Tampa Bay area company, Laser Spine Institute, where women hold 53 percent of the group’s leadership positions.
“We continually strive to give female business professionals the resources to lead, both professionally and personally, and that’s something we’re very proud of,” said Bill Horne, CEO of Laser Spine Institute. “Through our partnership with the Women’s Conference of Florida, we look forward to sharing this essential part of our culture with women from across the state of Florida and beyond, empowering them to lead healthy, happy and fulfilling lives.”
Women account for less than 12 percent of board seats in public companies and only 3 to 4 percent are heads of companies nationwide. Florida is not expected to reach pay equality until the year 2038. The statistics highlight why the Women’s Conference of Florida is needed. Leaders strive to ultimately improve these figures.
“The conference will offer women from across the state of Florida and beyond a platform to learn how they can involve, inspire, and invest in not only themselves but others, as well as provide expertise about today’s leading industries,” said Women’s Conference of Florida chairwoman and Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandy Murman.
Other sponsors of the 2016 event include Clear Channel Outdoor, Verizon, DTCC, Pfizer, TECO Energy Co., Bank of America, Strategic Property Partners, Port Tampa Bay, Conversa, Gracepoint, and Mosaic.
