With the goal of taking education to the next level and raising funds for local scholarships, the Women Empowering Women Express Network (WEWEN) of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) presented the Empowering Business Conference at Lone Star College-University Park this May. The event featured an economic outlook address from Barbara Thomason of the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce, a large vendor fair, and numerous professional development sessions from prominent area business coaches including Toni Harris Taylor of Drastic Steps Marketing and Karen Sharp of the Small Business Development Center.
Darlene Hajduk, founding WEWEN President and EBC Planning Committee Chair stated, “WEWEN is proud to have pioneered the Empowering Business Conference with major sponsors University of Houston Downtown, Lone Star College- University Park, Leadership North Houston, and A Splash of Sass Boutique. This inaugural fundraising event was a huge success; the community, sponsors, members, vendors, featured speakers, and the educational community all collaborated to help fund scholarships for women in business and to support The University Park Express Network (UPEN), a student chapter of ABWA.”
-
- Barbara Thomason, President, Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce Darlene Hajduk, President, Women Empowering Women Express Network (WEWEN)
-
- WEWEN Members Stacey Isola, Diana Saufley, and Vita Barrio
-
- Vendors
-
- Conference Attendees
WEWEN, formed just one year ago in the Vintage Park area of Houston, shares the mission of the ABWA national organization by bringing together businesswomen of diverse occupations and providing opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.
Now one hundred members strong, WEWEN meets once a month at Lone Star College-University Park and provides additional networking and educational experiences throughout the year. “Expanding access to education is at the core of our mission,” stated WEWEN Vice President of Communications Melissa Rotholz, “We empower women with the resources they need to be successful through events like the Empowering Business Conference. This conference generated over $5000, which will be used to fund educational scholarships for local female students and WEWEN members.”
Hajduk added, “This is just the beginning! When we formed WEWEN, we all shared a commitment to finding new and impactful ways to support women in Northwest Houston. We look forward to expanding WEWEN’s reach in the area and next year’s conference!”
For more information about the Empowering Business Conference, the Women Empowering Women Express Network, or the American Business Women’s Association, visit wewen.org or email communications@wewen.org