This fall, over 3,000 women of all ages, races and professions will unite in Sacramento to share one common ambition: empowerment and advancement in the workforce. On Wednesday, November 3, 2004, the Professional Business Women of California (PBWC) will host their first annual conference, Take Charge! Unleashing your Potential, at the Sacramento Convention Center. The PBWC is taking over Sacramento Bee's ten-year-old conference, formerly known as, "A Woman's Day." PBWC is taking the conference on a new path, encouraging women to take control of their lives and careers.
"The PBWC is honored to have the opportunity to lead and expand the conference, with a renewed focus on advancement and resilience in the workplace," said Ruth Stergiou, Executive Director of the PBWC. "The day will be packed with tools, resources, training and inspiration for today's working woman." Women from Stockton to Sonoma are expected to attend, joining 150 exhibitors and over 45 speakers making it the largest and most dynamic women's conference in the Sacramento region.
The PBWC is a not-for-profit organization with over 17 years of experience providing highly successful conferences for women. PBWC is dedicated to empowering women to achieve their professional and personal vision by providing tools, education, training and inspiration to all women. The conference is designed to encourage women leaders to mentor and role model, inspire career advancement and interact with a large network of other professionals. Inspirational speakers will promote new thinking, and offer alternative life- balance options and tips on improving overall health.
"The conference allows professional women of all backgrounds, industries and generations to improve their skill sets, widen their spheres of influence and be inspired by women role models," said Senator Jackie Speier, founder of the PBWC. Speier will join a host of speakers who are experts in developing leadership style and business intelligence. Speakers include Marty Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross, Mariel Hemingway, actor, mother, author and owner of the Sacred Cow Yoga Studio and Marcela Perez de Alonzo, Executive Vice President of Human resources at Hewlett-Packard Company.
This year, the PBWC is offering new additions to the conference, including a unique program that will reach women of high school age. In addition, the PBWC is initiating the Women Changing the World Now award that recognizes Sacramento area women who embody the mission of the PBWC and facilitate the advancement of women in the workplace. Women who demonstrate outstanding leadership and mentoring skills and are committed to improving the lives of others in the community will be honored at the conference.
"PBWC provides an excellent forum for women to share ideas and learn from each other," said Lydia Beebe, Corporate Secretary for ChevronTexaco Corporation. "ChevronTexaco women who have attended have gained more insight into the skills for impactful leadership. They have returned to the workplace with increased enthusiasm to tackle the challenges ahead."
Since 1980, under the leadership of Speier, the group has dedicated itself to advancing women in the workforce. The first event was held in the Bay Area and was designed to help women entering or re-entering the job market. The overwhelming response to this event indicated that career women desired and needed a large forum to inspire them to break through glass ceilings and reach economic parity with men.
PBWC has rapidly evolved since then, reaching thousands of women throughout California, and for the first time, in Sacramento. "PBWC believes this conference will inspire Sacramento area women," Stergiou said. "We hope the conference will help women recognize their dreams and reinforce confidence in the pursuit of those dreams.
