A new event from the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce is designed to showcase the impact of women in the Twin Counties.
The Chamber will host the first-time ShE-E-O Women’s Conference Kick-off that’s sponsored by Pfizer and the Eastern North Carolina Center for Business. The event is scheduled for noon Sept. 19 at the Benvenue Country Club. Chamber officials said the event will help women explore where they can add the most value in the community, at their jobs, with their peers and in their personal lives.
The topic of what is anticipated to be an annual event is “Re-Imaginning the Power of Women.” David Farris, president and CEO of the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce, said he is thrilled to be a part of an impactful social event he has helped create.
“This is the start for many other signature women’s conference events that will be done by the Chamber in the upcoming years,” Farris said.
At the conference, the audience will hear testimonies and advice from many local, statewide and nationally known women who have excelled in not only their careers but their personal lives, officials said. The conference will include a message from guest speaker WRAL anchor Renee Chou and a panel discussion.
Amanda Bell, who is the customer service and marketing manager at Family Medical Center of Rocky Mount and Chamber executive board member, will serve as the moderator for the table discussion that will take place after the panel discussion.
The table discussion will provide the attendees time to take a deeper look into how they can excel in their lives by brainstorming and sharing ideas with other women at the event.
Bell said this event is important because women need to support each other and the ShE-E-O conference will offer an opportunity for women to join forces, support and learn from each other’s mistakes and success.
Dr. Monique Brown, owner of Monique Brown M.D. in downtown Rocky Mount and this year’s recipient of the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year Award, will be one of several panelists at the women’s conference. She said the occasion is an opportunity for the Twin Counties to network and collaborate with women with a vast wealth of knowledge and experience in a variety of areas.
“Women in our region have a tremendous amount of influence and attributes that they contribute to our community daily,” Brown said, “and it is a blessing to be able to showcase them and network with other women who share their love for the development, health and success of our community.”
The rest of the panelists will be Kristen Brabble, chief administrative officer at First Carolina Bank, Evan Covington Chavez, development manager for the Rocky Mount Mills, Deborah Sperati, partner at Poyner Spruill LLP, Tina Taylor, CEO and founder of Heritage Leadership Academy-STEM Education for Young Women in Emerging Markets and former chief information officer at GE, and Kimberly Thigpen, owner and founder of The Bath Place in downtown Rocky Mount.
The master of ceremonies and moderator for the panel discussion will be Dr. N. Joyce Payne, international affairs and STEAM advisor to the president of Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The conference will also have a networking hour sponsored by the Women’s Professional Networking Group of Rocky Mount.
Tickets are still available for $50 for Chamber members and $60 for prospective members. Tickets can be ordered through the Chamber website events calendar at RockyMountChamber.org or by calling the Chamber at 252-973-1211.
By Corey Davis
Rocky Mount Telegram
