Greater Hartford Women's Conference Keynote Speaker

DENISE D’ASCENZO KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT 2018 GREATER HARTFORD WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

Thursday, April 19, 2018. South Windsor, CT – The South Windsor Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the 11th Annual Greater Hartford Women’s Conference on Thursday, April 19, 2018. The theme of this year’s conference will be “Transitions.” The event will be hosted at Maneeley’s Banquet Facility in South Windsor from 7:30am to 3:00pm. Registration to attend is available online at www.GreaterHartfordWomensConference.com.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur or from the corporate world, developing meaningful relationships is essential to your success. Too often, women in business are taught to follow formulaic, old-school approaches to connecting with others. It’s time to break free and lighten up for the 21st century connection economy.

About the Keynote Speaker

The Keynote speaker will be Denise D'Ascenzo from Channel 3 News. Denise is a 10-time Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist who has also earned distinction as the longest-serving news anchor at a single television station in Connecticut.

Denise became interested in journalism as a young child. She was born in Washington, DC and grew up in suburban Rockville, Maryland. At the age of 12, Denise launched the first newspaper at her grammar school. She went on to become editor-in-chief of her high school newspaper and the first person to receive a scholarship from the American Newspaper Women's Club to attend a summer journalism program at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

In 2013, Denise was elected to the Silver Circle, a prestigious honor bestowed by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for significant contributions to broadcasting. Two years later, she became the first woman to be inducted into the Connecticut Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. Denise was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Quinnipiac University.

Denise and her husband, Wayne have a daughter, Kathryn. In her free time, Denise enjoys family outings, swimming, and hiking with her dogs.

About the Greater Hartford Women’s Conference

The Greater Hartford Women’s Conference (GHWC) is an all day event filled with professional and personal development, education, and networking for women of all walks of life. Presented by the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce, attendees can expect to participate in dynamic workshops, keynote and featured presentations, and panel discussion all on topics relevant to today’s women.

For more information about speakers, sponsors, and a list of exhibitors, please call the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce at (860)644-9442, or visit the GHWC website at www.GreaterHartfordWomensConference.com.

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PANEL ADDRESSES HANDLING TRANSITIONS WITH EASE

Thursday, April 19, 2018. South Windsor, CT – The South Windsor Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the 11th Annual Greater Hartford Women’s Conference on Thursday, April 19, 2018. The event will be hosted at Maneeley’s Banquet Facility in South Windsor from 7:30am to 3:00pm. Registration to attend is available online at www.GreaterHartfordWomensConference.com.

Heidi Bailey will lead a panel on “Managing Pivotal Transitions with Power and Poise” with panelists Valerie Gordon, Candance Freedenberg, Maureen Ross Gemme and Kelly Kennedy. You’ll learn tips to navigate and take command of both planned and unexpected transitions.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur or from the corporate world, developing meaningful relationships is essential to your success. Too often, women in business are taught to follow formulaic, old-school approaches to connecting with others. It’s time to break free and lighten up for the 21st century connection economy.

About the Moderator

Heidi Bailey is a Brand and Relationship Marketing leader and Adjunct Instructor at the University of Connecticut. At the LEGO Group for 27 years, Heidi built the strategy and growth of the LEGO Club from 20,000 members in the US to 5 million members globally. She co-created innovative new products, content and experiences with partners such as Disney, and helped the company earn a reputation as one the world’s most trusted and respected brands. Heidi moderated last year’s panel on “Empowering Women and Girls through Sports” at the 2017 Greater Hartford Women’s Conference.

About the Panelists

Valerie Gordon is a 10-time Emmy award-winning television producer whose feature stories have been seen on CBS News, HBO Sports, ESPN, Lifetime and Weekend TODAY. Now the founder and president of Commander-in-She, Valerie uses the principles of storytelling to help professional women “Take Command” of their stories and navigate the plot twists of both unexpected and planned transitions to create an even more rewarding “Next Chapter.”

Candace Freedenberg is a technologist and business leader with experience at Laboratory for Laser Energetics, IBM and Kodak. Her work yielded over a dozen patents. Often a catalyst for organizational change, now as the Founder of Untapped Potential Inc., she is engineering social change for women impacting gender equity, diversity and work-life balance. She is the recipient of SBA’s InnovateHER (Finalist), CT Entrepreneur Award (Finalist) and reSET Incubator Award. She will focus on how to navigate mid-career transitions and find flexibility and work-life balance during care-giving years.

Maureen Ross Gemme, MS Ed, started her own company in 2014 called Emerge Leadership Academy after spending 3 decades in corporate training and consulting. Her talent lies in coaching young women to create the career of their dreams. By guiding professionals to manage their critical inner voice during transition, Maureen provides a path of transformation into empowered leadership. She will focus on "managing your critical inner voice" during transition.

Kelly Kennedy is the Associate Director of Student Development and Outreach, Career Development Instructor, Coach and handles all career education for the undergraduate students at the University of Connecticut School of Business. She develops partnerships with companies and organizations in order to create programing that will enable students to move from college to work successfully. Kelly is also a Senior Consultant of Career Transition Advisors, the premier provider of career transition, consulting, coaching, management and outplacement services, and a subsidiary of MCG Partners, a former Chamber of Commerce winner of “Entrepreneur of the Year” and provider of leadership, talent, sales, and organizational effectiveness solutions. She will focus on how to powerfully prepare for a career transition, tapping into your personal brand.

About the Greater Hartford Women’s Conference

The Greater Hartford Women’s Conference (GHWC) is an all day event filled with professional and personal development, education, and networking for women of all walks of life. Presented by the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce, attendees can expect to participate in dynamic workshops, keynote and featured presentations, and panel discussion all on topics relevant to today’s women.

For more information about speakers, sponsors, and a list of exhibitors, please call the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce at (860)644-9442, or visit the GHWC website at www.GreaterHartfordWomensConference.com.