Elizabeth Vargas of ABC-TV's "20/20" Keynote Speaker at Business Women's Forum Nov. 1 in Hartford

Elizabeth Vargas, internationally-acclaimed award-winning anchor of ABC-TV’s “20/20” newsmagazine will be the keynote speaker at the 30^th annual 2012 Business Women’s Forum (BWF) November 1st in Hartford, Connecticut. One of television broadcast’s most recognized and respected news anchors and correspondents, Ms. Vargas will be the featured speaker at the 30^th annual Business Women's Forum (BWF) (www.2012bwf.com) under the inspiring theme “Winning Strategies for Business Professionals”. Additional speakers will be Chris Dailey, UConn Women’s Basketball Associate Head Coach, and Dennis Snow, formerly with the Walt Disney World Company, now an expert customer service speaker, author and trainer. The 2012 BWF will be held at the Connecticut Convention Center, located at 100 Columbus Boulevard in Hartford, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.                                          

Celebrating 29 years of notable success, the BWF is  Connecticut’s largest and longest-running full-day annual conference of speakers and workshops for women. The BWF is a program of the non-profit Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce Foundation in Waterbury, Conn. The thriving organization is led by female executives dedicated to the professional, and personal, growth of working women. The BWF is sponsored annually by the U.S. Small Business Administration and supported by numerous Connecticut-based companies.

“More than 400 business people from throughout New England are anticipated to attend the 2012 BWF,” stated Lynn Ward, president and CEO of the Waterbury Regional Chamber, and a BFW director. The full day will include three featured speakers plus eight professional development workshops on the topics of leadership, employee engagement, sales, marketing and social media, and customer service.” A closing networking reception will be emceed by Channel 3-TV meteorologist Scot Haney and will feature raffle and door prizes plus a Grand Prize of a 4-day, 3-night stay for two at the El Dorado Royale in the Riviera Maya, Mexico.                                      

Elizabeth Vargas has traveled the globe covering breaking news stories, reporting in-depth investigations, and conducting newsmaker interviews. During numerous world-wide news events, Ms. Vargas has anchored for both “World News Tonight” and “20/20” from locations that reach from Baghdad to the U.S. Gulf Coast during Hurricane Katrina’s devastation. She previously anchored “World News Tonight Sunday”, occasionally anchored “Good Morning America”, and was a correspondent for “20/20” and “Primetime Thursday”, and a co-anchor of “Primetime Monday”. Ms. Vargas joined ABC News from NBC News where she was a correspondent and anchor primarily for “Dateline NBC” and “The Today Show”. Elizabeth Vargas’ notable and high-regarded world-wide news reporting has included such internationally-impactful news stories as the deaths of President Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy, Jr.

“Ms. Vargas was asked to speak to the 2012 BWF conference attendees”, explained Ward, “because for 29 years, the mission of the non-profit BWF has been the continual commitment to equality of opportunity and advancement for women in business. To date, the BWF has generated more than $146,000 in scholarship funds for female Post University students to pursue a business education. Since its inception, the BWF has provided an unprecedented number of attendees with access to phenomenal speakers, networking opportunities and diverse training during the course of one day. Each year, the BWF has featured such prominent, high-profile keynote speakers as Paula Abdul, Robin Roberts, Goldie Hawn, Jamie Lee Curtis, Suze Orman, Jane Seymour, Chris Madden, Ann Curry, Jack Ford, and Faith Popcorn.”

Admission to the 2012 BWF with breakfast, lunch, eight workshops, speakers, and the closing reception with raffles and prizes is $175/person. Tables of ten (10) with preferred seating and signage are available for $2,000. Tickets and tables can be purchased by visiting www.2012bwf.com, or calling the Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce at 203-757-0701. Participants can join in discussions on www.facebook.com/2012bwf, and www.twitter.com/2012bwf.