More than 240 women turned out at three locations in Harrisburg, Lancaster and York for one of the region's most lively and informative events for women. Twenty-three speakers participated to talk about resources on the state and local level and their own experiences as business owners.
The event was sponsored by Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC), Delta Development, Wachovia Bank, Team PA, PA Department of Community and Economic Development, and Capital Region Economic Development Corporation.
"We saw a need in the community for women entrepreneurs to understand where the resources are for women and women-owned businesses to succeed," said Nancy Rockey, dean of Workforce and Economic Development at HACC, central Pennsylvania's community college, who served as chairperson for the planning committee who met for a year to plan the event and its content.
"We thought it was important for us to reach out and bring together all the people who serve entrepreneurs, so that we could show the region's women what kind of resources are available and who the people are that provide them," said Rockey. "It was such a success, planning already is underway for a 2005 tour."
Community leaders, including Rockey; LeRoy Kline, president and co-founder of Delta Development (who was proudly appointed an "honorary female" for the tour); and executives from Wachovia Bank, kicked off each session in the "Fasten Your Seatbelts" opener.
Panel discussions focused on where to look for money ("Ladies Start Your Engines"), how to become certified as a women's enterprise ("Passing Inspection") and where to find business resources "Asking for Directions").
Each location featured a woman entrepreneur as the keynote speaker, including Elizabeth "Liz" Maneval, publisher of WE Magazine, in Lancaster; Patricia Cumor, president of First Capital Insulation, in York; and Marsha Davis of On Track Consulting in Harrisburg.