6th Annual Western Women's Business Center Conference
​November 18 - 19, 2020
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
$15 (price includes a gift)

This program is powered by the Small Business Administration with partnership support from A-B Tech Small Business Center, and the SBTDC.
With all the challenges that 2020 has brought women and entrepreneurs in Western North Carolina, it is more important now, than ever, to come together in a safe way to  connect with our community. 
​Using keynote talks, breakouts, panel discussions, creative sessions, and interactive activities- we will explore what it means to truly have women at the entrepreneurial table now and what the local, regional and global trends are.

CONFERENCE  SCHEDULE


WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
WELCOME | 9:00 am
Tara Brown, Interim Director, Western Women's Business Center
Kevin Dick , President & CEO, Carolina Small Business
​Zurilma Anuel, Latino Program Director, Carolina Small Business
Marilyn Ball, Founder, 12Twelve Marketing
Sharon Harvey, Senior Area Manager, Small Business Administration
OPENING KEYNOTE | 9:30 am
Tracey Greene-Washington, President, Indigo Innovation Group
WOMEN AT THE TABLE SOFA TALK | 10:00 am
Sandra Dennison (Moderator), Regional Center Director, SBTDC
Leah Wong Ashburn, President & CEO, Highland Brewing
Elizabeth Putnam, Real Estate Broker, Mosaic Realty
Laura Webb, President & Founder, Webb Investments
BREAKOUT SESSIONS | 11:30 am
WNC Small Business Funding and Resources:
Tara Brown
 Stephanie Swepson Twitty
Erika McGilley
Kelly Foster
Jane Hatley
Duane Adams
Ben Robbins
Rosanna Fox Mulcahy
Hope Huskey
Ed Timberlake
Your Business Story and Your Seat at the Table:
Barrie Barton
Laura Juarez
Marisol Colette
Yvette Jives
Laura Wagenknecht
Sandra Grace
Barreras en Camino a El Sueño Americano:
Zurilma Anuel
Vivian Bolanos
Vanesa Garcia
Mary Emory
CLIENT HIGHLIGHT | 12:30 pm
Kaye Bentley, Founder, Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours
BUBBLES GRIFFIN AWARD
Laura Ford, Client Intake Specialist, WWBC
NETWORKING--DIGITAL EXHIBITOR SPACE | 12:45 pm
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2020 | 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
WELCOME | 9:00 am
Tara Brown, Interim Director, Western Women's Business Center
Zurilma Anuel, Latino Program Director, Carolina Small Business
Jill Sparks, Executive Director, A-B Tech Small Business Center
KEYNOTE | 9:15 am
Jacqueline Mims, CEO & Founder, My Global STEM Academy
BREAKOUT SESSIONS | 10:30 am
Marketing Your Business for a Seat at the Table
Marilyn Ball
Katy Gould
Annice Brown
Tonya Snider
Kaye Bentley
Creative Women and Makers at the Table
Amy Climer
Cortina Caldwell
Jenny Greer Fares
Viola Spells
Valeria Watson
BOARD HIGHLIGHT AND KEYNOTE | 12:00 pm
Stephanie Swepson Twitty, President + CEO, Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation
Katherine Morosani, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
MUSICAL HIGHLIGHT | 12:30 pm
Kat Williams, Artist, Kat Williams Music
CLOSING | 12:40 pm
Kevin Dick, CEO, CSBDF
CONFERENCE ENGAGEMENTS PROVIDED BY
Waynesville Yoga
Hola Carolina
Sarah Benoit
​Cortina Jenelle Caldwell

YOUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Jacqueline Mims

The movie Hidden Figures highlights the historical women of color whose meticulous calculations helped the U.S. catch up in the “space race” and send John Glenn into orbit around Earth. But NASA had many such "hidden figures," and one of the most notable is Engineer and former Rocket Scientist Jacqueline Mims, who was the first African-American civil servant to be certified as a spacecraft ground controller for NASA- Goddard Space Flight Center’s unmanned spacecraft.   LEARN MORE

Tracey Greene-Washington

Tracey Greene-Washington is the President of Indigo Innovation Group, a consulting firm dedicated to serving as a strategic thought-partner, advisor and consultant to philanthropic and nonprofit organizations committed to accelerating change through system-level approaches, equity, and strategic collaboration. In addition to this role, she is the Founder of CoThinkk, social change philanthropy committed to shifting the economic mobility, health, education, and leadership narrative of communities of color in Western NC through strategic investments, network-building, and civic discourse.  LEARN MORE

Katherine Morosani

Katherine is an Asheville native with an undergraduate degree in international relations from Rollins College, which in part, was fueled by her constant travel fever. Katherine worked at J.P. Morgan in New York City's Wall Street District for 10 years and served as a Vice President before moving back home and completing her MBA from the University of Phoenix. Katherine loves helping clients at her job as an Edward Jones financial planner and focuses on helping people prepare for life by creating a plan to achieve their goals.   LEARN MORE

We couldn't do it without our Sponsors! 

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Fifth Third Bank ​
In 1858, William W. Scarborough and eleven bold entrepreneurs opened The Bank of the Ohio Valley in Cincinnati, Ohio. Their purpose and promise was noble – to help improve the lives of their customers and communities through sound banking principles. This unwavering vision remains at the heart of everything Fifth Third Bank does today.
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Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty
Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty is a premier full-service real estate brokerage located in Asheville. Top Mosaic producer Elizabeth Putnam is a successful entrepreneur who values training and ongoing professional development. Elizabeth and Mosaic Realty are proud co-sponsors of this year’s Western Womens' Business Conference. Learn more about Elizabeth Putnam at https://mymosaicrealty.com/realestate/agent/elizabeth-putnam/
First Citizens
Helping Families and businesses with their finances for more than 120 years. 
A-B Tech ​
Looking to launch an entrepreneurial venture or grow a small business? Look no further!

Check out some previous conference highlights and stay tuned for schedule and updates!