Women in Business Networking – Helping you to Grow as a Leader

Aileron President Joni Fedders of Dayton and GE Capital Retail Finance President and CEO Margaret Keane of Ridgefield, Conn., will give the keynote addresses at “Growing as a Leader,” the fourth annual professional development conference by Women in Business Networking, Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the Schuster Performing Arts Center at Second and Main streets in Dayton. Premier Health Partners is the title sponsor of the conference.

Fedders oversees the strategic direction and operational activities of Aileron, which helps private business owners understand where they want to go and apply sound business practices to help them get there. A former executive at The Iams Company and a two-time entrepreneur herself, Fedders was handpicked in 2003 by Aileron’s founder, successful businessman Clay Mathile, to build The Center for Entrepreneurial Education, which became Aileron.

Fedders will give the morning keynote entitled “Diapers, Deadlines and Dreams – Finding Alignment and Learning to Lead” and share her story on striving to achieve both professional and personal growth.

Keane – who joined GE in 1996 and became a GE officer in 2005 – has held numerous positions within the organization at Vendor Financial Services, GE Capital, GE Commercial Finance, GE Consumer Finance-Americas and GE Capital Retail Consumer Finance. She began her career at Citicorp, where she worked in sales, marketing and operations for 16 years.

Keane will give the luncheon keynote entitled “Leading through Change.” Keane – who has led the financial services company through challenges and change – says her experiences contributed to her growth as a leader. She will share lessons learned.

Besides Fedders and Keane, WDTN TV2 news anchor Michelle Kingsfield will present the plenary session on “Taking Control of your Professional and Personal Healthcare and Life.”

Eight additional business experts will present six breakout sessions on diverse leadership issues. Presenters include:

• Pamela Reichel, executive director, Premier Community Health
• Kendra Ramirez, social media strategist, manager, Open Commerce, Ascendum Solutions
• Diane Helbig, president, Seize This Day Coaching
• Denise Dixon-Davis and Diane Dixon, professional coaches, 3F Coaching
• Kelly McCracken, director of client relations, and Jean Webster, communications manager, Aileron
• Dr. Patricia Larkins Hicks, founder and president, The Outcomes Management Group

Seven panelists will discuss “Knowing, Growing and Glowing: That’s Synchronicity!” moderated by Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders, executive director, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Panelists include:

• Martine Meredith Collier, president and CEO, Culture Works
• Pat Kanuckel, associate vice president, Victoria’s Secret Direct
• Scott Koorndyk, vice president, Technology Commercialization, Dayton Development Coalition
• Deborah Lieberman, Montgomery County Commissioner
• Erin Paulson, director, Strategic Marketing, TriComB2B
• Jenell Ross, president, Bob Ross Buick-GMC, Mercedes-Benz and Fiat
• Stacy Thompson, vice president, regional compliance and community reinvestment manager, KeyBank Corp.

The conference will feature exhibits from 32 local corporations and small businesses. The Market Place Boutique, a one-stop-shopping mini mall, will feature 16 women-owned retailers.

The conference, which begins at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast, concludes at 5:15 p.m. with a wine and cheese reception and an event benefiting The Noble Circle Project, which helps women thrive beyond cancer. A portion of the proceeds from conference ticket sales will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley Region and to Artemis Center, Dayton’s domestic violence resource agency.

Attendees are asked to register in advance at http://womeninbusinessnetworking.com/2011ProfessionalDevelopmentConference.aspx.

About Women in Business Networking (www.womeninbusinessnetworking.com)

Women in Business Networking (WiBN) – the leading organization for women in business – provides forums for building relationships so women will achieve career and personal success through education, resources and recognition. WiBN’s circle of influence and frequent programs have reached more than 1,500 women living and working in the Greater Dayton, Ohio, region. Women from all walks of life participate in WiBN: leaders and employees of corporate, nonprofit and community organizations; entrepreneurs and small-business owners; and women in career transition.

Media contact: Tina Marker, President

Windward Design Group

937.456.2301 / 937.545.9654

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