JONESBORO -- Following a successful and fulfilling inaugural event, professional women and female students will have a chance to participate in interactive discussions and workshops as well as listen to a panel of women business leaders at the second Women's Business Leadership Conference hosted by the College of Business at Arkansas State University, Thursday, March 31.
The conference runs from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in Centennial Hall and surrounding breakout rooms on the third floor of the Carl R. Reng Student Union, 101 N. Caraway Road, on the A-State campus. This free event is open to the public. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m.
This one-day conference is a forum for leadership and professional development created to inspire and motivate women in the business community and features keynote addresses by women leaders, workshops designed to hone skills in key areas, and interactive discussions to engage students and professionals on important issues.
"The Arkansas State College of Business is thrilled to host this energizing opportunity for both female students and professional women in business roles to connect and thrive," said Dr. Shane Hunt, dean of the College of Business. "This conference is intended to cultivate and enrich the academic experience of our students, enhance career and mentorship networks for women, and celebrate the remarkable strengths women bring to corporate America. We bring together motivated students, alumni, successful corporate businesswomen, and thriving entrepreneurs from all over the country to connect, discuss and learn more about issues facing women."
Keynote speakers include Kathy Brittain White Loyd, who has served as an executive, corporate officer and chief information officer for several Fortune 500 companies, launched both the Horizon Institute of Technology and Rural Sourcing Inc., and is executive in residence at Bryan School of Business and Economics, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, executive vice president and treasurer for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Other speakers are Erica Swallow, vice president of product at Noble Impact; Dawn Prasifka, president and chief executive officer for Girl Scouts--Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas; Dina Mason, president and general manager for MOR Media, Inc. of Paragould; Melissa Myers Hendricks, director of development for Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Family Services; Donna Townsell, senior executive vice president of Homebanc Shares, Inc. in Conway; Kenya Clark, supervisory special agent, IRS--Criminal Investigation in Little Rock; and Tasabah Malone, auctioneer and principal broker of SoldASAP, LLC .
Following a 9:30-10 a.m. check-in, Loyd is the first speaker, followed by Swallow and Prasifka. In the afternoon, Hendricks and Mason will host workshops, and at 2 p.m., the second keynote speaker, Babineaux-Fontenot, will address the group. Townsell, Clark and Malone are featured in a panel discussion at 2:30 p.m. Scholarships and door prizes will be awarded throughout the day.
For additional information, contact Dr. Patricia Robertson at (870) 972-2280 or through email at probertson@astate.edu.