Nov. 2011 W.I.L.D. Conference News Release: 2012 Kick-Off

10-Nov-2011

Date: Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 at 9:30 a.m.
Location: Board Room, Old Main, Gannon University
Event: The Gannon University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is holding a news conference to Kick-Off the 2012 Women In Leadership Development (W.I.L.D.) Conference
W.I.L.D. Conference Date: Friday, May 11, 2012 at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center

News Conference Speakers/Interviewees:
Linda Fleming, Ph.D. – Gannon University, Interim Provost
Denise Christianson – 2012 W.I.L.D. Chairwoman, President of Advanced Placement Services, Inc.
Missy Mattera – 2012 W.I.L.D. Philanthropy, Regional Vice President, Girls Scouts of Western Pennsylvania

 
The Gannon University SBDC, host of the Women In Leadership Development (W.I.L.D.) Conference, is celebrating 30 years of helping businesses start, grow and prosper throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania. 2012 is also the 5th Anniversary of the W.I.L.D. Conference which will be held on Friday, May 11, 2012 at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center. This new date is expected to boost attendance, moving the date from March to May. Our goal is 750 attendees. The W.I.L.D. Kick-Off is the beginning of a year long journey where knowledge, energy and passion bring enterprising and entrepreneurial women together for networking, leadership opportunities and professional development.

The Gannon SBDC is also unveiling a new, redesigned website for the Women In Leadership Development (W.I.L.D.) Conference at wild.sbdcgannon.org. The most important upgrade on the New W.I.L.D. website is all conference attendees and exhibitors, can now register and make credit card payments using PayPal online. There is also information about sponsorship opportunities, grand prize and satchel donations, and profiles on the speakers and information about no-fee consulting services for small businesses available at the Gannon University SBDC.

The 2012 Philanthropy is the Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania. The Girl Scouts are celebrating their 100th Anniversary. Since the Girl Scouts are training-up girls today to be tomorrow’s leaders, their mission is a perfect fit with the W.I.L.D. Conference. In addition to the new date, new website and new payment system, a silent auction will be held for most of the grand prizes with all the proceeds benefiting the Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania.

Our 2012 W.I.L.D. Leadership Speaker is Grace Killelea, Senior Vice President of Talent for Comcast Cable. Grace holds a Masters Degree from American University's Kogod School of Business and Public Affairs, where she graduated with honors. She rounded out her training at the prestigious Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC which is considered one of the best leadership programs in the United States. She is an alumnus of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute (B.M.L.I.), Class XI, which is the premier leadership program for women in the telecommunications industry.

For the past 7 years Grace has served as the national facilitator of the Betsy Magness Leadership program and is the only woman in the industry to hold this position. In this role Grace has worked with over 500 executive woman leaders across the industry. Her genuine passion to support and grow female leaders is an important element of the BMLI program. Grace is a sought after speaker on the topics of leadership, personal branding and professional development in addition to being a mentor, “connector” and coach. Grace has just been named a 2011 Wonder Woman by Multichannel News. She received the 2006 Lucille Larkin Lifetime Achievement Award winner for the Women In Cable Telecommunications (WICT) Philadelphia Chapter and the 2007 Mentor of the Year award from WICT’s Northern California Chapter. In 2008 she was named a "Woman of Power" by Diversity Plus Magazine.

Our 2012 W.I.L.D. Entrepreneurship Speaker is Peggy Klaus, President of Klaus & Associates. You may have seen Peggy Klaus on Nightline, the Today Show and 20/20 or read her advice in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and BusinessWeek. You may know her as the “brag lady” or—as one newspaper called her—a "bragologist” because of her book, “Brag! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It.” Or you may know Klaus for the soft skills savvy she promotes in “The Hard Truth About Soft Skills: Workplace Lessons Smart People Wish They’d Learned Sooner.” For more than a decade Klaus has provided communications and leadership training programs, keynotes and executive coaching at leading corporations and organizations worldwide. Her client list reads like a who’s who of Fortune 500 companies, including firms such as JP Morgan Chase, MasterCard, General Mills, The National Football League, American Express, Mattel, among others.

With advanced degrees in drama, speech, and theatre from London's Royal Academy of Music and the Drama Studio, Klaus began her career as an actor and classical singer. She then moved to Hollywood to become a producer, director, and coach. In the mid 90’s, Klaus started getting panicked calls from friends on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley asking for help with their presentations at industry and press conferences, client meetings, and congressional hearings. Applying the same performance and communication techniques that she used successfully with stage, television, and film performers, Klaus left Hollywood behind to start Klaus & Associates. She quickly earned a reputation for teaching business professionals how to bring their best, most authentic and dynamic self to every situation.

Ticket Prices for Attendees for the 2012 W.I.L.D. are as follows:
Nov. 1, 2011 – Feb. 15, 2012 $110.00 Early Bird Special
Feb. 16, 2012 – Apr. 15, 2012 $150.00
After April 15, 2012 – All tickets $200.00
Student $110.00
Exhibitor Prices for the 2012 W.I.L.D. are as follows:
Small 10 X 10 $200.00
Medium 10 X 20 $275.00
Large 10 X 40 $375.00
Sponsorship Opportunities: The W.I.L.D. Conference is not possible without the generous support of our long-time and new community sponsors. Exclusive sponsorships range from $7,500 to $2,000. Monetary Sponsorships range from $5,000 to $25.00.

Members of the 2011-2012 W.I.L.D. Steering Committee:

Melanie L. Hatch, Ph.D. – Gannon University, Dean of the College of Engineering and Business (Executive Committee)
Vic Delaney, MBA - Gannon University, Assistant to the Dean, College of Engineering and Business (Executive Committee)
Jodie Camillo - Gannon University Small Business Development Center, Educational Program Coordinator (Executive Committee)
Marsha MacKinnon – Gannon University Small Business Development Center, Media Specialist & W.I.L.D. Coordinator (Executive Committee)
Denise Christianson - 2012 W.I.L.D. Chairwoman, President of Advanced Placement Services Inc.
Donna Zariczny - 2011 W.I.L.D. Chairwoman, President of Inscale Architects
Colleen Moore Mezler - 2010 W.I.L.D. Chairwoman, President of Moore Research Services, Inc.
Beth Whitford – W.I.L.D. Centerpiece Designer, Owner of Beth’s Hearts & Flowers
Haley Figurski - Scott Enterprises, Group Tour and Travel Sales Manager

The Gannon University SBDC’s W.I.L.D. Mission:
The mission of the Women in Leadership Development (W.I.L.D.) Conference is to empower professional and enterprising women with knowledge, energy and passion. The W.I.L.D., founded in 2008 by the Gannon University SBDC, is a celebration that recognizes; supports and promotes women in business through women helping women. This concept of connectivity is achieved by encouraging networking, providing leadership opportunities and supporting each other. Knowledge, Energy and Power – Go WILD!

News Release submitted by: Marsha MacKinnon
Gannon University SBDC/W.I.L.D. Conference Coordinator

Funding support and resources are provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Department of Community and Economic Development; through a cooperative agreement with the U. S. Small Business Administration, and through support from Gannon University. All services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Special arrangements for persons with disabilities can be made by calling (814) 871-7232. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

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