Your future, our focus
POWELL, Wyo. - The Wyoming Council for Women's Issues and Northwest College are partnering to host the council's annual Young Women's Career Fair Thursday, Sept. 15, on the NWC campus in Powell.
Exploring occupations/careers that are non-traditional for women, the Career Fair is open to Big Horn Basin freshman and sophomore high school girls as well as homeschooled girls. The fair opens at 9:15 a.m. with check-in at NWC’s Nelson Performing Arts Center, followed by a keynote speaker and workshop sessions. Lunch is provided for participants.
Serving up the keynote address is Melinda Emerson, one of America’s leading small business experts. Known as “SmallBizLady,” Emerson began her professional career as a television producer. She’s known as a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, social media strategist and small business coach. [Keynote speaker biographical information follows this news release.]
Three hands-on workshops will focus on fields seen as nontraditional for women. [A list of local area presenters follows this news release.]
Providing after-lunch entertainment is the trio The Plumbers of Rome, winners of the 2010 Harmony Sweepstakes, the country’s foremost contemporary a cappella competition. According to promotional materials, the accomplished musicians sing creative, “deconstructionist renditions of popular music and kooky-cerebral original songs.”
The fair concludes with a “Wall of Women”—women who serve as leaders in nontraditional jobs who will be dressed in their uniforms or job-appropriate attire. Each woman will introduce herself and her occupation.
Follow the online link to register for the fair. Registration closes Thursday, Sept. 1, at 5 p.m.
Career Fair presenters:
Lisa Osvold, state agency deputy director
Patricia L. Hattle, rangeland management specialist
Liz Flom, athletic trainer
Rowene Weems, museum director/curator
M. Jalie Meinecke, attorney
Reanne Wolff, CPA/partner
Keri Wilson, CPA/partner
Bethany Sondeno, senior staff/partner
Brittany Kobbe, children and family therapist
Chris Addison, marriage and family therapist
Kristin Startin, addiction therapist
Astrid Northrup, college engineering and mathematics professor
Juliette Vibe, detective
Tessa Schweigert, newspaper managing editor
Carla Wensky, graphic designer/photographer
Jamie Smith, press operator
Diane Noton, physician
Leslie Nistico, owner and landscape design consultant
Kamme Jeffries, dentist
Tori Lewis, veterinarian
Karen Burk, pharmacist
Judith LaPlante, computer scientist
Joneen Costigan, registered nurse
Keynote speaker Melinda Emerson biographical information:
Known as “SmallBizLady,” Melinda Emerson, is one of America’s leading small business experts. She is a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, social media strategist and small business coach.
Emerson has lectured on small business at The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University and Rosemont College and for clients including IKEA, Verizon, GlaxoSmithKline, National Association of Women Business Owners, PA Governor’s Conference for Women, International Association of Business Communicators, the Small Business Administration, and the Center for Women’s Business Research. Her areas of expertise include small business start-up, recession-proof marketing and social media strategy.
Emerson began her professional career in television as a producer. Within five years, inspired by Oprah Winfrey’s HARPO Productions, Inc., she left television to pursue her entrepreneurial dream to create an award-winning production company. A dedicated wife, mother and business owner, Emerson believes that faith is one of the most important ingredients in a successful business.
She hosts a weekly Twitter talk show titled Smallbizchat which discusses everything entrepreneurs need to know about launching and running a profitable small business.
Emerson has also developed a small business TV news segment and published several articles and special reports including 44 Things To Do Before You Go Into Business. She has also recorded an audio CD, 10 Things You Must Never Forget in Business. Emerson’s first book is titled Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works (Adams Media March 2010).
She’s been featured on NBC Nightly News and in the Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report and Black Enterprise. She is a graduate of Virginia Tech.
A list of Emerson’s numerous awards includes Top 50 Women in Business in Pennsylvania, Top 30 Leaders of the Future by Ebony Magazine, and the National Association of Women Business Owners’ Woman of Distinction Award.