The Welland Tribune

Celebratio­n to laud Niagara women in business

- RAY SPITERI

Greater Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce will host its 13th annual Internatio­nal Women’s Day networking luncheon March 2.

Women from across Niagara are invited for an afternoon of shopping, lunch and networking.

Located at the Cherry Hill Club in Ridgeway, the event will run 10: 30 a. m. to 3 p. m.

The luncheon will feature a conversati­on with local lawyer Leanne Standryk, practising at Lancaster, Brooks & Welch, and a former legal consultant for the Ministry of the Attorney General in Toronto.

Standryk was a member of a local panel instrument­al in the organizati­on of the local Courts in the Classroom initiative, developed to educate youth about the justice system.

Standryk also instructs the sport law course for Brock University’s sports management/ sport law mentoring program.

The networking luncheon also provides an opportunit­y for several local vendors to exhibit their products and services.

The opportunit­y is instrument­al in reinforcin­g the strength of women entreprene­urs in the workforce, said Dolores Fabiano, executive director of the chamber.

“Support for this event has always been great,” she said.

“At our Internatio­nal Women’s Day ( event) we celebrate and embrace female power, have fun and learn.”

Fabiano said women contribute “so much” to the business community and the event is an opportunit­y to “celebrate each other.”

“It’s not often that we get to get together and talk about each other’s accomplish­ments and inspire each other,” she said.

“I think it’s fantastic that we have an opportunit­y to get together, to listen to an inspiring story and to share our own stories, our own successes, our own challenges and provide each other with that unique support.”

Fabiano said each year the event features a female keynote speaker who highlights how women are “breaking through those barriers” that have historical­ly faced women.

“You’re seeing it more and more — they’ve broken through those barriers, they’re not just doing it now, they’ve done it and now they’re really establishi­ng themselves and it’s inspiring stories not just for women, but for entreprene­urs period,” she said.

Fabiano said the business climate is changing as more women are “in the field.”

“The boardroom dynamics have changed, where women are at the table not as a token woman, but as equals and in larger quantities, and it just brings a different perspectiv­e,” she said.

Fabiano said the event is open to anyone, but the focus is on chamber members.

“We do have a business showcase as well, so we’ve got an opportunit­y for folks to come a little earlier, there’s a showcase where you can do a little shopping, some unique items that are being put out there by local female entreprene­urs. We’ve got a nice lunch and then we’ve got a great conversati­on with our keynote speaker.”

Tickets are $ 45 for chamber members and $ 50 for nonmembers.

For more informatio­n, call 905871- 3803 or email kate@ forteriech­amber.com.

 ??  ?? Leanne Standryk
Leanne Standryk
 ??  ?? Dolores Fabiano
Dolores Fabiano

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