Chamber hosts Entrepreneurial Women’s Panel & Luncheon
Chamber participates in Kutztown University Entrepreneurship Week 2017
On Thursday, March 30, from noon to 1:30 p.m., in Room 218 of the MacFarland Student Union, a panel of five entrepreneurs, four of whom are actively engaged in the Northeast Berks Chamber, will present “nuts and bolts” strategies for upcoming entrepreneurs.
The Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce announces its participation in one of several programs scheduled at Kutztown University during Entrepreneurship Week 2017, from March 28 to March 30.
On Thursday, March 30, from noon to 1:30 p.m., in Room 218 of the MacFarland Student Union, a panel of five entrepreneurs, four of whom are actively engaged in the Northeast Berks Chamber, will present “nuts and bolts” strategies for upcoming entrepreneurs.
The Women’s Panel will be comprised of Robin Costenbader-Jacobson, RC-J Consulting Associates, LLC; Nina Bohn, Illuminated Strategies; Pam Vecellio, Continual Impact; Kim Davis, KD Consulting; and Caitlin Bodner, Magnificent Candles.
Robin Costenbader-Jacobson is the principal of RC-J Consulting Associates, LLC. She is a Certified Professional Coach, Conflict Resolution Mediator, Keynote Speaker, and Educator.
Mrs. Costenbader-Jacobson is a graduate of Reading Senior High School and Albright College with degrees in Psychology and Political Science. She has worked as an advocate and mission-driven leader for more than 35 years.
Nina Bohn is Founder and President of Illuminate Strategies, LLC, which brings executive level knowledge and experience to small-to-mid-sized companies in the foundational areas of a company such as finance, accounting and human resources. Nina has her BS in Accounting from Albright College, and her MBA from Alvernia University. She was a finalist in 2014 for the CFO of the Year Lehigh Valley award right before she decided to go out on her own and start Illuminate Strategies. Previously Nina was CFO and VP of Human Resources for Gateway Ticketing Systems, a mid-sized software company based in Berks county. As CFO, she opened an office in Paris, a joint venture in United Kingdom, and managed all the accounting and human resources for the Calgary, Canada location.
Pam Vecellio, a Partner in Continual Impact, has spent the majority of her career in pursuit of learning, applying, and teaching principles and methods used to create highperformance continual improvement. Pam holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Quantitative Business Analysis from The Pennsylvania State University. Among other experiences, Pam has coached and mentors businesses and enables functional leaders and improvement champions in the application of the improvement model, including organization analysis, creating improvement plans, and delivering benefits in Human Resources, Procurement, Environmental Health and Safety, Facilities and Property Management, and Home Healthcare.
Kim Davis of KD Consulting LLC is a nationally recognized retail consultant, small business and community advocate, and creator of the Nine O’Clock Club. Kim is based out of Kutztown and has been an entrepreneur for over 19 years. KD Consulting provides Payment Processing Solutions and Professional Development Workshops. For more information visit www.kdconsultingllc.com or www.nineoclockclub. com.
Caitlin Bodner, a Senior Marketing major at Kutztown University, is the founder of Magnificent Candles. She started the company in April of 2014 and has been working on slowly building it since then. When she graduates, her goal is to open a brick and mortar store featuring hand-poured soy candles, as well as related products.
Lori B. Donofrio-Galley, Executive Director of the Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce, www.northeastberkschamber.com, will serve as moderator.
All sessions held during the last week of March are free of charge; however, registration is required. A full schedule of events is presented as follows.
Tuesday, March 28 Keynote Speaker: Julia Klein – Thinking Like an Entrepreneur at 11 a.m. to noon in AF 101. Julia Klein, Chairwoman & CEO, C.H. Briggs is a leader in the building materials distribution industry. With expertise in strategy, governance, mergers and acquisitions, technology and supply chain solutions in the residential and commercial construction industries, Ms. Klein has led C.H. Briggs for over 20 years. Ms. Klein was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards© in Greater Philadelphia, and was honored with the Junior Achievement Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame Award, the Athena Award, and as a Distinguished Girl Scout Alumna by the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania. She also received the Smart CEO magazine Brava Award and Best Managed Companies in Philadelphia. Register : https://pasbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/24075
Wednesday, March 29: Entrepreneurship Recognition Panel facilitated by Stephen Hilborn 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in AF 200. Register: https://pasbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/24076
Entrepreneurship: First Steps to Starting a Business Workshop – Hosted by Small Business Development Center 3 to 5 p.m. in MSU 250. This workshop covers a number of critical issues relevant to starting and operating a small business. Subjects include: legal issues, accounting issues, organization, and management. The workshop is designed for both entrepreneurs thinking about opening their first business and existing business owners looking for a “checkup”. This workshop is presented in partnership with the Small Business Assistance Center. Register: https:// pasbdc.ecenterdirect.com/ events/24013
Social Media Workshop - How to Help Your Small Business Reach Its Big Potential Hosted by Small Business Development Center 6 to 8 p.m. in MSU 250. An introductory social media training designed to help small businesses that are not familiar with, struggling with, or need a refresher on how social media can help their business reach its full, on-line potential. Register: https:// pasbdc.ecenterdirect.com/ events/24014
Thursday, March 30: Entrepreneurial Marketplace: Student Vendors 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., MSU hallway outside of MSU 218.
Entrepreneurial Women’s Panel and Luncheon 12 to 1:30 p.m. in MSU 218 . Facilitated by Lori B. DonofrioGalley, Executive Director, Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce. Register: https://pasbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/24077
Entrepreneurial Success and Women Certifications Workshop 1:30 to 3 p.m. in MSU 218. Led by Kim Stout, Economic Development and Lender Relations Specialist, Micro Loan Coordinator for U.S. Small Business Administration and Laurie Sterner Government Procurement Specialist for SBDC. Register: https:// pasbdc.ecenterdirect.com/ events/24078
For more information about the Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce, contact Lori B. DonofrioGalley, Executive Director, at 610-683-8860, or visit www.northeastberkschamber.com.