Women’s conference a success
It was a day for “sheroes” on March 4 as the first Women in Business Conference was held at the Texarkana Convention Center.
The event was hosted by the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce and Texas Pioneer Foundation.
Said Natalie Haywood, Director of Events for the Chamber, “We planned for 150 women to attend, but we actually have 260 here.”
A “local sheroes” panel discussion featured Sonja Yates Hubbard of the The Yates Group; Jo Ann Rice of Texarkana Independent School District; Lesley Ledwell of Ledwell Industries; and Kelley Crisp, First Assistant District Attorney of Bowie County.
“I was actually blown away when they asked me to be part of this,” Rice said. “When you do things day-to-day, you don’t realize people are watching you. You do stuff because it’s the right thing to do.”
Moderator Fernanda Hernandez of KTAL NBC 6 asked the panel several questions regarding women in the workplace and the panelists took turns answering.
They covered topics such as dressing for success, handling male subordinates, their personal inspiration figure, the best advice ever received and what they wished someone had told them in the beginning of their career. The panel also took questions from the audience.
As far as dressing for success, Crisp said, “I dress up in suits every day. People comment on how nice and professional I look in the courtroom. The fact of the matter is that you’re being evaluated.”
Hernandez asked what each woman wished someone had told her when she was young.
“I wish someone had told me that I just couldn’t do it all,” Sonja Hubbard said. “Give yourself a break and take time to prioritize.”
Asked about the importance of giving back to the community, Rice said, “I believe it’s my duty to give back. Texarkana has given me so much, and me giving back is showing my appreciation.”
One attendee asked how the women handle conflict as women in a leadership role of a male-dominated company.
“At times female leadership works better than the traditional male role,” Ledwell answered. “Don’t change your mind. Make a decision and stick to it.”
Special guest Marlene Creighton, vice president of the Food East region of The Hershey Company, spoke of her humble beginnings as a young girl raised by only her German-immigrant father in Northern California, along with her two sisters.
Also, Texarkana native and Pleasant Grove alumni Jessica K. Haas demonstrated her speed-painting technique that has propelled her to nationwide fame since using her art to win the Talent Award in the Miss Tennessee pageant in 2013. Since then she has been hired to perform for celebrities and corporations, and was a winner of “The Gong Show” on ABC.
The painting Haas did at the conference was a portrait of Dolly Parton that was auctioned off during the conference. The auction raised more than $1,600 that was donated to Domestic Violence Prevention, Inc. of Texarkana.
Haywood said the conference will become an annual event.