2015 Business Women's Forum (BWF) to Feature Six Professional Development Workshops October 23

WATERBURY, Conn. - Aug. 11, 2015 - PRLog -- “Making It All Work” is the theme of the 33rd annual Business Women’s Forum (BWF) that will feature keynote addresses by Emmy Award-winning TV talk and radio host and producer, “New York Times” best-selling author and successful entrepreneur Leeza Gibbons, and nationally-recognized motivational speaker Juliet Funt, founder of WhiteSpace at Work. The Business Women’s Forum is Connecticut’s longest-running full-day annual conference for women and the 33rd BWF (www.2015BWF.com) is expected to attract over 500 attendees and will include six professional development workshops, networking, breakfast, lunch and a closing reception. The conference will be at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The BWF is a program of the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce Foundation in Waterbury, Connecticut led by female executives dedicated to the professional and personal growth of working women, and is sponsored by numerous Connecticut-based companies. Tje mission of the non-profit BWF is to raise scholarship funds for female Post University students pursuing business degrees. “The continual commitment is to the equality of opportunity and advancement for women in business,” explained Lynn Ward, a BWF Director and president of the Waterbury Regional Chamber. “During the past 32 years, the BWF has generated in excess of $185,000 in scholarships.”

“Centered Leadership: How Talented Women Thrive” will be one of three morning workshops. Presented by organizational development consultant and trainer Anne Yurasek, principal of Fiopartners in Higganum, Conn., this workshop will provide a new approach to leadership that can help women become more self-confident and effective business leaders. Yurasek believes that every person with the brains, desire, and perseverance to lead should be encouraged to fulfill their potential. Yurasek is recognized for training and presentation skills she honed during more than 12 years in the nonprofit and private sector. She holds an MBA in Management from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Wellesley College. Two sponsorships of this workshop are available.

“Why Not Me? Why Not Now” is the morning workshop by Debbie Fay, founder of Bespeak Presentation Solutions, LLC in Fairfield, Conn. Fay will help participants ‘peel away excuses’ for fulfilling harbored talents, desires and wishes. She provides public speaking coaching, training and presentation development to companies worldwide including BNY Mellon, the Hay Group, and US Fund for UNICEF. An award-winning trainer, Fay is a sought-after speaker and contributing author to the Huffington Post, and author of “Nail it. Create and deliver presentations that connect, compel, and convince”. Two sponsorships are available for this workshop.

“Having Your Cake and Eating It Too” is the title of the morning and afternoon workshops led by motivational speaker Lauran Star of LS Consulting in Manchester, NH, who will help attendees look at their work and personal lives and where they place their energies and time. Star combines her leadership experience with the U.S. Army and several Fortune 100 companies, a Master’s Degree in Organizational Psychology and her Broadway background to deliver proven techniques while engaging her audience and helping them shift perspectives that hold them back from achieving their dreams. Star is known to be dynamic, witty, enlightening and empowering. Her morning workshop will be sponsored by the law firm of Carmody, Torrance, Sandak & Hennessey, LLP, and Saint Mary’s Health Systems, and the afternoon workshop by Employer’s Reference Source, Inc. and Ion Bank.

“Mastering Change from the Inside Out” will be presented by Dr. Bridget Cooper, owner of Piece in Place Consulting in Glastonbury, Conn.  Dr. Cooper is a passionate, thought-provoking speaker who partners with organizations and individuals worldwide to create better people and leaders. She guides and challenge individuals to find their way by sharing her personal stories and unique philosophies to help them live their lives fully. Dr. Cooper earned degrees from UMass, UConn and The George Washington University where she is currently an administrator and professor. She is author of three books on conflict, communication, change and opening one’s life. Two sponsorship opportunities are available for this workshop.

“The Politics of Promotion: How High Achieving Women Get Ahead and Stay Ahead” will be presented by award-winning entrepreneur, and “Forbes” and “Business Insider” contributing writer Bonnie Marcus, M.Ed., president of Women’s Success Coaching in Wilton, Conn. who will outline a proven process for how women get the promotions they deserve. She will emphasize how many women focus on performance, thinking that good work garners promotion yet they’re often left outside of circles of influence where decisions are made that affect their careers. Marcus assists women successfully navigate the workplace and position and promote themselves to advance their careers. In her book, “The Politics of Promotion: How High Achieving Women Get Ahead and Stay Ahead” she offers her 20+ years of sales and management experience including being CEO of a ServiceMaster company and VP of sales at Medical Staffing Network and two other national companies in the healthcare and software industries, plus executive positions in startup and Fortune 500 companies. This workshop will be sponsored by Thomaston Savings Bank and The Eastern Company.

The 2015 Business Women’s Forum (BWF) will be sponsored in part by Star Partners Wells Fargo and Post University, Forum Partner Bank of America, Barker Specialty Company and Corporate Display Specialties, Inc. The closing reception sponsors are Diagnostic Radiology, Naugatuck Valley Radiology, O&G Industries, OUTFRONT Media, Sanditz Travel, Sweet Maria’s, Waterbury Hospital, and Webster Bank.

Admission is $195/person and to register for the 2015 BWF, visit www.2015bwf.com, or call the Waterbury Regional Chamber at 203-757-0701.