Business conventions were never Jessica Dolan’s cup of tea.
Between navigating through the large crowds to trying to keep track of the amount of companies in attendance, it all just seemed like too much of a hassle.
“I’m the anti-networker,” Dolan says. “I’m intimidated by large events and businesses. I found them boring and I wanted to start one that was fun and exciting and also affordable.”
As the head of a home organizing business called Room to Breathe, Dolan knew she had to meet people to promote her company. She also wanted to give other women in the region what she felt they had all been missing.
And so the Entrepreneurial Women’s Expo was born. Started by Dolan six years ago, the annual event gives local women in business their own networking opportunity.
This year, EWE will take place on Oct. 1 at Celebration Hall at 2280 Commercial Blvd. It will begin at 7 a.m. when participants check in and end with a cocktail social from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The event, which includes numerous speeches and workshops, was designed by Dolan to help women get to know their business peers in a carefree and unintimidating environment.
“It’s a really great way to connect with women you wouldn’t usually encounter,” Dolan says. “It’s a chance to get away from work and breathe and laugh and have fun, but it also gives you concrete information on how to make your business better.”
Every year after the expo is over, Dolan collects feedback from guests to see which workshops worked the best and what should be improved for the next year. From this information, the next batch of speakers and presenters are chosen.
This year, EWE will feature speeches or workshops from Penn State women’s basketball coach Coquese Washington, IPEC trainer and life and leadership coach Jennifer Lake, writer and blogger Carol Cool, author and educator Linda Friedman, and Impressions Inc. owner Michelle Damiano.
Patty Kleban, a Penn State faculty member and StateCollege.com columnist will emcee of this year’s event. She says the best part of EWE is that it allows women to network without feeling the need to outshine anyone.
“It’s not about competition, even though there are a lot of women there in similar businesses, it’s about women supporting women,” Kleban says. “Popular culture likes to say that girls will stab you in the back but that isn’t what this is about. There are people here with law experience and people who are just getting started in their careers.”
EWE is designed for women in all levels of business, both those who have been working in their field for years and those just entering. The goal is to help women learn from each other while also having a good time.
“I love watching the relationships between the women continue to grow,” Dolan says. “It’s also great to see the new women fit in and become part of the family.”
Registration for the Entrepreneurial Women’s Expo has been closed since Sept. 17. The event is also strictly designed for women, not men and children.
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