YWCA Bergen County
2 University Plaza
Suite 208
Hackensack, NJ 07601
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Release Date: Thursday, March 20, 2014
Media Contact: Caryl Bixon-Gordon (201) 796-7788
Day-Long Summit for Women and Girls Will Offer Strategies for Navigating Change
HACKENSACK, N.J., March 20, 2014 – Adapting and responding to change is a necessary skill for women in every stage of life. Designed for women and girls seeking information, encouragement and strategies to help them better manage change in their day-to-day lives, the YWCA Bergen County is hosting “The Big Shift: Planning for Change” on Saturday, March 29 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
This day-long conference is a culmination of the YWCA’s Women’s History Month celebration “Week of the Women,” and will take place at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Wilson Auditorium/Dickinson Hall, located at 140 University Plaza Drive in Hackensack, N.J. Visitor parking is available near the Rothman Center.
“As the saying goes, nothing is constant except change,” said Helen Archontou, YWCA Bergen County’s CEO. “Through an exciting day of networking and education, it is our hope that women and girls leave this conference armed with new ways to successfully deal with change in all aspects of their lives.”
The conference’s keynote speaker, Tara Gilvar, is founder and chief executive officer of B.I.G. (Believe, Inspire, Grow), an organization that provides a visionary path for current and future female entrepreneurs by offering positive peer support. Gilvar will provide concrete strategies for helping women find balance both personally and professionally. Founded in 2009, B.I.G. hosts more than 50 community meetings each month across five states, including 20 in New Jersey.
Lunch Panel Discussion
Highlighting the day’s programming is a lunch panel discussion entitled, “Turn Your Passion into a Profession,” providing attendees with valuable insight on how to turn a hobby or talent into a profitable, satisfying and rewarding business. Leading the panel is Michele Brown, president of IntuAction Coaching. As a certified executive coach and management consultant, Brown supports individuals who are interested in making significant career or business enhancements. Panelists also include Patty Baglivi, owner and creative designer of Pattycakes & Cookies, a custom cake and confection baker; and Arlene Vasquez, president and CEO of AVConnexions, New Jersey’s premier matchmaking service.
Other informative workshops and panel discussions for women will focus on “Starting a Business,” “Planning for Retirement,” “Managing a Household,” and “Transitioning Back into Worklife.” Workshops for girls ages 14-18 will center on preparing for life after high school, covering topics such as “Setting Boundaries for Success,” “ABC’s for Personal Finances,” “How Volunteering Can Help You Make Decisions for the Future” and “Dress for Success.”
Cost to attend “The Big Shift: Planning for Change” is $25 per adult and $15 per girl aged 14-18. The fee includes breakfast and lunch. Scholarship applications are available; for more information call (201) 881-1701. To register, visit http://www.ywcawomenssummit.eventbrite.com/.
“Week of the Women” sponsors include United Water, The Valley Hospital, Unilever, Stryker, TD Bank, HackensackUMC, Holy Name Medical Center, Cytec, PNC Bank, Wilmington Trust, N.J. Talent Network and Fairleigh Dickinson University. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information contact Archontou at (201) 881-1701 or via email at harchontou@ywcabergencounty.org.
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