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A Free Presentation in Celebration of Women’s History Month

Take this opportunity to meet a panel of dynamic women who have launched their dreams into successful business ventures. From start-ups to franchises, they'll share lessons learned and what works and what doesn’t! Meet with business experts who can help you put your idea on the LaunchPad.

To honor women's history month, you will also enjoy a special presentation about how the first ladies of business struggled and triumphed with their own business ventures. Reserve a seat today!

Thursday, March 20, 2008
Registration: 11:30 a.m.
Event: Noon - 2:00 p.m.
FCCJ Advanced Technology Center
401 W. State Street, Jacksonville FL

Call (904) 633-8292 to reserve your seat.
Optional box lunch available for $9.50.
Purchase in advance by noon, Monday, March 17,
or bring your own if you prefer.

If you want your own business, but need some help getting started, you must attend this program! Lots of women are starting and growing their businesses and you can do it, too! In fact, women-owned businesses are growing at twice the rate of all businesses. According to The Economic Impact of Women-Owned Businesses in Northeast Florida report of the Jacksonville Women’s Business Center, women business owners generated $18.8 billion in economic impact and 225,000 jobs in the seven counties of Northeast Florida in 2006. The average woman business owner is 50 years old and is a college graduate or has some college, has been in business for five plus years and operates her business outside the home with average gross sales of $2,581,848. Most report annual gross sales of around $100,000.

At this special Women’s Information Exchange luncheon, Sandy Bartow, Executive Director of the Jacksonville Women’s Business Center will share some highlights of this revealing research report, which is available at www.jaxwbc.com. In honor of Women’s History Month, Bartow will also share how some of the first ladies of business struggled and triumphed with their own business ventures. It wasn’t easy, but women business owners have come a long way, baby! You will then have the opportunity to take a brief self-assessment of your own entrepreneurial abilities.

The core of the event will be LaunchPad: Exploring Entrepreneurial Options, sponsored by Prudential Financial, where you will meet a dynamic panel of women who have launched their dreams into successful business ventures: Nancy Cofield speaking on buying an existing business or franchise; Jannell Conner who started a home-based web design company from scratch; Diane Hutchings with Prudential Financial speaking on owning a business under the corporate umbrella; and Dana Stallings who started a daycare from scratch and bought a chocolate and ice cream franchise.

Reservation and cancellation deadline is Monday, March 17 at noon. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 11:30 a.m