More than 500 businesspeople from across New England are anticipated to attend the 2014 Business Women’s Forum (BWF) on October 10 in Southington, Connecticut from 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jane Pinho of Prospect and branch manager with Ion Bank in Prospect, has been named chairwoman of 32nd annual event. As chairwoman, Pinho is overseeing coordination of Connecticut’s longest-running full-day annual career-development conference for women that will feature keynote addresses by Barbara Corcoran, a well-known real estate mogul, business expert, private investor and star of ABC-TV’s “Shark Tank”, and Amanda Gore, CEO of The Joy Project.
Created 31 years ago, the non-profit Business Women’s Forum is a program of the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce Foundation. The thriving organization is led by 35 female executives dedicated to the professional and personal growth of working women. For 2014, the BWF Board of Directors chose “The Power of Self: Leading the Way” as the innovative theme for this much-anticipated annual conference that will include keynote speeches, six professional development workshops, all-day networking, breakfast, lunch, and a closing reception.
“Each year dozens of companies across the region vie to be sponsors of BWF because they recognize the prominent positioning they would garner in front of one of the strongest markets of influence and buying power in the country, businesswomen. Companies and organizations seeking marketing opportunities to this market segment definitively garner significant opportunity at the annual BWF,” stated Pinho.
The overall mission of the BWF is to raise monies for a scholarship fund for female Post University students to pursue business educations. “BWF’s continual commitment has been to the equality of opportunity and advancement for women in business,” explained Pinho. “During the past 31 years, the BWF has generated in excess of $185,000 toward those scholarships.
The BWF Board is currently welcoming companies and organizations interested in sponsorship levels that range from Presenting Partners at $20,000 to Premier Partners at $15,000, Star Partners at $10,000, Forum Partners at $5,000 to Reception Host at $2,500, Workshop Host at $1,500 and Benefactors at $500. Marketing opportunities for sponsors abound for months leading up to the conference through a very high level of traditional and social media marketing messages directed toward thousands of businesswomen across New England. These messages provide attendees with insights into how their professional and personal lives would benefit from attending this comprehensive one-day conference.”
Pinho joined Ion Bank in 2004 as branch manager opening the Waterbury branch. In 2007 she was named business development officer covering the Waterbury, Watertown and Wolcott branches. Prior to joining Ion Bank, Pinho was a business banking representative for Santander Bank, a senior corporate sales manager for Four Points Sheraton Hotel Waterbury, director of membership development for the Waterbury Regional Chamber; as well as several other sales/customer service positions.
An active participant in Greater Waterbury area organizations and activities, Pinho is currently a board member of the BWF and the Home to Home Foundation, and a member of the Waterbury Regional Chamber’s Small Business Council. Previously she volunteered with the Junior League of Greater Waterbury, Morris Foundation, Special Olympics, American Cancer Society of Greater Waterbury Relay of Life 2006-2008 as corporate chair, and several other organizations. In 2005 she received Waterbury Regional Chamber’s prestigious “Volunteer of the Year” Award and in 2003 she was named one of the 2003 New Haven Business Times “Forty Under Forty” and graduated the Waterbury Regional Chamber’s Leadership Waterbury program.
Admission to the 2014 BWF at the Aqua Turf Club is $175/person which includes breakfast, lunch, networking, keynote speakers, workshops, and a closing reception with buffet and raffle prizes. To register, visit www.2014 BWF.com, or call the Waterbury Regional Chamber at 203-757-0701.
Companies and organizations interested in learning more about sponsorships and marketing opportunities at the 2014 BWF can contact Lynn Ward or Courtney Ligi at the Waterbury Regional Chamber at 203-757-0701, or via email to lward@waterburychamber.com or cligi@waterburychamber.com.