Testimonials

Thank you so much for all of your AMAZING efforts in pulling off a very impressive, first ever, Women’s Business Conference! Brava! The whole day and experience of meeting such talented women was truly an inspiration. I know how hard you all worked to make that possible, and I wanted you to know how grateful I am to have been a sponsor. Count me in for 2010!
– Amy Sullivan Potter, Country Way Florist

Inspiring women, great ideas, excited about future of business.
– Ashley Plum, Dulles Golf

Awesome! The Best! Well done! Keep doing what you do!
– Lanae Wheeler, C3 Innovations & Consulting

Conference Highlights

2010 photos courtesy of Teri Moy Photography

2011 Featured Speakers

Francisca Alonso Francisca V. Alonso has more than 20 years of experience in architectural and interior design. She was born in Santiago (Chile) and grew up in the Costa del Sol (Spain). Francisca was a magna cum laude graduate from The School of Architecture at The Catholic University (Washington, D.C.) where she also met her husband and partner, Antonio Alonso. Francisca speaks four languages; she appreciates and is inspired by the many cultures of the world. [ Read More ]

Richa Badami Richa Badami believes that everyone is here for a purpose and has dedicated her practice to helping people discover their true self. As founder and CEO of Anahatha, Richa helps people on their path of transformation and spiritual growth so they may live their life to the fullest potential. [ Read More ]

Beth Caldwell Beth Caldwell owns her own public relations firm in Pittsburgh, PA where she specializes in working with small business owners and women entrepreneurs. She is a “40 under 40” Winner, having been recognized by Pittsburgh Magazine as one of the city of Pittsburghʼs most influential young business leaders. [ Read More ]

Mary Lynne Carraway In her position as the President of Team Washington, Inc. and a Franchisee of Domino's Pizza LLC, Mary Lynne Carraway oversees the operation of fifty seven of the most successful Domino’s Pizza stores in the system. She serves on the Domino's Pizza Supply Chain Advisory Board and is an active member of the Domino’s Franchise Forum, the Domino's Women's Leadership Forum and the Domino's Franchisee Association. [ Read More ]

Tamara Darvish Tamara Darvish is a vice president of DARCARS Automotive Group. DARCARS Automotive Group is a privately owned group of 31 dealerships in the Washington Metro area. Tamara Darvish was elected to the Toyota Dealer Advertising Association in 1988, becoming the secretary/treasurer in 1993 (a position still held). She has served as a member of the executive board of directors for Washington Area New Auto Dealers Association since 1995. [ Read More ]

Cynthia de Lorenzi Cynthia de Lorenzi likes to call herself a serial entrepreneur and social commentator on the status of women in our world today. She also encourages the label "open networker" and, just for fun, "Diva Extraordinaire." Washington Business Journal selected her as one of the top 25 "Women Who Mean Business" in 2006, SmartCEO magazine awarded her the BRAVA award in 2009 and was awarded SmartCEO's Circle of Excellence by her peers as well as recognized by Enterprising Women in 2010. [ Read More ]

Jan Fox Jan Fox's 4 EMMY AWARDS attest to her stellar 30 year career in local network news. But don’t ask her where she went to Journalism School. The only woman role model on TV when Jan was a kid, was I LOVE LUCY. She likes to say she came from a poor house in Shelbyville, Indiana, all the way to the White House and Hollywood interviewing many celebrities and US Presidents – a life she never could have imagined. [ Read More ]

Kim Guarino President of Evolve Marketing, Kim Guarino works as a strategic marketing advisor and virtual CMO to growth companies and has advised over 200 firms on developing successful marketing plans that drive results. A serial entrepreneur, clients enjoy her firsthand understanding of what it takes to build, scale and exit successfully. Her team has been recognized numerous times as Technology, Professional Service, Consumer and Nonprofit Marketer of the Year. [ Read More ]

Annette Y. Harris Annette Y. Harris is the President and founder of Harris ImageWorks, LLC. With more than 15 years of leadership and professional experience, a flare for fashion, and a passion for professional presence, it seemed only natural for her to create Harris ImageWorks. Having received positive feedback on her speaking skills, professionalism, and appearance over the years, Ms. Harris decided to develop a platform for sharing best practices for achieving great first and lasting impressions! [ Read More ]

Renee Lewis Renee Lewis is the President of the Pensare Group, an organization focused on helping leaders achieve meaningful results through alignment and build teams that excel in performing against common goals. With more than 25 years of building successful businesses and business units she has a passion to share “survival” techniques with others who can use them to create their own competitive advantage. [ Read More ]

Meredith Liepelt With enough creativity, energy and wit to spare, Meredith Liepelt helps her clients to be seen and recognized as leading experts in their industries. Small business owners work with Meredith to uncover their unique positioning and show-stopping branding and a marketing plan to take their messages to market. Meredith is the founder of Rich Life Marketing, based in Columbus, Ohio. She is the author of the book Flourish! 10 Easy, Elegant and Essential Marketing Strategies for Solo and Micropreneurs and is a co-author of best-selling book The Gratitude Book Project. [ Read More ]

Kim Lysik DiSanti Kim Lysik Di Santi is a wife, mother, sister, daughter, pet owner, friend, confidante and cheerleader to her clients, executive coach and president of Total Strategy. She provides coaching to clients around the country. Kim launched her executive coaching business from her home office in Reston, Va., in 1999, after spending 19 years in sales and marketing. [ Read More ]

Tara Rethore Tara Rethore works with mid-sized business leaders (and their followers) to solve complex problems and execute their strategies effectively. That means ensuring the right decisions and steps are taken to go where they want to go. She is adept at breaking down complex concepts and situations into a few, critical themes to shift thinking and deliver results. She knows what it takes to succeed, to execute a strategy, and to go from vision to reality. [ Read More ]

Mary Schnack A specialist in communications, Mary Schnack is an award-winning writer, reporter, public relations professional and advocate. Mary Schnack & Associates represents sophisticated organizations from corporations and small businesses to government agencies and associations and non-profit organizations. They have placed client’s stories in national publications, regional and local newspapers, radio shows and programs, television news programs and internet-based media. They also help build their client’s branding and expertise recognition through social media. [ Read More ]

Patrice Tanaka Patrice Tanaka is co-founder, co-chair, chief creative officer and whatcanbe ambassador for CRT/tanaka, an award-winning, national PR and marketing agency whose brand vision and promise is whatcanbe. She has been honored by many PR, marketing, business and civic organizations. Patrice is also the author of “Becoming Ginger Rogers…How Ballroom Dancing Made Me a Happier Woman, Better Partner and Smarter CEO.” [ Read More ]

Rose Wang Ms. Wang is the founder, President and CEO of Binary Group. She guides the overall strategy and vision for the company. Over the past decade, Ms. Wang has steered Binary to constant growth and innovation in the areas of management & technology advisory services. Binary is connecting the dots for customers through their SAGE model: Strategy, Architecture, Governance, and Engineering by acting as strategic advisors, thinkers and doers moving customers along the IT business transformation path to get them from Point A to Point B. [ Read More ]

Charlene A. Wheeless Charlene A. Wheeless is principal vice president of Corporate Affairs for Bechtel Corporation, one of the leading engineering, procurement, and construction companies in the world. In this role she is responsible for all aspects of global internal and external communications, issues management, sustainable development and public affairs. [ Read More ]