Greater Boston & North Shore Region

SUMMIT FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

Wednesday, June 16 —8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. FREE

This summit will set priorities and explore challenges facing Massachusetts women business owners, promote dialogue among the women’s business community, and help the National Women’s Business Council to articulate policy recommendations.  

Speakers will address key national policy challenges and the current local economic climate impacting women business owners. This event is FREE and lunch will be served.

Speakers:

Dr. Ann Blackburn, Board Member, Women Impacting Public Policy, Owner & President, Blackburn Advisory Services

Wendi Goldsmith, President & Founder, The Bioengineering Group

Margaret Barton, Executive Director, National Women’s Business Council

Rebecca Herwick, President & CEO, Global Products, Inc.

 Breakout sessions will include (full description listed below):

* Securing federal government contracts
* Access to capital – obstacles and opportunities
* Microenterprise – challenges and issues
* Taxes
* Work/life balance
* Healthcare costs and coverage
* Training and workforce development

 BREAKOUT SESSION DESCRIPTIONS:

Securing Federal Government Contracts

Government contracts can be a great source of business revenue for both new and established businesses. But to get those contracts, you have to understand the process and how to navigate it successfully. What can the government do to make procurement policies more accessible to women-owned businesses? Have you tried to access the federal procurement marketplace?

Access to Capital – Obstacles and Challenges

Access to funding for starting or expanding a business is typically a challenging issue for any business owner, but particularly women entrepreneurs. What policies or regulations could assist women business owners in securing financing for their businesses? How have you been impacted by the current economic climate?

Microenterprise Challenges and Issues

Sole proprietorships and small businesses with fewer than five employees frequently experience challenges that are different from their “larger” small business counterparts. If you are a newly established business, a sole proprietorship or a business with fewer than five employees, what are the most prevalent obstacles to your business success?

Taxes

Understanding tax policy is difficult for any small business. What challenges do women business owners face related to local, state and federal taxes? How can tax policy be changed to support entrepreneurial ventures? Are you familiar with the tax code changes that have emerged as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009?

Healthcare Costs and Coverage

The availability of affordable healthcare options ranks as one of the top concerns of most small business owners. Join the discussion on how policymakers can craft laws and regulations to make affordable healthcare available to small businesses. Are you a business owner who provides healthcare options for your employees? Are you a sole proprietor seeking affordable healthcare options for yourself?

Training and Workforce Development

Entrepreneurial development and technical assistance programs are committed to helping entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. What programs should the government be supporting to help business owners find qualified employees and achieve business success? Are you familiar with entrepreneurial development programs in your area? How do you find the best employees and sustain their professional satisfaction?

Work/Life Balance

Starting, running and growing your own business is more than a full-time job—it’s multiple full-time jobs. How can you plan, focus and accomplish your business goals while still benefiting from the freedom of your own venture? What strategies or programs would help business owners stay in balance?

Hosted by the National Women's Business Council in conjunction with the Enterprise Center at Salem State College.

The National Women's Business Council is a bipartisan federal advisory council created to serve as an independent source of advice and counsel to the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners. The Council's mission is to promote bold initiatives, policies, and programs designed to support women's business enterprises at all stages of development in the public and private sector marketplaces -- from start-up to success to significance. Click here for more information on NWBC.