The WomEn's Conference

If you are interested in attending, please call 651.452.9872.

Dakota County Regional Chamber is excited to host the 7th annual WomEn's Conference on March 9, 2017. The mission of this event is to connect conference attendees with one another and enhance their lives by providing the tools and resources to fulfill their professional aspirations. New this year, we are adding the Women of Excellence Award that will honor women who are leaders and mentors in both their profession and in the communities they live and work in. The winners will be recognized and featured on a panel during lunch. Tickets will be available for the full conference as well as the lunch portion only (yes, men, you are welcome to join us for lunch!). The conference will also include keynote speaker Holly Hoffman, breakout sessions and a health and wellness marketplace, all with a focus on energizing, educating and empowering.

Registration
Member Rate: $119 per person
Non-Member Rate: $159 per person
Lunch Only: $40 per person

Full conference registration includes plated lunch, gift bags and prize drawings, access to all speakers, the conference Marketplace and a reception following the day's speakers.

If you are a member of the WomEn's Circle, you get $10 off your registration! 

If you do not wish to register online, you may fill out this form and return to DCR Chamber by email, fax (651-452-8978) or mail to our address (3352 Sherman Court, Suite 201, Eagan MN 55121).
 

Program Speakers
Women of Excellence Award Winner Panel
Michele Boston, No Time for Poverty
Monica Engel, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
Roz Peterson, Cerron Commercial Properties

Keynote speaker
Holly Hoffman - Born and raised in Eureka, South Dakota, Holly Hoffman was the last remaining member of the Espada Tribe and the last woman standing on Season 21 of CBS’ hit reality show “Survivor Nicaragua”. Through that experience, and others throughout her life, Holly was inspired to share her message of positivity, determination and confidence with business leaders, teachers, and students across the nation. A professional motivational speaker and the author of "Your Winner Within," Holly acknowledges that life is made up of challenges, and we are oftentimes faced with situations that seem insurmountable. But within each of us is an ability to focus our thoughts, emotions, and energy to succeed—if only we have the knowledge, tools, and discipline to do so.

As we survive life’s challenges, we come face to face with fear and uncertainty. Challenges may allow us to step out of our comfort zone and push ourselves above and beyond our own self-limitations. It is how we choose to overcome challenges that make us who we are. It is our strength in times of difficulty that prove our character and self worth.  As Holly shares her experience of being on a reality show, she will encourage you to think about how you decide to survive on a daily basis. Holly will encourage you to think about six words to develop your survival skills. With her six simple words, you can take on any challenge you are faced with. Adversity is not so much contending with problems as it is learning more about who you really are and what is inside of you. Join us and explore what your true survival skills are.

Breakout Sessions (attendees will choose one session to attend)
Melissa DeLay, TruPerception: Healthy Communication - Great Ways to Say Everything
Perception is reality. That's why perceptions of your brand, your company—and perceptions of YOU—matter so much. Yet, crafting and delivering the right messages to prospective customers, referral sources or business partners can be tricky. During Melissa's talk, she will share message design and delivery techniques that are guaranteed to strengthen reputation, inspire change and create brand ambassadors. Her approach is highly engaging and interactive, and you will be able to present real-life business scenarios that she'll respond to.

Mariann Johnson, U of M Center for Spirituality & Healing: Mindfulness at Work
A growing body of research has begun to point to the numerous benefits of mindfulness practice.Studies indicate that mindfulness enhances emotional and physical resilience, improves cognitive functioning and connects us more positively to other people. This session will include an introduction to mindfulness and will explore the ways in which key mindfulness traits relate to the characteristics essential to engaged workplaces and authentic leadership.

Beth Dawson and Nancy Evans, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota: Managing the Stress of Uncertainty
The frequency and complexity of change has changed dramatically in this decade and doesn’t show signs of slowing down.  Change affects our world, our jobs and our personal lives.  This often leads us into extended periods of ambiguity and uncertainty.  It’s hard to know the future, much less control it! We’ll explore how to take deliberate steps  to understand the power of changing your vantage point and  exhibiting the behaviors that build resilience.   We’ll experiment with how concentrating on the things you can control, even in the midst of chaos, will allow you to work toward attainable goals.  During the session we will be sharing tools that can easily be shared with your employees and teams.
 

What else is happening at the Conference?

Health & Wellness Marketplace

As a health and wellness provider, participating in the Marketplace gives you the opportunity to showcase and sell your products and services to conference attendees. Only 20 exhibitors spaces are available! Click Here for more information on this year's marketplace opportunities. 

Wine Pull
Each year the Wine Pull has been a huge success at the conference. Proceeds from this activity help fund the scholarships that are provided to four students each year so we are in need of wine donations! Click here for more information.

Conference Bags
Each conference attendee receives a conference bag full of goodies! If you are interested in donating an item to the bags (175) please contact Emily Corson.

Non-Profit Partner
This year's Non-Profit Partner is the DCR Chamber Charitable Foundation.  Funds raised will be used to give four - $500 scholarships to deserving female students attending high school in the Dakota County Regional Chamber area. To be eligible for this scholarship, the student must currently attend a local high school in Districts 191, 192, 196, and 197; graduate in June 2017; and committed to full-time attendance at a post-secondary institution. The application deadline is February 3, 2017.  Click here for more information on scholarship opportunities.

Sponsorships
This outstanding event is attended by approximately 175 influential business women from various companies throughout the metro area. A sponsorship is a perfect opportunity for you to expand your network, enhance your visibility and develop new business relationships. Let DCR Chamber assist you in maximizing your company's profile and brand at this invaluable Conference! Click here to see sponsorship opportunities.