Ladies! The Power of WE (Women Entrepreneurs) Conference is returning for its 3rd Annual gathering of Women Entrepreneurs in Salida, Colorado on Friday May 19, 2023. Each year this exceptional conference brings women-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and other private, public, and non-profit sectors together to explore ways to ignite positive change both personally and professionally.

This years theme will focus on Amplifying Purpose + People + Profit. 

The Power of WE gathering encourages and supports Colorado women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs by presenting self-awareness tools and practices and creating an environment to ignite positive change inch women’s professional and personal development. The conference welcomes anyone interested in her/her/hers topics and discussions.

We have attended the conference every year and have walked away with valuable insight and new perspectives on everything from business, human interest, wellness and finances. This full day opens at 8am at the Salida Steamplant, located on the banks of the Arkansas River with a keynote from Taishya Adams who serves as a commissioner to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Ms. Adams sets regulations and policies for Colorado’s state parks and wildlife programs; serves on the board of Black in Marine Science; serves on the NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Business Advisory Council; and serves on the Colorado Natural Areas Council.

Taishya’s experiences however extend beyond Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Taishya served as the National Policy & Education Director and Colorado Network Co-lead for Outdoor Afro. Outdoor Afro is a national network – in 33 states and 56 cities – that celebrates and inspires Black American connections to nature and leadership. Taishya also worked at American Institutes for Research as an Educational Equity Specialist and trainer;, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools providing technical assistance and trainings on school design , accountability systems, evaluation, and governance, the DC Public Charter School Board providing non-academic and academic oversight and training, and the Children Defense Fund Freedom Schools where she began her career at the Alex Haley Farm in 1995 serving Black communities through summer and after school enrichment programs.

The depths of this woman’s experience are deep and will be a perfect start of the event.

The rest of day’s schedule will wow you. We have included the lineup below:

Photo Credit: Catherine Eichel Photography

Power of WE Schedule:

8:00am Check In/Registration the Salida SteamPlant Event Center. 
Morning piano performance by Megan Lambardo

8:30am “Welcome from our Emcee” 
Heather Barron, Founder of Luminous Life and Transformational Life Coach.
Salida SteamPlant Main Stage

8:50am “State of Women Owned Businesses in Colorado” 
Frances Padilla, Deputy District Director of the Small Business Administration

9:05am “The Power of Purpose + Your Why How it Matters in Business + Life” 
Jamie Billesbach, Center Director, Central Mountain SBDC

9:30am Keynote “A Tale of Two Women: Healing at the Intersection”
Taishya Adams, Founder of Mukuyu Collective

10:30am Break + Outdoor Exhibitor Hall

11:00am “HerStory: Powerful Narratives of Women-Owned Businesses”
Rachel Kois, Founder & CEO Simple Switch
Grace Kinda, Founder Iber! Naturals

11:30am Work Sessions (choose from 3 interactive options)
Main Stage – “Securing + Maximizing Funds with Examples”
Avery Bechtel, Commercial Loan Officer, High Country Bank
Frances Padilla, Deputy District Director of the Small Business Administration
Madison Goering, Capital Access Manger Prairie Rose Development – Kiva

Annex – “Telling Your Story to: B2B, Business to Customers + Business to Investor” 
Olivia Omega, Senior Director MarComm, Denver Scholarship Foundation | Branding Strategist | Diversity & Inclusion Advocate | Entrepreneur

Nature Tent –  “LeanUp Start + Scale Processes to Expand Your Ideas for Growth” 
Kayla Doan, Technology Product Strategist

12:30pm Lunch by Kalamatapit Catering 

1:30pm “Breaking Barriers: Women Rising Up in Business” 
Niki Stotler, President | CEO at High Country Bank and WE Platinum Sponsor
SteamPlant Main Stage

1:45pm “HerStory: Powerful Narratives of Women-Owned Businesses”
Denise Day + Lauren Beno,  Co-Founders of Town Hall Collaborative

2:00pm  “Transforming Trauma + Building Resilience” 
Marisol Solarte-Erlacher, M.A., LPC, Speaker, Trainer + Trauma Expert

2:30pm “The Freedom of Giving Voice to Our Fears”
Laurie Benson, Founder Inward Bound Leadership + Author “Leading from the Feminine“

2:45pm “WE Financial Power Stories of Success + How To Get Funding”
Anna Winger, CO-Owner + Founder, The Buena Viking
Jamie Billesbach, Center Director, Central Mountain SBDC

3:30pm Break + Outdoor Exhibit Hall

3:45pm Work Sessions (choose from 3 options)
Main Stage – “People Power – Leading with a Diverse Workforce” 
Marisol Solarte-Erlacher, M.A., LPC, Speaker, Trainer + Trauma Expert

Annex – “Office Hours 1 on 1 Funding + Profit First Support” 
High Country Bank, Colorado SBDC, CHFA, Office of Economic Development & International Trade, Rural Opportunity Office OEDIT,  Prairie Rose Development – KIVA,  Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments, Cambridge Financial Advisors and more.

Nature Tent – “Exploring Shadow Work Journaling” 
Laurie Benson, Founder Inward Bound Leadership + Author “Leading from the Feminine“

4:45pm “WE Gather Thoughts of the Day + Closing Ceremony” 
and Group Photo Main Stage

5:15pm to 6:15pm “WE Gather Music + Social Connecting” 
Ballroom + Outdoors along the Arkansas River

Click for WE Resources + Tools

To Register to Attend, Sponsor or Both head to this link: https://centralsbdc.org/sbdc-events/2023-the-power-of-we/

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