Working Women Seek Balance

Working Women Seek Balance
by Tammi Hitchcock

The good news: With more and more women in all levels of the workforce, as employees, entrepreneurs, and CEOs, women are a large reason for our current economic boom.

The bad news: No one’s thinking about the concomitant bust (pardon the pun). More often than not in our society, women’s needs are playing second fiddle to everyone else’s.

The bad news: Women find that trying to balance their jobs, families, kids, and any semblance of a life is running them ragged.

The good news: If you are looking for the resources to get things done, if you ever wish you knew more about business but still can’t find the time to go to school to learn it, and if you can free up one day in the next week, you can attend one event at which you are sure to benefit both personally and professionally: the Business Women’s Forum, to be held at the Clarion Hotel & Convention Center (1700 Harrisburg Pike, Carlisle) on Wednesday, March 22.

Successful keynote speakers Marjorie Brody (Brody Communications, Ltd.), and Karen K. Deklinski (PA Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources), will set the tone for the forum by addressing the topics of plugging into your power source and adapting to change. The forum is meant to be a comfortable environment for women at all levels of the workforce. Break-out sessions will cover a wide variety of topics including: Asset Management & Financial Planning, Strategic Planning, Reducing Stress Through Exercise, Keeping Pace with Technology Change, Marketing, Jumping Puddles in Order to Build Ponds: Don’t be too Hip to Hop (and Help), and many others. Marilyn Zywiec, Chair of the Women’s Business Forum committee, says she’d like women to walk away form the forum with several things: “A feeling of a day well spent [and the awareness] that they’ve learned something and made some networking leads.”

Jointly presented by the local chambers of commerce, the West Shore Chamber of Commerce, Shippensburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce, and Harrisburg Regional Chamber, the Business Women’s Forum will also present opportunities for local business to promote their businesses or community services.

Oh yeah — men are also welcome to attend. In fact, it might not be too bad a place to increase your business advantage by hearing about the solutions/resources women have in the marketplace.