In order to become an entrepreneur, a woman must create her own unique company. Her distinctive signature on the entity, its products and services makes it original. Protecting the originality of the business, its image and brand is important, especially in an expanding global marketplace.

Once the business starts to grow, so does the interest of the owner to guard its company and its intellectual property. Most women entrepreneurs, no matter what stage of business they are in, struggle with knowing what should be protected, how to protect their enterprise and when to address copyright and trademark issues when they arise.

Once a year, Women TIES hosts a special luncheon on legal issues. With the increase in people starting businesses, the explosion of the internet for promoting businesses and the competitiveness of today's marketplace, it is important women entrepreneurs understand more about intellectual property issues to protect their corporation.

Experienced attorney, Laura Spring, Partner at Sugarman Law Firm, with significant experience in the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights for individuals and businesses, will share her knowledge to help women entrepreneurs understand more about intellectual property issues and rights. Some of the topics she will cover are: understanding the basics of trademark and copyright law; knowing whether you need trademark protection; basic registration of trademarks; enforcement of trademarks, the differences between trademark and copyright law; and the interaction with websites, domain names and their protection.

Don't miss the opportunity to learn more about this vital corporate issue. At the same, invest time in promoting your business to other women entrepreneurs to brand your name, increase your corporate visibility and sales opportunities this summer.

Laura L. Spring brings to the firm 20 years of legal experience, 15 of which have been spent as a trial attorney in Syracuse and in New York City. Her expertise is multi-faceted, built on a practice that has spanned commercial litigation, employment law and human rights disputes. In addition, she has significant experience in the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights for individuals and businesses. An authority on employment law and policy, Ms. Spring has successfully represented both employers and employees in federal and state court litigation and in administrative hearings. She provides strategic counsel for clients by negotiating the process of employment policies, from implementation to the reading of federal and state labor laws. These issues have become the focus of her career.

Ms. Spring lectures extensively, specifically on themes of employment policy and practices. She is active in many civic and philanthropic organizations including the Women's Fund of Central New York, the Central New York Chapter of the Women's Bar Association and the Syracuse Symphony Association. She also serves on the board of the Fayetteville Free Library and St. Joseph's Hospital Auxiliary Board. Her professional memberships include the Onondaga County Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Section, Women's Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association.

A graduate of the Pace University School of Law, Ms. Spring is admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut.

Summer lends itself to business planning - especially analyzing and preparing a successful sales and marketing plan for the profitable fourth quarter sales period.

Michelle Berry, President of Courtney Consulting, an award-winning full-service marketing, motivational speaking, training and wellness/stress management firm with offices in Ithaca and Binghamton, will present an exceptional program on making marketing work and building a successful marketing plan.

A more detailed description of this program and location will be posted by July 10th. But mark your calendar now for this essential program to help you prepare your own successful marketing plan to help increase your visibility and sales in the fourth quarter.

Michelle Berry is a dynamic award-winning motivational speaker, former Poet Laureate of Tompkins County, elected Obama delegate and nationally recognized and experienced leader.

As CEO of Courtney Consulting, Michelle prides herself on truly listening to and valuing her clients. With over 1,500 satisfied customers to date, CEO Berry says, "we are particularly invested in ensuring that other women-owned businesses thrive in this challenging economy. That's why we value collaboration, creativity and collegiality." Each day, our team leverages decades of experience and industry contacts to help clients build their brands from the bottom-up. We can also help you refine your existing brand identity. But we won't just create a brand based on fluff or guesswork. Instead, we'll link research and strategic planning to your mission and vision, by helping you better define your constituencies and target groups.

As a former Alderperson and Alternate Acting Mayor for the City of Ithaca, Michelle has also opened in original poetry and song for His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Maya Angelou, Howard Zinn, Father Daniel Berrigan, Nikki Giovanni and Gayle Danley. She has appeared on "Good Morning America" and been quoted in The New York Times, USA Today and NPR.

Gwen Inc. proudly presents "You Can't Fail Because Your History Says You Can't". A one day conference designed to provide a quality leadership development experience for professional women of color, as well as to generate and develop important networks. Professional women of all colors need to be successful in their lives and business pursuits.

This first annual full day conference includes: networking opportunities, high quality leadership and professional development workshops, women owned business vendors with targeted products, and celebration activities specially created for attendees.

Women TIES is proud to be a media sponsor of this event.

Gwen Webber-McLeod is one of Central New York's most dynamic leaders. She views her own leadership development as the catalyst for the creation of her business and as an ever-evolving process. Because of this she has chosen to devote the rest of her career to supporting emerging and established leaders in their own professional development.

Gwen's clients are CEO's, executive teams, and mid-level managers who aspire to do their very best in advancing the mission and goals of their organizations and business. She serves leaders in the public and private sectors, educational institutions, and local government.

Gwen takes great pride in supporting leaders by offering: professional development programs customized to meet the needs of individual leaders and leadership teams; facilitation services to help leaders think bigger and better thoughts about the many strategic decisions they must make; inspirational speaking to keep leaders energized and motivated to accomplish great things in fast-paced, ever-changing, high stress environments.

Gwen sees excellent emerging and established leaders everywhere she looks. She is ready, willing and able to support this important work with her dynamic energy, great knowledge and wonderful sense of spirit.