An Inspired Beginning
8:00–8:30 a.m.

Women are encouraged to arrive between these hours to register, pick up the event day packet, enjoy hot coffee and a continental breakfast, visit businesses booths and begin strategic networking with other women before the formal morning program begins. Come early and settle into the cozy and relaxed environment while enjoying soothing music by guitarist Kelly Birtch. Create some early morning "ties" before this busy and inspirational day begins.

[ TOP ]

 

The Women TIES Retreat Welcome
Speaker: Tracy Higginbotham
8:30–8:45 a.m.

Join Women TIES President Tracy Higginbotham as she kicks-off the retreat with a warm welcome, a signature sales tool for the day and an overview of the amazing line-up of women, wisdom and warmth that will fill the day's activities..

[ TOP ]

 

Ask Amy: National Business Wisdom
Keynote Speaker: Amy Dickinson
8:45–9:30 a.m.

Women have always been comfortable asking for, and receiving, advice from other women. It's natural to discuss our feelings and experiences with each other. When women become entrepreneurs, we have an even deeper desire to gain advice from other women. The exchange of information lessens our doubts, strengthens our resolve and propels us forward.

Amy Dickinson, nationally syndicated advice columnist of "Ask Amy," host of a biweekly feature on NPR's Talk of the Nation, and author of the New York Times bestselling memoir, The Mighty Queens of Freeville, will share the most important business lessons she has learned during her rise to national and international marketing success. Her wisdom will inspire you to higher levels of your own business success.

Walk away from this special keynote address with valuable advice, motivation to excel in your career, and the reminder you can achieve more when you have other women by your side.

[ TOP ]

 

Growing a Company: The Leadership Mindset
Speaker: Lynn Steenberg
9:30–10:15 a.m.

To achieve greater entrepreneurial heights than where we at this moment, it requires a different internal mindset. We know logistically to grow our entrepreneurial dream we must prepare a more extensive business plan, seek and secure additional financing and build a team. But before we can even begin to work on these logistics to elevate our company to the next level, we must have a new internal mindset to make the move. Growth and expansion not only take structure, they take preparedness and confidence.

Lynn Steenberg, PT, ATC, President of Sports Physical Therapy of NY, PC, whose company has 23 locations statewide, will share her personal thoughts on the mindset women entrepreneurs need to internally prepare themselves for growing a company. She'll share her own internal perspective on what it took for her to become the owner of a company with multiple locations and a multitude of employees; and what she believes any woman entrepreneur must do to prepare for the next major step in growing their company.

Whether you are thinking of adding one employee, adding a second location, moving from a home-based operation into a storefront, adding a whole new division to your business, you need to be internally prepared to become a leader of a larger organization. Lynn's insight will help you identify if you are ready, and her success strategies will help you on your way.

[ TOP ]

 

How to Charge What You are Worth and Get It
Speaker: Georgina Sweeney
10:30–11:15 a.m.

Many women entrepreneurs aren't comfortable answering the question, "So what do you charge?" It might be because they know they are charging too little and want to raise their rates but they think their clients won't pay. It could also be because they get asked for discounts or fee reductions too often and give in at the drop of a hat. Women entrepreneurs can become more financially successful if they start charging what they are worth and are confident about asking for the right compensation.

Georgina Sweeney, Business Coach & Money Mentor for heart-centered women entrepreneurs, will share a 7-step system to confidently increase fees and begin charging 20-30-40% more than you do right now. This presentation will help you learn: 3 simple ways to know if you're charging enough and what to do if you are not; how to raise your fees for your current clients without offending or losing them; the four questions you must start asking your prospective clients right now; and how to turn your traditional time-based services into powerful, lucrative packages that bring in more money without adding to your workload.

Remember, you deserve to be richly paid for the valuable gifts you share with the world. This presentation is your opportunity to learn how to jump to your next income level without working harder.

[ TOP ]

 

Lunch, Music and Conversation
Music Performers: Gail Lyons and Sara Greene
11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

After a full morning of filling the mind with information and inspiration, a non-structured hour has been set aside for women to enjoy the Lodge's popular buffet luncheon, partake in the book signing by author Amy Dickinson, visit business booths, converse with other women about the conversations of the morning, and relax the mind before an energetic afternoon of activity begins. Beautiful, relaxing background music will be performed by harpist Gail Lyons and flutist Sara Greene so you can simply unwind from the morning. The goal is to give you time to soak in what you learned, share thoughts with others, relax and prepare yourself for an impactful afternoon program.

[ TOP ]

 

Recalculating For Remarkable New Results
Speaker: Teresa Huggins
12:30–1:10 p.m.

We know as women and as entrepreneurs that our response to what life deals us can create positive or negative results. The circumstances don't make decisions for us, we do. Any difficult personal and entrepreneurial challenges can be overcome with inner strength and peace. This past year you may have faced personal health struggles, difficult family circumstances, poor economic times, or a declining desire to run your company. If so, it's time to recalculate, build a reserve, and strive for new results. If not, listen to the advice and be prepared for circumstances that might arise in your future.

Teresa Huggins, founder of Leaders for Life International, will inspire attendees to learn how to refocus on their biggest dreams by creating multiple roads to arrive at a new destination. She'll provide strategies for women to rework, revise, and recalculate for better entrepreneurial results. She believes women who have the ability to re-evaluate when times are tough will expand their future opportunities. Learn how to successfully handle anything life throws at you personally or professionally now and in the future.

[ TOP ]

 

Conducting International Business: The Reasons and Strategies
Speaker: Christiana Semabia
1:10–1:50 p.m.

Entrepreneurs are part of a global economy. Although we operate our companies in New York State, we are tied into an international community. The world is getting smaller every day. The development of the World Wide Web, Skype and the ease of international travel, make global connections and commerce a real possibility today. Although conducting global business is becoming more main stream, there are few local women entrepreneurs who have embarked on the journey. But the few who have can shed light on this new business frontier for the rest of us.

Christiana Semabia, owner of Bluetree Studios, is one of these women. She has translated many years of living, studying and traveling in Ghana, West Africa into a growing company that brings West African goods to Central New York. Her company is an importer and retailer of authentic Bolga baskets and other art-work and is the producer and distributor of Better Brittle, a West African style peanut brittle. In fact, in less than 18 months Better Brittle has expanded from a presence in a few local cafes to more than 70 retailers from Brooklyn to Burlington and across New York State.

During this presentation, Christiana will inspire women entrepreneurs to think about conducting global business and inspire us to consider social entrepreneurship as a new part of our corporate mission. You'll walk away with a brand new perspective on international business opportunities as well as how to partner with your sister entrepreneurs in other countries.

[ TOP ]

 

Sales Generation: Pulling Revenue Into Your Business
Speaker: Amy Palmer
2:00–3:00 p.m.

Sales are the lifeblood of a company. In 2011, old school sales techniques like trying to close a sale, looking for a client's hot button, trying to overcome objections, canned introductory speeches and cold calls, being aggressive and selling benefits don't work. The new sales landscape is all about creating an authentic connection with the potential client and inspiring them to take action.

Washington, DC based woman entrepreneur Amy Palmer of Blue Sky Coaching and The Fear Bustin' Sales Coach will explain how "social business"—the new term being used by companies using social media to "pull" marketing into their sales plan—is helping businesses achieve bigger sales goals. In this hands-on, results-focused session participants will walk away with: the number one reason why they need to incorporate "social business" into their sales plan, three ways to turn contacts into appointments, four steps to use online (pull) marketing to nurture relationships, and how being a great friend can translate into great sales success.

Directly following this sales presentation, a one-hour intensive speed networking forum will be provided as an opportunity for you to market your business one-on-one with others in our amazing regional network. This impactful sales event will increase the buying and selling power of every woman in the room for future business development.

[ TOP ]

 

Regional Speed Networking
Facilitator: Sandy Jurkiewicz
3:15–4:15 p.m.

SSandy Jurkiewicz of CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity will facilitate our special regional speed networking session aimed at helping women entrepreneurs create new regional economic ties with each other. Bring business cards, your 60 second pitch and your listening ears for a chance to spread the word about your company and develop new business relationships. You might make a couple important connections to catapult your next big goal, project or business endeavor.

[ TOP ]

 

A Relaxing Ending
Speaker: Tracy Higginbotham
Special Musical Performance: Maria DeSantis and Kelly Birtch
4:15–5:00 p.m.

As this powerful day draws to an end, enjoy an inspirational musical performance by popular Central New York female vocalist Maria DeSantis and guitarist Kelly Birtch. After the performance, a special raffle gift donated by Mirbeau Inn and Spa will be given to one lucky attendee.

The special raffle gift is Mirbeau Inn & Spa's New Date Night: The Evening Escape Balanced Romance Package which includes one 50-minute Couples Treatment (or one individual 50-minute treatment each for two people), a Three Course Dinner for Two in their French Steakhouse and all taxes and gratuities. The Evening Escape is valued at $425.

Following the end of the formal program, women are encouraged to network some more and shop at vendor booths before heading over to Mirbeau Inn and Spa at 5:30 p.m. for the Post Retreat Wine and Cheese Reception.

[ TOP ]

 

Post Retreat Wine and Cheese Reception
Hosted by: Mirbeau Inn & Spa
5:30–6:30 p.m.

After the Retreat is over and before heading home, women are invited to Mirbeau Inn & Spa from 5:00–6:30 pm for a Post Retreat Wine and Cheese Reception held in their Wine Bar which houses 24 wines to sample including some "Once in a Lifetime" tasting. Enjoy a glass of red or white wine at special Women TIES prices and the complimentary cheese platter. Take in the beauty of this luxury Spa Resort combining the amenities of a boutique country inn, world-class spa and nationally acclaimed fine dining, all with the elegant comforts and residential feel of a wine country estate.

[ TOP ]