The Charleston Regional Business Journal
Nov. 18 - Dec. 1, 2002
More
than 50 women business owners turned out on Oct. 31 for "Taking
Care of Business: A Forum for Women Entrepreneurs" to participate
in the combination of lectures, breakout sessions and interactive
question and answer session. The half-day event, held at the
College of Charleston's Tate Center, opened with an introduction
by John Clarkin of the University of South Carolina Small Business
Center and Jennet Robinson Alterman, director of the Center
for Women. Dorothy Perrin Moore, author of Careerpreneurs and
professor of entrepreneurship at The Citadel, was the keynote
speaker. Representatives from the SBA, SBDC, NAWBO and private
sector businesses participated in panel discussions for new
and experienced business owners. The workshop was sponsored
by Wachovia.
"The conference was a collaborative effort, pulling together
resources from the institutions of higher education, the public
sector and the private sector, all of who are interested in
advancing women entrepreneurship," says Clarkin.
Because
the conference targeted both existing and potential business
owners, the
program covered a number of diverse topics. "Attendees
came away with not only a few tips on how to improve their business
performance and avoid some common pitfalls," says Clarkin, "but
also an increased understanding of career transitions and wealth
creation."
|
Panel
discussion for new business owners, from left, Peggy Hines,
Wachovia; Jane Madan, Personal Tax Service; Dinah Long, USC
Small Business Development Center; Chris Staubes III, Clawson & Staubes;
Shari Schleis, Splash Marketing; and Jennet Robinson Alterman,
Center for Women.
The Oct. 31 program was part of a larger
effort that includes the Leadership Series conducted at The
Citadel and programs
conducted at the Center for Women. An entrepreneurial series
of conferences and workshops for women is planned for spring
2003.
According
to the Center for Women's Business Research, the past decade
has seen continued growth not only in the number, but also
in the economic power of women-owned businesses across the
United States. The number of commercially active women-owned
firms increased by 13.9% between 1997 and 2000, compared to
9.1% for all actively commercial firms-one and a half times
the national average. |
