Welcome to the 5th Annual
Women's Entrepreneurship Day (WED)
2023 Colorado Summit!
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO) is a 501c3 grassroots movement that ignites women leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to initiate startups, drive economic expansion, and advance communities around the world.
Today, the WED 2023 Colorado Summit brings together students, founders, and business leaders of all ages and genders to celebrate female entrepreneurship across our state. Join us for a full day of inspiration, empowerment, and networking!
Today's Program
Jake Jabs Event Center (First Floor)
8:00 to 8:30 a.m.
Check-in & Morning Beverages
8:30 to 8:50 a.m.
Welcome & Introductions
8:50 to 9:30 a.m.
Opening Keynote with Dianne Myles
9:30 to 9:45 a.m.
Networking Break
9:45 to 10:15 a.m.
Young Female Entrepreneurs Panel with Chloe Mann
10:15 to 10:35 a.m.
Networking Break
Breakout Sessions (Third Floor)
10:40 to 11:30 a.m.
The Art of Connecting and Creating Collaborations with Meghann Conter and Kami Guildner – Room 3100
The Power of Perseverance with Jennifer Samuels – Room 3200
Jake Jabs Event Center (First Floor)
11:40 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.
Lunch with Keynote Brandi McMichaels
12:45 to 1:30 p.m.
Accomplished Women Entrepreneur Panel with Barbara Brooks
1:35 to 2:10 p.m.
Interactive Leadership Workshop with Amy Duncan
2:15 to 3:00 p.m.
It All Matters. You Are the Brand for Your Life and Your Business with Olivia Omega
3:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Final Notes & Closing
Session Descriptions
MORNING
9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Navigating Entrepreneurship as a Gen Zer – Jake Jabs Event Center
Hear from Colorado female entrepreneurs who began their businesses as young adults. This panel is moderated by Chloe Mann, a Young Women Ambassador for the Girls’ C.E.O. Connection and a current student at Northfield High School. Panel members include:
· Anna Brekken, Owner of AnnaMade Design Co. & Soaring Together
· Gabbie Carr, Owner of Gracefully Gabbie and GabbiesGracefulGifts
· Maile McManis, Owner of Sewing with Smiles & Potty Fairytales
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
10:40 a.m. to 11:35 a.m.
The Art of Connecting and Creating Collaborations with Meghann Conter and Kami Guildner – Room 3100
In this session, you will meet two women entrepreneurs and community leaders who have mastered the art of connecting and collaboration as a strategic approach to growing their businesses. They’ll share their stories, lessons, and approaches to connection and collaboration.
The Power of Perseverance with Jennifer Samuel – Room 3200
Jennifer Samuel credits her immigrant parents with instilling in her the importance of perseverance in her life, both academically and in business. Because of her persevering spirit, she has excelled in academics, entrepreneurship, leadership, and teaching. In this session, you will learn from Jennifer what it takes to live a life built around perseverance. You will learn how that one character trait has made it possible for Jennifer to realize her dreams and help others to do the same.
AFTERNOON
12:45 p.m. to 1:35 p.m.
Accomplished Women Entrepreneur Panel – Jake Jabs Event Center
Get to know some of Colorado’s most established and successful female entrepreneurs. This panel is moderated by Barbara Brooks, CEO and founder of SecondActWomen. Panel members include:
· Amy L.Duncan, CFP, Financial Adviser at Team Duncan Financial
· Jessica Millhiser, Owner of JMills Consulting
· Julie Funayama, Founder & President at Colorado Comfort Consulting Engineers
· Kerry Ben-Joseph, Web Designer & Owner of Like Cake
· Mary Langewisch, Artist & Owner of Fragile Glory Impressions
· Natalie Morrow, Owner of Good Morrow Photography
· Nicole Bendig-Lamb, Master Cake Designer and Owner at Snarky Sweet Cake Chick
1:35 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
How Leaders Create Community with Amy Duncan – Jake Jabs Event Center
Join facilitator Amy Duncan in a playful discovery of the values and qualities that build and encourage community. In this group workshop, you will explore vulnerability, empathy, compassion, cooperation, and equity.
2:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
It All Matters. You Are the Brand for Your Life & Your Business with Olivia Omega – Jake Jabs Event Center
Join Olivia Omega, author of Beautifully Branded – The Girl’s Guide: Understanding the Anatomy of Brand You, as she shares the necessary elements of a dynamic personal brand. Every single one of us has a personal brand. It doesn’t matter our age, interests, profession, or experience… we are all influencers in our own right. During this session, we’ll talk about how students can successfully create a strong personal brand that will benefit their college career and beyond. The talk will begin with laying the foundation for what brands are and the difference in personal brands, the power of leveraging your distinct DNA, and creating a life and career that you love.
Speakers & Panelists
Amy L. Duncan, CFP
Team Duncan Financial
Amy is an advice-based, comprehensive, Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner in Denver, Colorado with over 20 years of experience helping her clients invest and plan for a fulfilling and purposeful life. Amy and her team, Team Duncan Financial, facilitate Financial Life Planning centered around offering informed and objective advice and a step-by-step process that results in organized and confident outcomes. She specializes in helping people identify their internal money-script which can subconsciously drive their financial decision-making. Amy believes in aligning values, behaviors, and goals to achieve long-term success. Learn more about Amy on LinkedIn.
Anna Brekken
Owner, AnnaMade Design Co. & Soaring Together
Anna is a teen business owner and speaker with a passion for creative writing. She believes everyone has an important story to share, and creative writing is the tool to uncover your voice and stand out. After moving to a new state and going to a school that discouraged creativity, she was inspired by her grandma – who showed her how to make handmade greeting cards – and with only 3 designs opened her shop AnnaMade Design Co. on Etsy. Through her business, Anna has created over 150 cards, developed her writing skills, and met some amazing young entrepreneurs. After connecting with these teen business owners, she realized most of them were experts at making their products but struggled with the business side of things. So Anna started Soaring Together, a community with resources to help other teens reach their business goals. She hosted Soaring Together 2022, an online event, in March, with over 200 teen attendees and 15 speakers.
In April 2022, Anna presented at TEDx Youth@Cherry Creek: Creative Writing for the Classroom. For Denver Startup Week 2022, Anna’s session on Disrupting Corporate: Creative Writing for Small Business was one of the few events led by a teenager.
When she’s not working on her business, Anna enjoys hiking, swimming, and discovering new pens and stationery for cardmaking inspiration. Learn more about Anna on her AnnaMade blog.
Barbara Brooks
Founder & CEO, SecondActWomen
Barbara Brooks (55) is the founder and CEO of SecondActWomen, an AgeTech company (community) for middlescent business owners and career women.
Before SecondActWomen, she was an award-winning marketing and public relations specialist in the shopping center industry for Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas, Park Meadows Retail Resort in Denver, Sundance Square downtown entertainment district in Fort Worth, and others. For a bit, she had a successful career in broadcast sales and business development for IHeart Radio, CBS Radio, and Gannett. Learn more about Barbara on LinkedIn.
Brandi (Shigley) McMichael
Founder, Fashion Denver
Brandi is a trailblazing handbag designer turned founder of Fashion Denver. With roots tracing back to her inaugural 1999 business venture, she epitomizes the marriage of dreamer and doer. Today, she orchestrates impactful marketing and events as The Lion Project’s coordinator. Brandi’s evolution mirrors a journey of creative passion, resulting in her semi-retired status as a handbag connoisseur. Through Fashion Denver, she sewed the threads of a vibrant fashion community. Brandi’s story is etched with innovation, resilience, and a penchant for turning dreams into reality, leaving an indelible mark on Denver’s fashion landscape. Learn more about Brandi on LinkedIn.
Chloe Mann
Young Women Ambassador, Girls’ C.E.O. Connection
Chloe is a Northfield High School cheerleader and represents Northfield High at games, cheer competitions, and community events. Chloe runs track for Northfield and is on a competitive dance team outside of school. She participates in DECA, and in her first year competing, she won first place at the state competition in the Startup Business Plan category. She is part of the Women’s Alliance at Northfield High and is an active member of her school’s Students Demand Action chapter. She is a member of the National Honors Society and is in the University of Colorado’s Pre-Collegiate Development Program.
Chloe is the inventor of ASPEC (A-Spec) Technologies, the calming operating system for children and adults with autism. In April 2023, she won first place in the CU Boulder New Venture Challenge for high school students.
Dianne Myles
CEO, Dope Mom Life
Dianne is the CEO of Dope Mom Life and a Heartland Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer and video production company. Dianne found her passion for storytelling and community. Her team daily fulfills the company’s mission to tell authentic, impactful stories that shift viewers’ perspectives and garner engagement. Dianne’s life experiences have given her a unique opportunity to be a powerful messenger and connector. Dianne prioritizes spending time with her two adult children, DJ and Tiara, who attend CU Denver, as they are her world. She also spends countless hours volunteering for organizations and serving on several boards. Dianne is also a celebrated business leader in the community, having won several awards. Learn more about Dianne on LinkedIn.
Gabbie Carr
Owner, Gracefully Gabbie and Gabbie’s Graceful Gifts
Gabbie is a 19-year-old social media creator and entrepreneur from Windsor, Colorado, who is using her creative passions for photography, videography, writing, and digital design to uplift others. At 16, she wanted to keep busy during the pandemic, so she turned her creativity to content creation and discovered a passion for social media management, starting her business Gracefully Gabbie and working with brands like QDOBA, Zulily, Barebones Living, and Star Stables to help promote their products. Gracefully Gabbie also runs Lucky Reads, a bookstagram where she writes book reviews and works with authors to help share their books with more readers.
About a year into working in the social media field, Gabbie opened a sticker business named Gracefully Gabbie’s Gifts (now GabbiesGracefulGifts on Etsy). She has had her stickers featured in the Windsor Lake Coffee and is working on expanding to bookmarks soon. Learn more about Gabbie on Instagram.
Jennifer Samuel
Co-Owner, Perseverance
Jennifer’s hard work comes from the strength and perseverance of her immigrant parents. Because of them, she has been able to excel in academics and entrepreneurship, and she has been recognized with awards from many companies and leadership organizations.
Jennifer is the co-owner of Perseverance, a training gym in Denver and Aurora. Her background started from the age of two when dance was a big part of her life and sports/fitness became a hobby. In college, she made a name for herself teaching fitness and dance at various studios, and she became certified in personal training, spinning, and boxing. Her corporate career spans 15 years in marketing specializing in digital marketing and neuromarketing. She’s worked with Fortune 500 companies and small businesses. In 2005, she traded in her heels for sneakers and never looked back!
She enjoys volunteering in Filipino, Asian Pacific Islander, and Black communities; mentoring youth programs; and directing cultural and contemporary dance. Learn more about Jennifer on LinkedIn.
Jessica Millhiser
Owner, JMills Consulting
Jessica is the owner of JMills Consulting, where her mission is to help entrepreneurs build better businesses by getting organized, focused, and prepared for internal growth.
Jessica has been working in an operational, administrative, and leadership capacity for over 15 years and has also received a master’s degree in coaching and administration. This is a skill set and passion she has sustained throughout her working life in various industries. After officially stepping out on her own in January 2021, the joy of working with other women in business has exploded; there has been no greater reward than serving female business owners in their journey to success (whatever that may look like to them). Jessica is a member of the Westminster Colorado Chapter of Polka Dot Powerhouse.
Jessica has lived and worked in Vermont, DC, and Los Angeles and is now happy to call Colorado her home. She lives with her husband, Joshua, and their two feline fur babies, Juniper and Ivy. Learn more about Jessica on LinkedIn.
Julie Funayama
Founder & President, Colorado Comfort Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Julie is the Founder and President of Colorado Comfort Consulting Engineers, Inc. headquartered in Arvada, CO. She’s been in business for 15 years. Her clients are contractors and architects with building projects throughout Colorado. Julie’s firm specializes in churches, restaurants, tea shops, and nail salons.
Julie attended CU Denver and got an associate degree in chemistry, biology, mathematics, and psychology. She tried taking engineering courses but really didn’t have an interest in them. While attending college she worked for an engineering firm that offered planning for plumbing, mechanical, and electrical needs.
After she was fired Julie had to quit school and decided to open her own business. She credits her faith and relationship with God for helping her through the business challenges.
Kami Guildner
Founder, Kami Guildner Coaching and Extraordinary Women Events
Kami believes women’s voices matter. She is a connector. A storyteller. A business coach for changemaker women of influence, leading high-vibe entrepreneurs to give voice to their most important messages and create a ripple effect of worldly impact. Kami weaves soulful inspiration into mindful business strategies, helping her clients scale their businesses through vision, voice, and visibility. With decades of leadership, marketing, strategic planning, and business growth expertise, Kami guides her clients to master their marketing, money, and mindset. Kami’s soulful spirit leads her clients to unleash their magical manifestation powers and live out loud fueled with vitality and courage.
Kami is the founder of the Extraordinary Women Ignite Conference, Extraordinary Women Connect events, and host of the award-winning Extraordinary Women Radio™ a podcast featuring wildly successful women living out loud in voice, vitality, and vigor. She is the best-selling author of Firedancer: Your Spiral Journey to a Life of Passion and Purpose. Kami was named to the 2020 Twenty-Five Most Powerful Women in Business List by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. Learn more about Kami on LinkedIn.
Kerry Ben-Joseph
Owner, Like Cake & Kay Bee Jay LLC
Kerry is a seasoned web designer with over 10 years of experience creating beautiful, functional websites for a diverse range of clients. Though web design wasn’t her original career path, Kerry has cultivated a true passion and talent for all things digital. With expertise in WordPress and a minimalistic yet high-impact aesthetic, Kerry builds websites that are clean, modern, and intuitively designed. She stays up-to-date on the latest web design trends and techniques, ensuring her clients’ sites are always on the cutting edge.
Through her new venture Like Cake, Kerry aims to provide fledgling entrepreneurs and small business owners with affordable, custom websites that can grow and adapt as their businesses evolve. She chose the name “Like Cake” because building a website should feel easy and enjoyable, with each element seamlessly working together like cake layers.
In addition to web design services, Kerry is excited to share her decade of knowledge, tips, and lessons learned with those looking to expand their skills into web design. Whether you’re an entrepreneur wanting to offer web services or an aspiring web designer yourself, Kerry is here to guide you every step of the way. Learn more about Kerry on LinkedIn.
Maile McManis
Founder, Sewing with Smiles & Potty Fairytales
Maile is a Young Women Ambassador for Girls’ C.E.O. Connection LLC. She is the vice president of hospitality and social media for Northfield’s DECA Club and won the State Championship for her business Potty FairyTales. She plays club volleyball and has been the team captain for the past two years. She is also a member of the golf team. She was appointed to the City & County of Denver’s Mayor’s Youth Commission, providing youth voice and serving on the education sub-committee. She volunteers with the Adaptive Recreation program for Denver Parks & Recreation and with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. She is also a student representative for the NHS Staff hiring committee. In addition to all of these outside activities, she owns and operates two small businesses: Sewing with Smiles and Potty Fairytales. Learn more about Maile on the Sewing with Smiles Etsy page.
Mary Sorteberg Langewisch
Artist and Owner, Fragile Glory Impressions Art Studio
Mary Langewisch is an artist, teacher, and owner of Fragile Glory Impressions. Mary sells her original art, offers commissions, and provides personal art instruction, group classes, and workshops in the Littleton area. She’s been in business for almost 20 years. Aside from painting in her home studio, Mary loves teaching others how to make art through her studio classes, online classes, and YouTube channel, along with encouraging young people to pursue their dreams.
At the age of four, Mary told her parents she wanted to be a teacher and, when she was 10 years old, she informed them she wanted her own art studio. Mary started selling her art at 11 years old with her note cards at craft fairs in the Denver area. In 2004, at 12 years old, Mary officially started her business and named it My Art Card Company. A year later, Mary began teaching her first drawing classes to kids in her neighborhood. By the time she was in high school, Mary was teaching 65 students each semester.
In 2013, she turned 20 years old and found a small space In Littleton to call her studio and teach art. She won first place in the Young American Business competition in her age category of 16-to-21-year-olds. Her business became known as Fragile Glory Impressions. Today, she continues to make and sell note cards as part of her business. She teaches over 100 students every semester. Learn more about Mary on the Fragile Glory Impressions website.
Meghann Conter
Founder and Chief Laugh Instigator, The Dames
Meghann Conter uses her power to connect, elevate, entertain, and celebrate extraordinary women as the CEO of The Dames, a global community designed specifically for women running and leading 6 and 7-figure businesses. Meghann believes that anything can be accomplished through fearless collaboration, laughter, fun, and love. Once a burnt-out, over-networked CEO, she is now THE global ultra-connector for women who thrive in the space where self-worth and net-worth align. Learn more about Meghann on LinkedIn.
Natalie Morrow
Owner, Good Morrow Photography LLC
Natalie is a portrait photographer specializing in kids, pets, and their families. She can help you finish the process of your photo session by getting those memories displayed in your home and not just posted on Facebook. She also helps small businesses build their social media image libraries by creating images that reflect their personal brand.
Natalie is also the managing director for the Foothills Chapter of Polka Dot Powerhouse in Arvada, CO. Learn more about Natalie on LinkedIn.
Nicole Bendig-Lamb
Owner, Snarky Sweet Cake Chick, LLC
A former accountant, Nicole successfully turned her hobby of baking into a full-time gig as the owner of Snarky Sweet Cake Chick, LLC. There, she helps her clients create epic memories for celebrations as a Master Cake Designer. She also owns and operates Cake Business School, LLC, where she educates and coaches other bakers on the business side of the food industry. She is a former Food Network Competitor; speaker and author of the best-selling book Baking Your Way to the Top: How to Start & Grow Your Own Home-Based Baking Business; and was honored with the 2022 Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Arvada Chamber of Commerce. When she’s not baking, she is passionate about mentoring youth through internships in baking, business topics, and entrepreneurship. Learn more about Nicole on the Snarky Sweet Cake Chick website.
Olivia Omega
Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, Denver Scholarship Foundation
Olivia is a branding strategist and seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years of brand positioning, digital marketing, communications, and advertising experience across startup, nonprofit, public and private sectors. Half of her career was spent at an advertising agency and the other 10 years as an entrepreneur and small business owner. She is the author of Beautifully Branded: The Girl’s Guide to Understanding the Anatomy of Brand You.
Olivia serves as Advisory Council member and Entrepreneur in Residence at the Jake Jabs Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado Denver Business School. She is also Founder Track Chair for Denver Startup Week and co-founder of Wallace Marketing Group.
Olivia graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder Leeds School of Business and CU Presidents Leadership Class in 2001. Olivia volunteers mentoring students and lecturing on personal branding and marketing. She has a deep passion for encouraging and inspiring high school and college students in the areas of leadership and business, as well as championing nonprofit projects and missions that elevate under-represented communities. Learn more about Olivia on LinkedIn.
Sylvia Scott
Founder and CEO, Girl’s C.E.O. Connection
WED Colorado Ambassador
Sylvia R.J. Scott has dedicated her career to empowering up-and-coming female professionals all over the world. Her mission and passion lie in guiding high school girls towards bright and fulfilling futures as self-sufficient entrepreneurs.
Sylvia’s career spans over 25 years and includes work in event coordination, public relations, non-profit fundraising, conference management, business development and relationship building—all in the name of supporting and collaborating with female entrepreneurs.
While taking MBA night courses at Babson College, she worked for the Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) in Boston as the Consulting Business and Volunteer Program Manager. With a move from Boston to Southern California Sylvia launched the Realizing a Vision Conferences and joined the Inland Empire Women’s Business Center (IEWBC) as a business counselor and coach. Between 2016 and 2020, she mentored Afghan women entrepreneurs virtually. Since 2020, she has worked as a virtual business counselor and workshop presenter for the Coachella Valley Women’s Business Center (CVWBC). Sylvia serves as the Board of Directors Advisor for SafeAtMyHouse 501c3, based in Anaheim, CA. Learn more about Sylvia on LinkedIn.
Tish and Snooky Bellomo
Co-Founders and Co-Owners, Tish & Snooky’s® Manic Panic ® N.Y.C.
Sisters and New York City natives Tish and Snooky Bellomo have been America’s darlings of creative hair color and punk rock pioneers and tastemakers, since their days in the original Blondie band line-up in the mid-70s. Opening America’s first Punk Boutique in 1977, they started the world’s first alternative creative hair color beauty brand, Manic Panic®. They are advocates for the well-being of animals, especially dogs and cats; sponsor a scholarship fund for the VISUAL ARTS Foundation at the School for Visual Arts in NYC in honor of their mother Estelle Bellomo, donate to several charities supporting cancer research and treatments, and many more. They give 15% of the monthly retail sales to selected charities and at least 15% of annual profits to charity. They are the most award-winning creative hair color company as well as recipients of several business awards, such as Crain’s New York Business Small Business Award and Women President’s Organization Entrepreneurial Achievement Award. Their book MANIC PANIC: LIVING IN COLOR – A REBELLIOUS GUIDE TO HAIR COLOR AND LIFE chronicles their roots and early years as entertainers, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists as well as a guide to using creative hair dyes that fit the personality of the readers. Learn more about Tish and Snooky on the Manic Panic website.
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