WISE 2006 announces all-star line-up for April conference

WISE 2006 announces all-star line-up for April conferenceFebruary 22, 2006Amy Schmitzaemehrin@syr.edu

The Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University has announced its program for the 2006 Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (WISE) conference, to be held April 11 at the OnCenter in downtown Syracuse.

SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor will open the program. Emcee for the event is Linda Lowen, host of WCNY’s “Women’s Voices.” Other notable speakers include Cordia Harrington, the biggest provider of buns to McDonald’s and other restaurant chains; Anson Dorrance, NCAA national champion women’s and men’s soccer coach from the University of North Carolina; Jacqueline Savage-McFee, founder of Notebound; Amy Tormey, co-founder of Ray’s New York Bagels; and Sheila Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET).

“Each year, we have a great lineup of entrepreneurs and experts from across the country and from Central New York; however, this year we have a really amazing group of entrepreneurs who have taken a day or more out of their lives to be at the 2006 WISE Symposium,” says Nola Miyasaki, executive director of entrepreneurship programs at Whitman. “These women are inspirational, and their stories will make it clear that anyone with passion and discipline can succeed in being an entrepreneur.”

Breakout topics will feature experts on everything from the patterns and problems that surround women’s entrepreneurship, raising money, guerrilla marketing for start-up companies, website tactics for small businesses, and important legal advice for women entrepreneurs.

The conference will close with a reception and wine tasting. Early registration continues through April 6. The cost is $45 for the general public and $10 for full-time students with I.D. Same-day registration is $55. For more information or to register,visit http://whitman.syr.edu/eee/wise/Conference.html or call Shelly Heinrich, event coordinator for the Falcone Center, at (315) 443-3550.

The 2006 WISE Conference is made possible with the support of the Key Foundation; National Grid; Devorsetz Stinziano Gilberti Heintz & Smith P.C.; Haylor, Freyer & Coon; Strategic Computer Solutions; the Women’s Business Center of Central New York; the Women’s Business Owners Connection, Leadership Great Syracuse; the WISE Board and others.

Launched in 2003, the WISE program was developed to foster the pursuit of entrepreneurial opportunities by women from all walks of life. In addition to the annual WISE conference, WISE sponsors various supporting year-round events.