W.E.Connect

Join us for the W.E.Connect Conference, a full-day event connecting the women entrepreneurs of Happy Valley!

On November 20, 2024 explore themes of leadership, resilience, and connections. Whether you’re a woman entrepreneur (W.E.), leader, or seeking new inspiration, this conference will provide invaluable insights and meaningful opportunities to connect with like-minded women.

The conference is offered in partnership with the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC), Jennifer Eisenhuth Consulting, and the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) during Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), a global celebration of community innovations and entrepreneurs.

Don’t miss out! Register now to secure your spot!

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Time: 9 AM to 3 PM

Location: Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub

Cost: $20

Highlights:

Inspiring speakers and interactive breakout sessions
Collaborative networking opportunities
Catered lunch
Showcase of women-owned businesses from Happy Valley

Session Information

Ready to join us for W.E.Connect? Check out the topics that will be covered by our inspiring speakers.

Finding Resilience and Connections through Life's Challenges

We all face challenges in our lives. When these challenges happen, how do we respond? Through this talk, Megan Ingram will reflect on the challenges she has faced in life and the lessons she has learned, including the value of being vulnerable and honest with those around us to form deeper relationships.

Resilience: It's Not About Bouncing Back

Today’s landscape is one of unprecedented disruptive change. With little margin for error, leaders are expected to adapt to change and react to set-backs quickly. Unfortunately, the skills required to tackle these challenges, process quickly, and come back stronger require thinking in ways that are rarely mentioned in leadership programs. Resilience is arguably the most important skill for leaders today, very few people know how to build it, and most confuse it with coping.

Join best-selling author and founder of LeaderShift Insights, Jennifer Eggers for a conversation about the preparation required to increase both your and your team’s resilience and how to cope in those moments when it’s too late.

The Power of C.O., Community & Connection in Leadership

Join PYP Studio owners Kerry Bestwick and Janet Egerer in an immersive leadership experience. Learn their personal success story, their philosophies on leadership and teamwork, and how to implement and weave their strategies of communication, community and connection into your work, no matter your vocation.

How To Connect With Your Team and Clients Using Storytelling

Storytelling has been the secret weapon of leaders and entrepreneurs for years. In this short workshop, join Dawn Ziegerer to learn the hard science behind why stories are so “sticky” and how to create and tell a quick story. Stories are a great way to express company values and to connect with your team, motivate, and inspire.

Rejuvenate The Alpha Female Within

Unleash your inner power and reignite your passion in ‘Rejuvenate the Alpha Female Within,’ a transformative talk designed to help women become leaders not followers —reclaiming their strength and confidence. Join Haley Marie McClain Hill for an empowering journey that blends ambition with self-care and leave ready to conquer your goals with renewed energy!

Resilience in Start-up, Overcoming Obstacles on the Path to Growing a Social Impact Company

As a female Edtech company founder & CEO, Linsey Covert has experienced more adversity than she would like to admit. The power of resilience and persistence continue to play a major role in helping to overcome the continual challenges of growing her business, TEAMology, and the impact the work has on students, educators, and communities. Linsey will share real life stories on the obstacles she’s faced and what she’s learned along the way, in hopes to provide some knowledge and perspective that others might gain for their own founder journeys.

Meet the Speakers

Linsey Covert

Founder & CEO TEAMology Inc

Linsey Covert is a passionate educator turned entrepreneur and her company, TEAMology, is focused on improving students' social, emotional, and mental health through innovative technology and research-based programming. Her vision for this began as a graduate student at Penn State and developed through roles as a teacher, counselor, and therapist. In 2016, TEAMology became one of the first companies launched through the Invent Penn State ecosystem, providing tools for bullying prevention and career development. Linsey has received several professional awards, including Education Technology Insights' Top 10 SEL Products for 2022 and the Education 2.0 Outstanding Leadership Award.

Janet Egerer

Co-Owner PYP Studio

Janet Egerer is a dynamic leader known for her innovative approach to mind-body movement and community building. A Penn State graduate and mother of four, she creates fitness programs tailored to diverse clients, drawing from her extensive experience coaching athletes and elite US Military personnel. As a certified United States Marine Corps Personal Trainer and former middle school field hockey coach, Janet empowers others to reach their full potential.

Jennifer Eggers

President, C-Suite Executive Advisor & Founder of LeaderShift Insights, Inc.

Jennifer Eggers is a leadership coach, consultant, and speaker specializing in helping corporate teams adapt to disruption and improve effectiveness. She is known for facilitating high-stakes meetings and creating insights that drive business results. As the creator of RapidOD, an innovative approach to organizational restructuring, her workshops have been praised for transforming traditional corporate training. Her first book, Resilience: It’s Not About Bouncing Back, is an international bestseller, with her second book, Mastering The C-Suite, launching this fall.

Haley McClain Hill

Founder & CEO TORCH Warriorwear

Haley Marie is an Air Force Veteran, 2x NFL Cheerleader, author, award winning speaker, and CEO — securing a deal on ABC’s Shark Tank. She has a proven track record of success in developing and implementing successful brands and programs for a variety of clients and communities. When she's not working, Haley enjoys traveling and reading on the beach.

Megan Ingram

Attorney at Steinbacher, Goodall & Yurchak

Megan Ingram is an attorney at Steinbacher, Goodall & Yurchak, specializing in estate planning, elder care, and special needs law. She leads the firm's Special Needs Planning department and works in Wealth Protection Planning, focusing on clients with a net worth of $2 million or more, with expertise in business succession and federal estate tax planning. Megan was recognized as a Rising Star Attorney by Super Lawyers from 2022 to 2024.

Dawn Ziegerer

Owner The Great Story Workshop

Dawn Ziegerer holds a Master's degree in Media Studies from Penn State and spent eight years as an on-air personality in country radio, where she developed strong communication skills and a deep understanding of audience engagement. For the past four years, she has worked as a coach and facilitator, delivering storytelling workshops to prestigious institutions and Fortune 500 companies. Dawn has recently facilitated workshops for organizations such as Harvard Business School, Procter & Gamble, and MathWorks, helping professionals harness the power of storytelling.