If you are interested in submitting a proposal for consideration as a speaker for our 2012 event, please download the 2012 Speaker Proposal Guidelines.  Please email your completed proposal to Danielle Leshinski, Program Coordinator dleshinski@conferenceforwomen.org.

Martha Beck

Psychology Today, USA Today and NPR have all referred to Martha Beck as one of the best-known life coaches in America. She is a columnist for O, the Oprah Magazine, has been a…Read Full Bio

Dr. Helene D. Gayle

Dr. Helene D. Gayle is president and CEO of CARE USA, a leading international humanitarian organization with programs in nearly 70 countries to end poverty. An expert on health, global …Read Full Bio

Tory Johnson

Tory Johnson is all about spark and hustle at work, dating back to high school in Miami Beach where she joined her all-male debate team—and became the first girl (with her partner) to win a …Read Full Bio

Marion Jones

Marion Jones is one of the world’s most celebrated athletes. As a college basketball star for the North Carolina Tar Heels, U.S. Olympic track athlete and now a member of the Tulsa… Read Full Bio

Denise Morrison

Denise Morrison was appointed president and chief executive officer of Campbell Soup Company effective August 2011. She was elected a director of the company in October 2010. Morrison is …Read Full Bio

Betsy Myers

Betsy Myers is currently speaking and leading workshops around the world on the changing nature of leadership. In addition, she is currently working to finalize her book, “Take the Lead: Motivate, Inspire, and… Read Full Bio

Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin is the author of the #1 New York Times and international bestseller, “The Happiness Project”—an account of the year she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, the current…Read Full Bio

Gloria Steinem

Gloria Steinem is a writer, lecturer, editor and women’s rights pioneer. She is a frequent media spokeswoman on issues of equality and is particularly interested in the shared origins of sex …Read Full Bio

Christy Turlington Burns

With more than twenty-five years at the forefront of the fashion industry, having graced every magazine cover from Vogue to Time, Christy Turlington Burns has established a diverse career…Read Full Bio

Special Guest Speakers

Susan Corbett

Susan Manbeck Corbett became the 44th First Lady of Pennsylvania when her husband Tom Corbett was sworn in as Governor of Pennsylvania on January 18, 2011. She met Tom Corbett in 1968 while …. Read Full Bio

Monica Malpass

Monica Malpass is the co-anchor of Action News at 5, anchor of the award-winning political discussion program “INSIDE STORY,” and author of political podcasts, political …. Read Full Bio

Mayor Michael A. Nutter

Since taking office in January 2008, Mayor Michael A. Nutter has set an aggressive agenda for America’s fifth largest city. Mayor Nutter has implemented a crime-fighting plan…. Read Full Bio

Breakout Session Speakers

James Beckerman

Cardiologist James Beckerman, M.D. was moved by his wife’s family experiences with heart disease to retool his own message into a flexible system for…. Read Full Bio

Emily Bennington

Emily Bennington is the coauthor of “Effective Immediately: How to Fit In, Stand Out, and Move Up at Your First Real Job.” She is a frequent speaker on the topic of career success and the… Read Full Bio

Kate Betts

Kate Betts is a contributing editor at TIME magazine where she has written about the worlds of style and design since 2003. Betts is also a columnist at The Daily Beast. Until this year she was also… Read Full Bio

Josefina Bonilla

Josefina Bonilla is the managing director of Color Media Group, LLC and publisher of its flagship publication, Color Magazine. She is responsible for creating business partnerships … Read Full Bio

Glinda Bridgforth

is a leading financial expert who explores the emotional and cultural factors that block financial success. She brings more than 30 years of experience to her consulting practice, Bridgforth… Read Full Bio

Theresa BrownGold

Theresa BrownGold considers herself an expert at nothing. She has reached a point in her life where all her failures have morphed into successes, and from her middle-aged perch, her … Read Full Bio

Karen Dougherty Buchholz

Karen Dougherty Buchholz, vice president of administration for Comcast Corporation, leads a variety of corporate functions, including corporate real …Read Full Bio

LuAnn Cahn

Veteran journalist and eight-time Emmy award-winner Lu Ann Cahn joined WCAU in 1987. In her current role she focuses on special assignments, exclusive features and high-profile stories …Read Full Bio

Rich Campbell

Rich Campbell is a senior vice president and the BBO director of Business Banking for Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware divisions of Citizen’s Bank …Read Full Bio

Lynn Doyle

Lynn Doyle is a multi-award-winning journalist and a nine-time Emmy recipient, with more than 25 years of television news experience. She is host …Read Full Bio

Dawn Dupre

Dawn Dupre is executive vice president of Citizens Financial Group Inc. and president of CCO Investment Services Corp., CFG’s full-service brokerage and … Read Full Bio

Melinda F. Emerson

Melinda F. Emerson, also known as, SmallBizLady, is one of America’s leading small business experts. She is an author, speaker and small business coach… Read Full Bio

Samantha Ettus

Samantha Ettus is a personal branding expert, bestselling author and TV personality. As a contributor to Forbes, Ettus writes “Personahood,” a blog focused on personal branding… Read Full Bio

Varsovia Fernandez

Varsovia Fernandez joined the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GPHCC) in March 2006. During her tenure, Fernandez has helped the GPHCC achieve record levels…Read Full Bio

Angela Foreshaw -Rouse

Angela Foreshaw -Rouse serves as communications director for AARP Pennsylvania. In this role, she is responsible for strategic communications planning and facilitating unified and consistent outreach… Read Full Bio

Autumn Adkins Graves

Autumn Adkins Graves serves Girard College as its sixteenth president. Graves comes to Girard College from Friends Seminary, in Manhattan, where she was assistant principal… Read Full Bio

Ellen Gustafson

Ellen Gustafson is the Founder and Executive Director of the 30 Project, a new way to address global hunger and obesity and crowd-source long-term food system change… Read Full Bio

Irene Horstmann Hannan

Irene Horstmann Hannan is senior vice president of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, and has responsibility for managing the Bank’s commercial business.. Read Full Bio

Joyce K. House

Joyce K. House, a.k.a., Miss Coupon Diva, learned early on the true worth of a coupon. As a young single mother living on a limited budget, House learned how to use coupons out of… Read Full Bio

Shama Kabani

Shama Kabani is a Web and TV personality, bestselling author, international speaker and award winning CEO of The Marketing Zen Group – a global digital marketing firm. Kabani is the face of… Read Full Bio

Liz Lange

Liz Lange is a retail and fashion pioneer. In 1997, out of a one-room office, she created Liz Lange Maternity, changing forever the face of maternity fashions. A decade later… Read Full Bio

Michele Lawrence

For over a decade, noted community and business leader Michele Lawrence has served Philadelphia and its surrounding counties by … Read Full Bio

Sarah Lockard

Main Line Native Sarah Lockard is founder and CEO of the online magazine AroundMainLine.com and the biannual region dining event… Read Full Bio

Patricia Miller

Patricia Miller and Barbara Bradley Baekgaard founded Vera Bradley in 1982, which quickly grew into an internationally recognized brand. Vera Bradley designs handbags, travel bags and… Read Full Bio

Loraine Ballard Morrill

Loraine Ballard Morrill is currently news director and community affairs director for Clear Channel Radio’s six Philadelphia stations. Ballard … Read Full Bio

Linda Munich

Linda Munich,vice president of public affairs, was appointed to that position in January of 1991. She came to the WPVI-TV public affairs department in June of 1983, as a producer … Read Full Bio

Maria Murnane

Maria Murnanehad a successful career in public relations for nearly 10 years before deciding she needed a change. She left for Argentina for what was supposed to be a two-week solo trip and ended up … Read Full Bio

Betsy Myers

Betsy Myers is currently speaking and leading workshops around the world on the changing nature of leadership. In addition, she is currently working to finalize her book, “Take the Lead: Motivate, Inspire, and… Read Full Bio

Lisa Nutter

Lisa Nutter is president of Philadelphia Academies, Inc., a non-profit youth development organization that works in Philadelphia’s public high schools to provide career-based learning, college readiness support… Read Full Bio

Mady Prowler

Mady Prowler is the Assistant Director of Coming of Age, a Philadelphia-based national initiative that promotes age 50+ civic engagement, lifelong learning, and… Read Full Bio

Mel Robbins

Mel Robbins is a working mother of three and America’s Life Coach. She’s a relationship exert, syndicated radio host, author, columnist, lawyer and co-founder of Advice for Living… Read Full Bio

Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin is the author of the #1 New York Times and international bestseller, “The Happiness Project”—an account of the year she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, the current… Read Full Bio

Richard Snyder

Richard Snyder, M.D. is the senior vice president and chief medical officer for the Independence Blue Cross Family of companies…Read Full Bio

Geri Swift

Geri Swift was the founding president of the Women’s Business Development Center. WBDC, formed in 1995, fosters the development and retention of successful businesses by delivering…Read Full Bio

Andrea Taylor

Andrea Taylor, Ph.D. is the director of training at Temple University’s Intergenerational Center. The Center provides training and technical assistance focused on building the capacity of non-profit organizations.. Read Full Bio

Tammy Tibbetts

Tammy Tibbetts passionately advocates the power of social media to create social change. She is the founder and president of She’s the First, a not-for-profit that sponsors girls’ education in… Read Full Bio

Farnoosh Torabi

Farnoosh Torabi is a personal finance journalist, author and TV personality. The New York Times calls her advice “perfectly practical.” She is also a personal finance contributor for Credit.com, Yahoo!… Read Full Bio

Elizabeth Walker

Elizabeth Walker was appointed director of global talent management and leadership development for ….Read Full Bio

Debbie Walsh

Debbie Walsh directs the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University. CAWP is the leading source of scholarly research and current data about American ….Read Full Bio

Sarah Welch

Sarah Welch is the slightly more “free-form” yang to Buttoned Up business partner Alicia Rockmore’s organized yin. A recovering “yo-yo organizer,” Welch is a seasoned entrepreneur… Read Full Bio

Lena L. West

Lena L. West is an award-winning social media consultant, blogger, speaker, journalist, technologist and the founder of InfluenceExpansion.com, the only social media training program… Read Full Bio

Jess Weiner

Considered this generation’s “Go to Girl” for self-esteem, Jess Weiner inspires audiences worldwide with her authentic take on living a confident life. Read Full Bio

Connie Williams

Connie Williams represented the 17th Senatorial District of Delaware and Montgomery Counties in the Senate of Pennsylvania from 2001 to 2008. From 1997 to 2001 she served in the… Read Full Bio

Nicole Williams

Nicole Williams is the bestselling author of three books, the latest of which, “Girl on Top: Your Guide to Turning Dating Rules into Career Success,” has been optioned by Dan Jinks… Read Full Bio

 

Expert Exchange

Gabrielle Bernstein

Gabrielle Bernstein was featured in the New York Times Sunday Styles section as the “next generation guru, motivational speaker, life coach and author.”… Read Full Bio

Melinda F. Emerson

Melinda F. Emerson, also known as, SmallBizLady, is one of America’s leading small business experts. She is an author, speaker and small business coach… Read Full Bio

Samantha Ettus

Samantha Ettus is a personal branding expert, bestselling author and TV personality. As a contributor to Forbes, Ettus writes “Personahood,” a blog focused on personal branding… Read Full Bio

Maria Gamble

Maria Gamble began her career with Campbell Soup Company in April of 2000 as a human resources assistant… Read Full Bio

Joan Luise Hill

has been accused of doubling as the energizer bunny.Her recent radio, television and personal appearances surrounding her new book, “The Miracle Chase” have taken her across…Read Full Bio

Joyce K. House

Joyce K. House, a.k.a., Miss Coupon Diva, learned early on the true worth of a coupon. As a young single mother living on a limited budget, House learned how to use coupons out of… Read Full Bio

Blanche Burton Lyles

In the world of classical music, seasoned and multifaceted concert pianist Blanche Burton-Lyles is one of the most talented women to grace world-renowned stages …Read Full Bio

Katie Mahon

describes stepping away from her fast-tracked career in senior management in banking to be as uncomfortable as it was liberating. In retrospect, it was a defining moment that ultimately… Read Full Bio

Loraine Ballard Morrill

Loraine Ballard Morrill is currently news director and community affairs director for Clear Channel Radio’s six Philadelphia stations. Ballard … Read Full Bio

Maria Murnane

Maria Murnanehad a successful career in public relations for nearly 10 years before deciding she needed a change. She left for Argentina for what was supposed to be a two-week solo trip and ended up … Read Full Bio

Mary Beth Phillips

started to believe in miracles when her baby daughter, shaken and blinded by a neighbor’s nanny survived, then thrived, against unbeatable odds. The tragedy propelled Phillips into a twenty-year career as… Read Full Bio

Andrea Taylor

Andrea Taylor, Ph.D. is the director of training at Temple University’s Intergenerational Center. The Center provides training and technical assistance focused on building the capacity of non-profit organizations.. Read Full Bio

Maria Trafton

Maria Trafton is a senior vice president and regional managing director for the Pennsylvania and Delaware region.. Read Full Bio

Sarah Welch

Sarah Welch is the slightly more “free-form” yang to Buttoned Up business partner Alicia Rockmore’s organized yin. A recovering “yo-yo organizer,” Welch is a seasoned entrepreneur… Read Full Bio

 

Small Business Boot Camp

Michael Alter

Michael Alter, president of SurePayroll is responsible for the overall business model development, strategic planning and daily operations …
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Jen Cohen

Jennifer Cohen is a dynamic speaker, presenter, teacher and blogger who focuses on marketing, social media and relationship building through meaningful engagements.
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Melinda F. Emerson

—”SmallBizLady,” one of America’s leading small business experts
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Samantha Ettus

personal branding expert, bestselling author and TV personality
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Erica Labovitz

Erica Labovitz is the director of marketing for IndieGoGo. Prior to joining IndieGoGo, Labovitz was a brand manager at Kraft Foods, Inc where she managed over ten different businesses within…Read Full Bio

Adelaide Lancaster & Amy Abrams

Adelaide Lancaster and Amy Abrams are entrepreneurs, speakers and authors of “The Big Enough Company: Creating a business that works for…Read Full Bio

Liz Lange

and fashion pioneer; founder of Liz Lange Maternity
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Cindy Ratzlaff

Cindy Ratzlaff was named by Forbes as one of the “20 Best Branded Women on Twitter,” and Forbes Woman called her one of the “Most Influential Women Tweeting about Entrepreneurship…
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Amanda Steinberg

founder of DailyWorth.com, a community of women who talk money
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Lena West

social media consultant, blogger, speaker and technologist
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Nicole Williams

bestselling author, founder, WORKS by Nicole Williams and connection director, LinkedIn
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Health & Wellness Pavilion Speakers

Dr. Anthony Bazzan

Dr. Anthony Bazzan is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine, and is a national leader in Integrative women’s health and integrative cancer care..
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Davida Godett

Davida Godett is a 3-time stroke survivor and founder of Healthy Thoughts, a non-profit organization that spreads stroke awareness and provides support to stroke survivors. Her tag line…Read Full Bio

Mary Daye Hohman

As a relationship executive for Vanguard, Mary Daye Hohman lends initial support and guidance for the more complex needs of high-net-worth individuals and their families…Read Full Bio

Betty Long

As a registered nurse working in greater Philadelphia-area hospitals for the past 25 years, Betty Long’s experiences as a nurse and manager proved to her that…Read Full Bio

Dr. Esther Nash

Esther J. Nash, MD brings over two decades of physician executive experience to her role as vice president of clinical innovation and strategy at OptumHealthSM (a division of United Health Group)…Read Full Bio

Michele Szkolnicki

Michele Szkolnicki is an accomplished healthcare executive with more than 20 years’ experience. She joined Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) in 2007…
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Local Leader

Autumn Bayles

Autumn Bayles is the senior vice president of strategic operations at Tasty Baking Company, currently leading the company’s merger with new owner Flowers Foods. The company, headquartered …Read Full Bio

Suzanne Biemiller

Suzanne Biemiller was appointed the City of Philadelphia’s interim chief of staff by Mayor Michael A. Nutter on June 13, 2011. She had worked as director …Read Full Bio

Joan Myers Brown

Joan Myers Brown is the founder of the Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO)and The Philadelphia School of Dance Arts.She serves as honorary chairperson for the International…Read Full Bio

Patricia A. Coulter

was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Philadelphia in 2002, becoming the first woman to lead this affiliate of…Read Full Bio

Angela Dowd-Burton

Angela Dowd-Burton is an award winning business professional with over twenty-five years of diverse business experience and outreach within the community.Dowd-Burton has served…Read Full Bio

Anne Ewers

In July, 2007 Anne Ewers assumed the role of President & CEO of Kimmel Center, Inc. The $35 million organization owns and operates the Kimmel Center and manages the Academy…Read Full Bio

Varsovia Fernandez

Varsovia Fernandez joined the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GPHCC) in March 2006. During her tenure, Fernandez has helped the GPHCC achieve record levels…Read Full Bio

Carol Fitzgerald

Carol McC. Fitzgerald assumed the position of executive director of The Pennsylvania Society in October, 2000. She is the fifth executive director of the society, founded in 1899,…Read Full Bio

Autumn Adkins Graves

Autumn Adkins Graves serves Girard College as its sixteenth president. Graves comes to Girard College from Friends Seminary, in Manhattan, where she was assistant principal… Read Full Bio

Jeri Lynne Johnson

Jeri Lynne Johnson is the founder and music director of Philadelphia’s newest classical music ensemble, the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra (BPCO). Based in Philadelphia, the BPCO…Read Full Bio

Blanche Burton Lyles

In the world of classical music, seasoned and multifaceted concert pianist Blanche Burton-Lyles is one of the most talented women to grace world-renowned stages …Read Full Bio

Nicole Michalik

Sassy and spontaneous,Nicole Michalik is a true pop culture junkie! Raised in the Poconos, she now calls Philadelphia her home since graduating from Drexel University….Read Full Bio

Kyra McGrath

Kyra McGrath serves as executive vice president and chief operating officer for WHYY, Inc. WHYY, Inc provides the community with informative, entertaining, in-depth programming …Read Full Bio

María D. Quiñones-Sánchez

In the November 2009 Philadelphia Magazine, Councilwoman María D. Quiñones-Sánchez was named one of Philadelphia’s Most Influential 50,…Read Full Bio

Amanda Steinberg

founder of DailyWorth.com, a community of women who talk money …Read Full Bio

Geri Swift

Geri Swift was the founding president of the Women’s Business Development Center. WBDC, formed in 1995, fosters the development and retention of successful businesses by delivering…Read Full Bio

Connie Williams

Connie Williams represented the 17th Senatorial District of Delaware and Montgomery Counties in the Senate of Pennsylvania from 2001 to 2008. From 1997 to 2001 she served in the… Read Full Bio

 

Personal Brand Auditor

Cecily Kellogg

Best known for her popular blog Uppercase Woman and her raw tone and humor on Twitter, Cecily Kellogg entertains tens of thousands on a daily basis. Cecily was named by Babble….. Read Full Bio

Jo-Lynne Shane

Jo-Lynne Shane is a freelance writer, brand ambassador and entrepreneur living in Chester County, Pennsylvania….. Read Full Bio

Dresden Shumaker

Dresden Shumaker has been blogging for nearly seven years about her path to single parenting at Creating Motherhood. In order to supplement the high cost of….. Read Full Bio