News : Pettengill Hosts W2L Women to Leadership Conferences

In 2009, Rep. Dawn Pettengill hosted the first Women to Leadership Conference (W2L). The conference is aimed at skill development, mentoring and networking for women in Iowa. Due to overwhelming feedback, the group is expanding their W2L events this year.

The first conference will be held in the Belle Plaine Community Room, 1309 5th Avenue, Belle Plaine on September 18th, Registration 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. and Conference 9:30 - 4:00 p.m. The second will be held in Muscatine at the Muscatine Hotel Ballroom, 213 West Missippi Drive, Muscatine on October 16th.

Conference topics include leadership development, media relations, image, balance and social networking. Numerous speakers, panels and skill presentations are on the agenda, with women leaders from all areas of the state confirmed to attend. There will be many opportunities to network and participants are encouraged to bring materials for particular business or interest to share.

"These conferences have received great support from the community and all across the state," said Pettengill. "I am committed to helping all people get engaged and be successful, not only women. This is a commitment everyone can get behind."

Sponsors of the events are the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women and multiple businesses and organizations, who are participating and donating to door prizes and gift bags.

The conference fee is $25.00 and includes conference materials and a gourmet lunch provided by Divine Decadents, Shellsburg. For conference registration, send your name, address, phone, email and conference fee to W2L, PO Box A, Mount Auburn, IA 52313 by September10, 2010. If you have questions, you can contact Rep. Pettengill at 319-610-3412 or dawnpettengill@gmail.com.

Rep. Dawn Pettengill was challenged last year during debate on the gender balance bill. "Mandates aren't the way to go. Skill development, mentoring and networking are the real solutions and I will do something to address the need that way." says Pettengill.

In 2009, Pettengill and her Steering Committee hosted the first W2L Women to Leadership Conference. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. To meet demand, this year there are two W2L events planned. The first conference will be at the Belle Plaine Community Room, 1309 5th Avenue, Belle Plaine on September 18th, Registration 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. and Conference 9:30 - 4:00 p.m. The second will be held in Muscatine at the Muscatine Hotel Ballroom, 213 West Mississippi Drive, Muscatine on October 16th.

Conference topics include leadership development, media relations, image, balance and social networking. Numerous speakers, panels and skill presentations are on the agenda, with women leaders from all areas of the state confirmed to attend. There will be many opportunities to network. Participants are encouraged to bring materials for their particular business or interest to share at those times.

Sponsors of the events are the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women and multiple businesses and organizations, who are participating and donating to door prizes and gift bags. "The events have received great support from the community and amazingly, this year, we are taking it on the road all the way to the Mississippi," said Pettengill. "I am committed to helping all people be engaged and successful, not only women. This is a commitment everyone can get behind."

The conference fee is $25.00 and includes the conference materials and a gourmet lunch provided by Divine Decadents, Shellsburg. For conference registration, you can send your name, address, phone, email, number of participants and conference fee to W2L, PO Box A, Mount Auburn, IA 52313 by September10, 2010. If you have questions, you can contact Dawn at 319-610-3412 or dawnpettengill@gmail.com.