OrthoWorx Supports Premier Midwest Event for Women Entrepreneurs and Businesswomen

The Indiana Governor’s Conference for Women will take place November 5, 2013, in Indianapolis, Ind.

The event will bring together internationally known speakers and business leaders with Hoosier businesswomen and entrepreneurs for networking, conversation, ideas and inspiration. OrthoWorx is a Community Sponsor of the event, and OrthoWorx President and CEO Sheryl Conley will serve as a panelist for the morning general session, The Changing Landscape for Women Leaders.

“The event aligns with multiple OrthoWorx Initiatives, including Education & Workforce Development, Diversity, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. As a visible demonstration of our commitment, OrthoWorx is serving as a Community Sponsor. I look forward to the conversations at the event and invite others to join us at the conference. This is a unique development opportunity that also supports future STEM Education,” stated Conley. Proceeds from the event will be used to create the Midwest Dare 2B Digital Conference for young girls, to encourage their interest in careers in business, science, technology and math.

As the largest women’s conference in the Midwest, the Indiana Governor’s Conference for Women offers community, connection and inspiration to women who are passionate about achieving new career heights, expanding or launching a business and catalyzing their personal growth.

The event is apolitical and is the result of joint efforts between Governor Mike Pence and The Invent Your Future Foundation (IYFF). IYFF is a nonprofit corporation formed to create educational training programs and scholarships for women and girls specifically geared to career opportunities and advancement. This includes building the pipeline of women in careers using math, science and technology.

“The facts speak for themselves,” said Governor Pence. “Women-owned businesses and corporate women leaders are a powerful economic engine in our state. Not only are women-owned firms contributing $3 trillion annually to the U.S. economy and accounting for 16% of all jobs, but national research shows women entrepreneurs will create 5 to 5.5 million new jobs across the U.S. by 2018 – more than half of the total new small-business jobs expected to be created during that time, and about one-third of the total new jobs anticipated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Indiana, we mean business, and women are leading the way not only in job creation but also in the corporate world where they are moving into leadership roles. I am committed to furthering that growth.”

The Indiana Governor’s Conference for Women co-chairs and co-founders include two Hoosier women business leaders, Ms. Billie Dragoo and Ms. Deborah Collins Stephens. Dragoo was named as one of the top ten most powerful women entrepreneurs by Fortune Inc. She is also the owner and President of RepuCare and is incoming Board Chairwoman of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) based in Washington DC. Collins Stephens is a nationally acclaimed best-selling author and consultant on leadership development, employee engagement and entrepreneurship. As managing partner of the Center For Innovative Leadership, she has worked with many Fortune 500 companies, universities and government organizations.

“I’m thrilled to bring national thought leaders and powerful resources to the women in our state who are leading innovation and paving the way for growth. The Indiana Governor’s Conference for Women will be an outstanding opportunity to share new ideas, learn new skills, and build our social networks. Indiana will continue, through this conference, to be recognized nationally as a pioneer and benchmark for economic and social awareness of women-owned businesses and leadership,” stated Dragoo.

For more information or to register for the event visit the 2013 Indiana Governor’s Conference website.