Register now for the 6th Annual Young Women LEAD conference

The 6th annual Young Women LEAD Conference is scheduled for March 7th, 2018 at Vincennes University Jasper Campus and the Jasper Arts Center (not affiliated with Jasper Community Arts programming).

Young Women LEAD is a free all-day conference for local high school girls in 9th-12th grade living in Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Martin, Orange, Perry, Pike, and Spencer counties. Focused on girls’ Leadership, Education and Development, the conference empowers young women to embrace their strengths and reach their full potential.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Be Connected” but surprisingly, not in the way you might think. We know today’s teens need no encouragement to connect electronically. This year’s conference will encourage participants to focus on building personal connections – with themselves, with others and in their communities. They will hear from a nationally recognized speaker and attend their choice of relevant breakout sessions led by local women covering topics ranging from confident personal presentation and college preparation to online social etiquette, self-defense, entrepreneurship and more.

Registration for this free conference begins at 7:30 am on Monday, January 15, 2018, at www.youngwomenlead.com and is open to the first 475 registrants.

Spots fill up very quickly, so don’t delay!

Our featured speaker will be Jessie Funk a certified life-coach, 14-year professional youth speaker, six-time published author, and founder of the international non-profit leadership organization “Ivy Girl Academy,” a confidence and leadership training program for teen ladies.

As a professional vocalist she has released five solo albums, has toured 36 states with the Broadway musical “Footloose,” and has been hired for hundreds of recording sessions as a studio vocalist including songs heard on TV’s “America’s Got Talent,” ESPN and “The Biggest Loser.” Jessie has walked away from three record deals unwilling to sell her soul for fame. She chooses to use her voice to lift and inspire in positive ways.

The emcee for the day is WEVV News Anchor and Executive Producer Shelby Coates. A native of the Nashville, Tennessee area, Shelby joined WEVV from Spartanburg, South Carolina where she spent three years anchoring and producing the weekend morning newscasts at WSPA-TV. She also worked as a general assignment reporter, receiving several honors for her investigative and consumer reporting. Shelby is passionate about empowering local communities, strengthening women and mentoring young people.

The conference is organized by SOAR, a leadership program designed to assist businesses in developing female employees for future leadership positions. Members of the 2017 SOAR program and organizers of the 2018 Young Women LEAD conference include Dana Coultas, Kimball; Nicole Englert, MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc.; Christina Gubbins, MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc.; Kristine Hile, National Office Furniture; Jackie Hilgartner, Kimball International; Julie Hunefeld,Kimball Electronics; Laura Mosteller, Kimball Electronics; Amber Taylor, German American Bank; and Misty Tharp, Indiana Furniture.

Young Women LEAD conferences are produced exclusively by volunteers and are 100% locally funded by both corporate and private donations.