DALLAS – The Dallas Regionlal Chamber has announced former CNN reporter Soledad O’Brien, an award winning journalist and founder of Starfish Media Group, and Becky Blalock, former CIO of Southern Company and the author of “Dare” will make keynote presentations during the 18th Annual Women’s Business Conference presented by Jackson Walker L.L.P. on Thursday, Oct. 31. The event will take place from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Omni Dallas Hotel.
The Woman’s Business Conference is an annual event focused on providing professional development and networking for women executives at all levels of their career. Approximately 700 attendees come together for this half-day agenda with expert speakers including two keynotes and business breakout seminars.
This year’s conference will open with breakfast keynote speaker Becky Blalock. Blaylock is currently the Managing Partner at Advisory Capital, a strategic consulting firm that provides insight and expertise to companies involved in the energy, information technology and medical industries. As former Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Southern Company, Blalock spent nearly a decade directing IT strategy and operations for the 6th largest utility company in the world and is recognized as a thought leader in the IT and utility industries. An advocate for women and children, Blalock was recognized as Power Woman of the Year by Atlanta Women magazine, and her efforts have also been recognized by the Girl Scouts and YWCA. She has written a book titled “Dare, Straight Talk on Confidence, Courage and Career for Women in Charge.”
The luncheon keynote will be presented by Soledad O’Brien, an award-winning journalist who formerly reported for CNN. In June 2013 O’Brien launched Starfish Media Group, a multiplatform media production and distribution company dedicated to uncovering and producing empowering stories that take a challenging look at the often divisive issues of race, class, wealth, poverty and opportunity though personal stories. O’Brien has reported on breaking news from around the globe. In 2011 she won an Emmy for “Crisis in Haiti Report” on Haitian orphanages, and her coverage of Hurricane Katrina earned her and CNN a George Foster Peabody award. Her critically acclaimed documentary series Black in America and its follow-up Latino in America are among CNN’s most successful domestic and international franchises. O’Brien has been named journalist of the year by the National Association of Black Journalists and one of Newsweek magazine’s “10 People Who Make America Great.”
ther seminar speakers for break-out sessions include:
“Strategic Thinking and Planning”
Beth Wilson, Vice President of Product, Match.com
In an ever-changing and fast-paced business environment, being a strategic thinker is critical. An executive who leads her company’s strategic planning and visionary thinking will discuss her tips.
“From Passion to Empire”
Lea Nesbit, CEO of Natural Dental Implants
The DFW region is ripe for entrepreneurs to turn their ideas and passions into thriving businesses. Hear from a local executive who built and sold her company to 3M and how she is giving back to help others on the start-up path.
“Stories From the Top” Panel
Linda Cubera, Bradley-Morris LLC
Duy-Loan Le, Senior Fellow, Texas Instruments
Jennifer Sampson, CEO and President, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
Learn from c-suite executive women on how they grew to lead their companies and what they would change if they could do it again.
The ATHENA Award and YP Leadership ATHENA Award will also be presented during the event.
Cost for attendance is $150 for Chamber members and $250 for non-members. Corporate sponsorships and tables of 8 are still available. Tickets can be purchased online at www.dallaschamber.org/events. The day’s agenda and location details are also available online.
The conference is graciously being sponsored by platinum sponsor Jackson Walker L.L.P., ATHENA Award sponsor Wells Fargo, YP Leadership ATHENA Award sponsor KPMG, gold sponsor Texas Instruments, silver sponsors Haynes and Boone, LLP, The Container Store, and TXU Energy, and bronze sponsors Exxon Mobil Corporation and Hunt Consolidated, Inc./Hunt Oil Company.
