July 2022 Message from GWBC? President & CEO: Roz Lewis

"You may not control all of the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”?– Maya Angelou

I was inspired following the first in-person national event in two years organized by WBENC and co-hosted by The Greater Women’s Business Council and the Women’s Business Enterprise Council Ohio River Valley. The WBENC Be Bold 2022 National Conference was an enormous success with 3,800 attendees, hundreds of corporate matches, an infinite number of educational sessions and great networking. The health checks, conducted by Crowd Pass (Savoca Enterprises), not only helped to keep attendees safe, but two of our WBEs (Dover Staffing and Peerless Performance) assisted in the organization and execution of this important requirement to attend the conference!?Many thanks to our Co-Chair Sponsors: Accenture, AT&T, The Coca-Cola Company and UPS, and our WBE Host Committee for making this national event a success. Be sure to mark your calendars for the WBENC National Conference in Nashville, March 20 – 23, 2023. That’s right, the next conference is just nine months away. Stay tuned for more information.

Independence is the theme of July and the Greater Women’s Business Council reflects on how critical democracy is in the United States and the world. It is important that we preserve our freedom from the countless threats that can erode this fragile belief that we have endured over the past 245 years.?Based on the founding fathers’ beliefs; they built our nation around the core principles of liberty, justice, and the rule of law while seeking democracy and declaring independence. As Americans, we should stand by those guiding beliefs.

As independent women business owners, you have faced challenges and overcome them. How will you reaffirm a commitment to the empowerment of women and women’s rights, including the very fundamental right to make decisions regarding health??Prior to answering this question, please keep in mind that limiting women’s rights by limiting their health options takes away the most fundamental right for women and their empowerment.

What is most important to remember is that no matter what side of any issue you may support, you have a voice, and you can exercise that voice.?

On a historical note: The Greater Women’s Business Council celebrates and congratulates Ketanji Brown Jackson as the 116th?justice and the first black woman to be appointed to the United States Supreme Court.?We will continue to advocate for diversity in all sectors of our society and look forward to inspiring more women.

Roz Lewis

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions by contacting us at?[email protected].