She and Vogel, president and co-founder of the company, hope The Women’s Congress will differ from other women-oriented conferences, which they say often fail to address the full spectrum of women’s business needs and interests.
"We really hope to shake up the trade show market," Vogel said. "We really want to do things differently. We wanted to do something we were passionate about."
Vogel, 46, who lives in Bridgeport, founded New Generation Event Solutions in Fairfield in 2002. The company, which moved to 12 Cascade Blvd. two years ago, started out producing trade shows for other organizers. Once Straub, 49, who lives in Rhode Island, joined the company in 2004, the two women decided to organize their own show, and The Women’s Congress was born.
The five employees in the company’s Orange office, as well as eight workers who telecommute from out of state, have been planning the event for months. The company also continues to produce a small number of trade shows for outside organizers.
With The Women’s Congress on track to double in size before it travels to Miami, New York City and Los Angeles next year, New Generation Event Solutions is looking to expand its staff.
"Definitely, we’re growing our employment base in Connecticut," Straub said.
Though The Women’s Congress is geared toward women, men may attend the event, and organizers say many have pre-registered.
The two-day event will feature a series of workshops and seminars geared toward businesswomen of all levels, offered in three separate tracks: Entrepreneurial and Business Growth Strategies, for start-up and developing companies; Corporate Leadership, for women who have attained some level of corporate success; and the Business of Philanthropy, for nonprofits.
The Women’s Congress also includes an exhibition and networking "marketplace" with more than 200 local, regional and national companies, most of which offer business-to-business services.
"What we designed was an event that was much needed in the business world," said Vogel. Too often, she said, conferences for women either focus solely on lifestyle issues and not on business, or only on business while ignoring other topics important to well-rounded women.
The Women’s Congress is heavily business-focused, with sessions on financing, technology, marketing and building a business, but also includes seminars on issues such as wellness.
A unique aspect of The Women’s Congress is that the networking among attendees has already begun. Nearly two months ago, Vogel and Straub launched "Women Connect," an online community where registered conference attendees can meet, connect and network with each other, the event’s featured speakers, and sponsors prior to heading to Boston.
The event will feature keynote speeches by Sharon L. Allen, chairwoman of Deloitte & Touche USA; Maria Otero, president and CEO of ACCION International, a Boston-based micro-lender; Mary Wilson, author and former member of The Supremes singing group; Sheila C. Johnson, CEO of Salamander Hospitality, partner in Lincoln Holdings and co-founder of BET television network; and Jean Chatzky, journalist, author and motivational speaker.
Attendees who pre-register by Wednesday at www.thewomenscongress.com, can attend the keynote addresses, marketplace exhibition and networking reception free of charge. Until Wednesday, attendees can register for both days of the conference, which includes break-out sessions, for $299. The price for conference registration at the door Thursday or Friday is $399.
