This is always a fun time of the year, and I didn't have her here last year, but she's back.

My friend Cindy, I was so glad to be here because you brought the bling this year for us.

I love it.

Now you guys are heading into the ninth Annual Women's Entrepreneur Summit, which is really exciting.

Almost a decade of doing this, right?

Right.

It is.

I mean, not crazy because this is something that is really special that you offer to the community.

It is really excited about it, actually.

Big news for us.

We just were awarded the Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for really company for integrity.

See your Health Women's initiative.

So we're going to be celebrating that too.

That's something to celebrate for sure.

I'm very excited about it.

And this year too.

We have a keynote speaker from northwest Bank, Heather Lear.

She's a vice president of our region.

She's amazing.

And northwest Bank has been a big supporter of ours, just like PNC Bank and First Source.

I love it.

You guys have such great connections within the community, and that's one of the things I love about everything that you guys do with entrepreneurs on it, because it really is a connector point for many women across the entire region, right?

It is.

And you know what?

We do attract women from all around scores Fort Wayne, Chicago, Indianapolis, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

But most of the people that come here in Saint Jo County are Elkhart County.

That's about it.

And I know.

This is your space in here?

Yes.

You've been doing this for a while now.

What does it mean for you to have this event and to be able to host it here at least?

I love it.

And honestly, it's an event I look forward to every year because of the amount of women that come and others.

But we can connect with each other and it's so inspiring.

So it's one of my favorite events.

Awesome.

And Cecilia, this is your first time a temporary time.

Yes I'm excited.

You have to tell me.

I am so excited to know about it that you might want to share with other people who are watching right now and what might they look forward to.

I think it's a good platform for women, and Cindy has always, always, always had something on board for women.

She used to do the Women's Expo downtown of the Century Center, and we've loved it, loved it, loved it.

And I think this is good to showcase women in their different businesses and also give a light on subjects that women need to be aware of, like domestic violence, finances.

We need the same tools that men use to get to be CEOs and CEOs and CFOs.

So we need those same tools, and some of that generally isn't always available.

And that's why I like this are really so important.

Right, right.

It is not always available to us.

We're not always in the boardroom or the where they're making them at the table where they're making the decisions.

We're usually kind of in the background.

So I think this is a good table so that women can learn how to be at, you know, in those spots, to be on the board, to be, a branch manager or, at the bank, being able to finance women in different areas.

Absolutely.

Now, Cindy, you've been doing this for a while.

I can't believe you're coming up on ten years.

Pretty soon.

Pretty soon.

This is our ninth year for the Women's Entrepreneur Summit.

And you know what?

When you were talking, I was thinking about when we very first started was in 2018, and that was our first summit that we had.

And statistically during that time, the this, I guess you'd say, US census said that women only held 2% of the women owned businesses in Saint Joe County, 3% in Elkhart County, and 2% in Berrien county, which is right next to us.

And the reason why?

I mean, there's a million reasons why women don't, you know, make it in their own business.

But the four main reasons were women couldn't find role models.

They couldn't find mentors.

They didn't know where the resources were, if we had any.

And also fear, you know, lack of confidence.

So we've built the women's summit on those four ideas.

And that's what we focus on.

And every year at the summit, it's a huge success of so inspirational.

I mean, I have women coming to me afterwards and they tell me they came here, they didn't think they wanted to start a business, but now they do.

And it's from the other women who came and they learn from them.

So it's not just the great presentations and the great presenters and networking.

And of course we have delicious food to I might add, it's the other women.

I mean, really, something magical happens when women get together.

And this event is not just for people who are entrepreneurial, ready or maybe lead in a business, right?

It's someone is interested in even just connecting and learning more.

This is a great space for them.

Yeah.

If you want to be in a space where there are other women who are going places, want to try to build a business along with their families, are looking to move up in business.

Or if you're a man who wants to come and hang out with a whole room of ladies, I don't know why, but they love it and I love I've had men come and say they like coming because they like learning sort of the soft sell relationship approach to building a business.

So yeah, you've been a part of the process along the way too.

What kinds of things have you learned?

Community mainly.

I think it's great to just be surrounded with other women and just knowing that there's others out there that have my back and we're a team.

It's a community.

That's what I love about it, I love it, and I love that.

She said that there are resources available, and that's exactly what you guys provide here, too.

So let's talk about what the day looks like.

Well, it's very exciting when you come in and we have a great breakfast.

I love the food.

Well and then we have networking.

We do a little speed networking so people get a chance to know each other.

We have 15 businesses that we spotlight that help women grow their business and get connected into the community.

They're here all day.

We have, whole morning of, you know, seminars, each there's 18 seminars throughout the whole day and even for that.

So yeah.

So each seminar is just ten minutes.

We hope you get two things out of each seminar.

And then you would leave here with 36 new ideas that could take you forward in the air.

It looks like it's like a a half a year new ideas.

And then in the afternoon, we have the graduation for the Women Entrepreneur mentoring class.

Okay.

The one that we have, Cedar Health Women's Initiative, and we have a great group graduating.

And then this year we added awards.

So we're giving.

So we're part of you know how you know women grow their business.

But we also want to help develop the ecosystem.

So now we're the awards are about people or women who help other women.

And they're not only their business but in their personal life too.

And it's open to everyone.

So I hope you guys do get your tickets.

You want to make sure you get that ahead of time, but there's something new that you guys are doing this year, too.

Well, we actually lowered the price of our ticket.

Okay.

We added a place where everyone could have a seat at the table.

So we have six seats where you can have your seat and five other seats.

So we have that option at a big discount.

And then we're also doing two for one.

So we say bring yourself and invite her.

So there's two people for the price of one.

So we're excited about find your friend.

And sometimes you need just like a little a little kush to get to where you want to be.

Right?

Because sometimes it's challenging or it's, scary.

Yeah.

Thank you.

That's a good word for it.

But, I mean, you could be a very successful entrepreneur, too.

And this is exactly what your group does here, too.

Thank you so much for telling us a little bit about it.

I do want to point out you have a awesome book too.

Yeah, we have some great gifts that we're giving people or signing up this year.

I have, my books been out a couple of years is about how to start a business.

So if you've started a business already, it's back to the basics.

If you're thinking about starting a business, it get you started.

I have a woman in my mentoring program.

She doesn't have access to a computer, so we're using the book to take her right through a start a business.

And guess what?

It works.

It's amazing.

I love that.

And then we also have a great little gift bag we give everyone.

And this is our this year, our theme one conversation can change everything.

And think about it.

If you think back in your life of every single decision you ever made, there was always someone who said something to you that helped change that conversation.

I love that, so I know lots of conversations are going to be had here, so make sure you guys get your tickets.

What's the website?

They can get out all the details.

Oh, you know, the three W's and then Women Entrepreneurs summit.org.

So it's there or just type in Women Entrepreneurs Summit South Bend and you'll come right up I love it.

Well thank you ladies new each day and we're ready to shatter.

Thank you.

Thank you for having us.

This is fun.