Women’s Entrepreneur Summit

I first met Cindy Cohen on my first visit to 1 Million Cups – Mishawaka. She was very clearly the woman in charge in the room and she introduced herself early on. I found out very quickly, that there aren’t very many small business events I hear of or attend that Cindy isn’t a part of in some way.

At 1MC they had advertised the 7th Annual Women’s Entrepreneur Summit <https://womensentrepreneursummit.weebly.com/> weekly and it wasn’t until the night before the summit that I purchased my ticket. That morning after I dropped of the kids at school I found my way to the Rio Park Events Center in South Bend, and upon being thwarted by a locked entrance facing the street I came in on, I apparently entered through the back entrance and not the main entrance. I arrived a little before things officially began and I had already ran into several people I’ve met from 1MC and other networking events.

At check-in I received my welcome bag with the summit’s program information, samples and postcards from several businesses, snacks, and a list of attendees, vendors, and presenters. I also received a copy of Cindy Cohen’s book She Means Business: Breaking Through and Scaling Up and found myself a seat at a table in the back where i could see the podium but still keep my distance from the majority of the crowd (because I don’t always want to be the center of attention).

We jumped right into business and started the day’s events with speed networking. Janice Purnell of Five Joys Laundry Delivery Service and World Fusion Music Productions led us through the activity, having us line up in two lines facing each other. I grabbed a pocketful of business cards and found myself a spot in one of the lines. We would have about 15-30 seconds to introduce ourselves, share what we do, and give the other person time to do the same. I saw many familiar faces and shared business cards with new ones. As an introvert, I struggled a bit with this once, but I knew it was a quick activity, so I turned on the people skills for a bit and tried not to flinch at the sound of the cowbell that signified it was time to move on to the next entrepreneur.

We were introduced to the MCs for the day: Ylonda Scott, CEO of SheBoss Oasis Business and Angie Lyons, CEO of Mother’s Little Helper.

Below you will find a listing of the speaker’s from the summit, links to their websites, and some notable remarks they shared from the podium.

Cindy Cohen RN BS BA, C2 Your Health Women’s Initiative
- https://www.c2yhwi.org/
- https://www.facebook.com/C2YourHealthWomensInitiative
- Entrepreneurship is…“More about facing your fears than having the right skills”
- “Learn how to ask for help”
- “I heard ‘yes’ to ‘keep going’!”
- “Together we have one voice.”

Cindy Cohen, RN BS BA

Julie Cotton, Next Level Improv, how obstacles become the way
- https://juliecotton.com/improv/
- https://www.facebook.com/nextlevelimprov
- “Our pain becomes our paradise”
- “Our mess becomes our message”
- “There are no unresourceful people, there are only unresourceful states”
- You can be a student AND an expert in the same person

Julie Cotton

Matthew Leevy, Ph. D., Dir of IDEA Center Innovation Lab
- https://www.facebook.com/InnovationLabND
- Father of 3 girls.
- Innovation Lab “We translate ideas into objects”
- @innovationlabnd IG
- matthew.leevy@gmail.com
Ange Agasaro, Ivy Tech Entrepreneurship
- https://www.ivytech.edu/programs/all-academic-programs/garatoni-school-of-entrepreneurship-innovation/entrepreneurship/
- “Imagine doing what you love and making money. That’s what captures my attention about entrepreneurship.”
- “Why are you here?”
- “If money wasn’t an issue, what would you spend your time doing?”

Ange Agasaro

Ylonda remarks in transition
- “Our business is not for us, our business is for the world!”
Nov 19 is Global Women’s Entrepreneurship Day
- Proclamations in Mishawaka, South Bend, Elkhart, Goshen, Michigan City

Cindy Cohen and Stacey Black announcing city proclamations

Women Breaking Barriers Panel Discussion
- Stacey Black, (Moderator) from Michiana Women’s Rise
  - https://www.facebook.com/MichianaWomenRise
  - Tabitha DeSerrano, Spark and Soul Design Studio
    - https://sparkandsouldesign.com/
    - https://www.facebook.com/sparkandsouldesign
  - LaDawn White, Labor of Love Childcare, LLC & Almost Vegan Plant-based Kitchen & Bakery
    - https://laboroflovechildcare.com/
    - https://www.facebook.com/LaborofLoveChildcare
    - https://bakesy.shop/b/almost-vegan-plant-based-kitchen-bakery
    - https://www.facebook.com/almost.vegan.2024
    - “Embracing change is inevitable”
  - Lynette Goodson, Netty G’s Cuisine
    - https://www.facebook.com/NettyGsCuisine
  - Janice Purnell, Communicating Joy
    - Five Joys Laundry Delivery Service
      - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247756609
    - World Fusion Music Productions
      - https://wfmpllc.com/
    - How do you define success?
      - “My success is grounded in God. I cannot do anything without Him.”
      - “In that journey, it is important for you to find something that you are grateful for.”
      - “Success is in today, Amen.”
  - What skill is most important in entrepreneurship?
    - Tabitha: resilience. Don’t give up
    - LaDawn: perseverance. Figure out your why AND remember your why.
    - Lynette: resilience and confidence in your identity. “That’s a fragrance that I’ve worn well through my journey.”
    - Janice: consistency. “Stay consistent. When you decide, be consistent. Embrace the failures”

Women Entrepreneur Panel Discussion moderated by Stacey Black

Marlon Deleon with Janice Purnell

Networking Lunch chef competition
- Mimi’s Catery
  - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084842103093
  - Chicken Curry
  - Sausage roll
  - Samosas
- Almost Vegan Desserts and Bakery
  - https://www.facebook.com/almost.vegan.2024
  - Cauliflower tacos
  - Red velvet shooter
  - Mini brownie supreme
- Chef Vanessa Matsimbe of Mimi’s Catery is the winner of chef off at lunch!

Food from Mimi’s Catery and Almost Vegan

Felicia Seals-Buchanan, Executive Director, Mishawaka Business Association
Liz Georges, FDN-P, Vibrant Soul Coaching
- https://www.lizgeorges.com/
- https://lifeistheatricalcomms.com/2024/10/07/feature-liz-georges-fdn-p-of-vibrantsoul-coaching-llc/
- “Pay attention to your body. Our bodies tell us what they need.”
- “It’s ok to ask for help.”
- “Detox your home.”

Liz Georges

Traci Winston Williams, H.O.T. Hear Our Tears
- https://hearourtears.wixsite.com/website
- https://www.facebook.com/noviolenceteam
- We are cloaked in insults
- We shed and grow
- We help each other
- You do have purpose

At this point in the day, I had to leave to pick up my kids, but here are the presenters from the rest of the program.