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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T090000
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UID:10002918-1773910800-1773927000@marylandwbc.org
SUMMARY:EmpowHER: Building Bold Businesses in a Changing Economy
DESCRIPTION:  \nMaryland Women’s Business Center is proud to present EmpowHER: Building Bold Businesses in a Changing Economy\, in partnership with the Universities at Shady Grove. \nEmpowHER is a small business conference and resource fair that aims to provide a platform for entrepreneurs and professionals to come together and exchange ideas\, network\, build community\, and share strategies to overcome obstacles and achieve success in today’s business landscape. \n  \nThursday\, March 19\, 2026\n9:00am – 1:30pm\nThe Universities at Shady Grove – Building II\n$40\n\nTICKETS ON SALE NOW!\n\n  REGISTER\n \nMWBC is offering 20 free tickets to federal workers impacted by staffing changes in 2025/2026. If you are interested in claiming one of these tickets\, please fill out this form. \n  \nYour ticket to EmpowHER 2026 includes: \nA Content-Filled Agenda \nLearn from a dynamic group of industry professionals as they share their expertise and advice on how to adapt and thrive when faced with new challenges. \n\n9:00am – Networking\n9:30am – Welcome | Dr. Anne Khademian\, Executive Director\, Universities at Shady Grove\n9:40am – Opening Remarks | Monique Ashton\, Mayor – City of Rockville\n9:50am – Keynote | Margarita Womack\, Founder – Latin Goodness\, LLC/MasPanadas\n10:15am – Panel Discussion | Building Bold: Founders on Risk\, Change\, and What it Takes | Aisha Khadar\, CEO – Sha’s Organic Skin Care & Medspa; Nurith Berstein\, President – Next Level Rentals & Realty; Mercedita Roxas-Murray\, CEO – Montage Marketing \n11:00am – Founders Rising Business Pitch Competition powered by NEXT/My NEXT Raise | Supported by Montgomery County Business Center and Shulman Rogers\n12:00pm – Workshop | Building Your Digital Home: Website Basics for Businesses led by Margaret Doan\, Managing Partner – PIXLink Studio\n12:45pm – Pitch competition awards\n1:00pm – Networking\n\nNetworking Opportunities \nEngage with entrepreneurs at every stage of business and build invaluable connections. \nAn Exhibitor Hall with Dozens of Local Vendors and Partners \nDiscover\, support\, and network with local businesses and resource partners as they showcase their products and services to help your business. \n\nCity of Frederick Department of Economic Development\nCity of Rockville Procurement Department\nFarallon Bookkeeping\nFSC First\nFrederick County Office of Economic Development\nGaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce\nGreater Rockville Chamber of Commerce \nInterfaith Works\nLabor Credit Union\nLafayette Federal Credit Union\nM&T Bank\nMaryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission\nMontgomery County Black Collective\nMontgomery County Business Center\nMontgomery County Chamber of Commerce\nMontgomery County Department of Permitting Services\nMontgomery County Office of Procurement\nMWBC Shop Local\nNazareth Bonifacino Law\nPrince George’s County Economic Development Corporation\nRockville Economic Development\, Inc. \nRohner Consulting\nStellar 5 Legal\nThe Universities at Shady Grove\nU.S. General Services Administration – Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization\nU.S. Small Business Administration\nVerizon Digital Ready\nWomen Business Owners of Montgomery County\nWorkSource Montgomery\n\n  \nKeynote: Margarita Womack\, CEO – Latin Goodness Foods\, LLC/MasPanadas \nPh.D. scientist-turned-entrepreneur\, Margarita Womack\, is the award winning founder of MasPanadas and a champion of Maryland’s manufacturing sector. \n  \nBuilding Bold: Founders on Risk\, Change\, and What it Takes  \nLearn from experienced founders as they share real-world insights on taking risks\, navigating change\, and building businesses that last. Featuring Aisha Khadar of Sha’s Organic Skin Care & Medspa\, Nurith Berstein of Next Level Rentals & Realty\, and Mercedita Roxas-Murray of Montage Marketing. \n  \nFounders Rising Business Pitch Competition powered by NEXT/My NEXT Raise\nMWBC’s Founders Rising\, an 8-week capacity-building program\, helped twenty displaced federal workers develop sustainable business plans and launch their businesses. At EmpowHER 2026\, six Founders Rising graduates will pitch to a panel of judges and a live audience for a chance to win over $6\,000 in cash prizes. With the support of the Montgomery County Business Center and Shulman Rogers\, these entrepreneurs are building their second act through business ownership.\n \nCheer on and vote for one of the following participants: \n\n\n\nMinal Amin – Feenix Collaborative \nMia Bailey – So Respond\nStefany Holguin – Salt Perspectives\nGarine Isassi – Love\, Books & Music\nPaula Malozowski – Veraz Human Strategies\nBridget Williams-Simmons – Convergent Point Strategies\n\n\n\n  \nBuilding Your Digital Home: Website Basics for Businesses  \nPerfect for entrepreneurs starting fresh or updating their site! Learn the essentials every business website needs to attract customers: \n\n\n\nKey pages every site should have\nClear\, conversion-friendly structure\nSimple tips to look polished and professional \n\n\n\nDonation Drive\nWe are partnering with Interfaith Works in Rockville\, MD to collect donations of new/gently used business attire for job interviews\, and laundry detergent to maintain their clothing. Interfaith Works aims to provide vital services and essential needs to Montgomery County residents below the Federal poverty line.\n \n  \nMWBC Shop Local\nLearn about MWBC’s retail incubator program and explore and purchase products from our current cohort of vendors. \n  \nMWBC Counselors\nExplore the services and resources offered by the Maryland Women’s Business Center\, meet our business consultant team\, and learn how to schedule a FREE counseling session. \n  \nLight Refreshments\nEnjoy coffee and light breakfast refreshments included in your ticket to EmpowHER. \n  \nParking Included\nParking is included in the ticket fee. The parking validation received at the event is ONLY valid for the Traville Gateway Garage and WILL NOT be redeemable at any other garages/lots. To get to the Traville Gateway Garage\, enter the following address into your GPS: 9638 Gudelsky Dr\, Rockville\, MD 20850 \nIf you enter Universities at Shady Grove into your GPS\, it will take you to the campus main entrance. Follow the signage around the campus to get to the Traville Gateway Garage. The easiest way to access the Traville Gateway Garage is from Darnestown Rd. \n  \nIn partnership with:\n \n \nThank you to our Sponsors:  \n \n  \n  \n \n  \n  \n \n \n  \n \n  \n \n  \n \n  \n \n  \n  \n  \n  \nMWBC’s EmpowHER is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions\, conclusions\, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. View MWBC’s Funding Disclosure. \n 
URL:https://marylandwbc.org/workshops-and-seminars/empowher2026/
LOCATION:The Universities at Shady Grove\, 9630 Gudelsky Drive\, Building II\, Rockville\, MD\, 20850\, United States
CATEGORIES:Business Development Strategies,Core,Developing a Business Plan,Managing a Business,Marketing,Networking,Special Events
ORGANIZER;CN="Maryland Women's Business Center":MAILTO:info@marylandwbc.org
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