Million Dollar Women Symposium Nov. 5 in Salem

SALEM – Whether they’re over achievers, possess uncanny business sense or are simply fortunate, five women who have grossed at least $1 million will share their success stories when the Enterprise Center presents the 5th annual Million Dollar Women Symposium November 5 at the Hawthorne Hotel.Christine Sullivan, executive director of the business incubator at Salem State College, said the popularity of the event forced organizers to seek a larger venue. “We just didn’t have adequate room at the Enterprise Center for everyone who came so this year we’re holding the symposium at the hotel,” she said, noting the event begins at 8 a.m., followed by the speakers from 9 a.m. to noon. Lunch will be served from noon to 1:30 p.m.”The event is designed to show business owners who makes it to the top and how they do it,” she said.The five panelists include optometrist Linda Bennett, owner of Belmont Optometrists in Belmont; Kelly Delaney, founder and chief executive officer of Cakes for Occasions in Danvers; certified speech and language pathologist Melanie Olson Giles, founder and managing partner of Speech Therapy Group and MassTex Imaging in Beverly; Meg Spencer, chief executive officer and chairman of Hamilton Thorne. Inc., in Beverly; and Kim Woods, founder and chief executive officer of Sea Change Enterprises, Inc., in Beverly.The keynote speaker is Wendi Goldsmith, chief executive officer and founder of Bioengineering Group in Salem a federal appointee to the National Women’s Business Council. As founder of the bioengineering enterprise, Goldsmith’s talk will is entitled “Finding Your Inner Compass and Leading Along a Positive Trail.”The symposium showcases women who own companies with gross revenues over $1 million. According to Sullivan, the panelists will talk about how they achieved their success.Every person who is successful has their own unique story and unique experiences, she said, adding that the program is designed to motivate and empower working women to aspire to success in their field.In addition to the panelists, 14 previously featured Million Dollar Women are scheduled to attend the event. Among them are Karen Andreas publisher of the Salem Evening News; Salem Mayor Kimberely Driscoll; Roseann Tully, Publisher, Intermezzo Magazine; Phyllis LeBlanc, owner and chief executive of Harbor Sweets in Salem; and Phyllis Sagan, owner and chief executive officer of Sagan Real Estate in Swampscott.”What makes the Million Dollar Women program so special is that the women talk about the unique challenges and difficulties they faced as they climbed the ladder. The advice is heartfelt and direct,” said Sullivan. “What we want to do is to show the audience that no matter where they came from and no matter how differently they may think, there is a role model for them”.The event is sponsored by Beverly Cooperative Bank, which was the founding sponsor when the event originated. Co-sponsors of the symposium are the Creative Economy Association of the North of Boston and the Small Business Development Center at Salem State College.More information about the panelists and prior event speakers is available online at www.enterprisectr.org/milliondollarwomen76.html or by calling the center at 978-542-7528. Tickets were $50 pre-paid in advance and $55 after Oct 1.