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Women of the Chamber Webinar April 2021
Event Sponsors
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Date and Time
Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM EDT
Login available: 11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Program: 12:00 - 1 p.m.
Location
Virtual on Zoom. Registrants will receive the Zoom info on April 12th.
Fees/Admission
$10.00 - Members
$20.00 - Future Members
Website
Women of the Chamber Webinar April 20...
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Description
Finding success as women entrepreneurs
Thirty-one percent of all small business or franchise owners are women up from 27 percent last year according to Guidant Financial's 2021 Small Business Trends survey. While this increase is a good sign, women entrepreneurs still face unique hurdles.
Thirty-one percent of all small business or franchise owners are women up from 27 percent last year according to Guidant Financial's 2021 Small Business Trends survey. While this increase is a good sign, women entrepreneurs still face unique hurdles.
We're excited to welcome three distinguished panelists to our first Women of the Chamber Webinar of 2021 to discuss their experiences as entrepreneurs and small business owners:
Melissa Palmer Mays: Co-Owner of chocolatepaper
Amanda Forrester: Director of the Roanoke Regional SBDC
Kat Pascal: Co-Owner of Spotless America, Farmburguesa, and Co-Founder of Nuestro Comercio Latino & Latinas Network.
When: Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Registration: 11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Program: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Virtually on Zoom
Cost: $10.00 for members | $20.00 for future members
Registrants will receive the Zoom information on April 12 by 12:00 p.m.
Women of the Chamber's mission is to empower professional women through community, education, and personal development. We look forward to providing you with an opportunity to get to know fellow members and uplift one another personally and professionally.
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Meet our Panelists
Melissa Palmer Mays is a Roanoke native and Hollins University graduate. She began her career in the banking and investment management arenas.
Working during college as a credit card collector for Dominion Bank was the first step for Melissa to leave her shyness behind. She moved to the Trust Investment Department of Dominion Bank which led to her involvement in creating the independent investment management firm, Catawba Capital Management at the age of 23. After eleven years, she left to freelance in nonprofit accounting, turning side gigs into her day job.
In 2006, Melissa and her family opened chocolatepaper, a specialty gift and chocolate store first in Southwest County and then on the Roanoke City Market. It was a satisfying feat as her entrepreneurial uncle left banking in 1985 to open a card store in the newly refurbished Roanoke City Market Building only to have it decimated by the 100-year flood in November, 1985.
Celebrating fifteen years in 2021, chocolatepaper is a mainstay of the vibrant Downtown Roanoke experience. This successful family business offers scrumptious chocolates, distinctive greeting cards and an array of unique gifts. As co-owner, Melissa spearheads corporate sales, events and marketing serving as the liaison with the community and beyond.
Continuing her financial path, Melissa serves as the Controller for Access and still does nonprofit accounting for Junior Achievement of Southwest VA and the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
She serves on the Regional Advisory Board for Truist Bank, the Roanoke Regional Chamber, the Market Building Foundation and the Roanoke Foundation for Downtown.
Amanda Forrester is the Director of the Roanoke Regional SBDC and proudly supports the Roanoke and New River Valleys and Alleghany Highlands.
Amanda believes small business is the heart of our community and leads to strong economic impact for our region. She is an experienced small business owner with a multi-disciplinary background and proven results.
Kat Pascal is the co-owner of Spotless America (a commercial cleaning company), co-owner of Farmburguesa, and co-founder of Nuestro Comercio Latino & Latinas Netwo
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Meet our Panelists
Melissa Palmer Mays is a Roanoke native and Hollins University graduate. She began her career in the banking and investment management arenas.Working during college as a credit card collector for Dominion Bank was the first step for Melissa to leave her shyness behind. She moved to the Trust Investment Department of Dominion Bank which led to her involvement in creating the independent investment management firm, Catawba Capital Management at the age of 23. After eleven years, she left to freelance in nonprofit accounting, turning side gigs into her day job.
In 2006, Melissa and her family opened chocolatepaper, a specialty gift and chocolate store first in Southwest County and then on the Roanoke City Market. It was a satisfying feat as her entrepreneurial uncle left banking in 1985 to open a card store in the newly refurbished Roanoke City Market Building only to have it decimated by the 100-year flood in November, 1985.
Celebrating fifteen years in 2021, chocolatepaper is a mainstay of the vibrant Downtown Roanoke experience. This successful family business offers scrumptious chocolates, distinctive greeting cards and an array of unique gifts. As co-owner, Melissa spearheads corporate sales, events and marketing serving as the liaison with the community and beyond.
Continuing her financial path, Melissa serves as the Controller for Access and still does nonprofit accounting for Junior Achievement of Southwest VA and the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
She serves on the Regional Advisory Board for Truist Bank, the Roanoke Regional Chamber, the Market Building Foundation and the Roanoke Foundation for Downtown.
Amanda Forrester is the Director of the Roanoke Regional SBDC and proudly supports the Roanoke and New River Valleys and Alleghany Highlands. Amanda believes small business is the heart of our community and leads to strong economic impact for our region. She is an experienced small business owner with a multi-disciplinary background and proven results.
Kat Pascal is the co-owner of Spotless America (a commercial cleaning company), co-owner of Farmburguesa, and co-founder of Nuestro Comercio Latino & Latinas Netwo