In spite of Hurricane Helene's devastation, our community has much to celebrate -- our resilience, our desire to join hands and work together to help one another, and the hope that a new day is coming when we'll all be stronger.  Acknowledging women in business whose resilience and determination have never waivered is a huge reason to gather and celebrate.

We are happy to announce that plans for the 2024 WomanUP Celebration are moving forward for November 5th, at Crowne Plaza Expo Center.  Come make valuable connections and learn from other women who have made significant strides in their careers while offering support to others in the workplace and greater community.

We're looking forward to celebrating with you!

Featured Speaker:  Pamela J. Green

Keynote speaker Pamela Green will explore women's unique challenges in leadership roles and provide actionable strategies for maintaining authenticity while navigating professional environments. You'll learn how to cultivate a solid executive presence without compromising your true self, address double standards head-on, and reframe stereotypes to your advantage.

We'll discuss:

• Developing a powerful leadership style that aligns with your values
• Techniques for assertive communication without being labeled "bossy"
• Strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome and owning your expertise
• Building a supportive network of allies and mentors
• Practical tips for navigating higher levels of leadership with confidence

Whether you're an entrepreneur, solopreneur, or corporate leader, you'll leave this session with valuable insights and tools to elevate your leadership presence while staying true to yourself.

Before transitioning into executive coaching and consulting, Pamela was an executive leader at the world’s largest Human Resource association, where she advocated for the HR profession and ensured global HR leaders were respected. She discovered that not all c-suite experiences are the same and saw an opportunity to help CEOs and their teams achieve more than individual excellence by gaining a competitive edge. Over the past decade, she has observed that as leaders rise in the ranks, their focus should shift from personal performance to team and organizational outcomes, yet success measures often remain unchanged. Companies, while promoting collaboration, still reward individual contributions, fostering silos. To address this, she works with leaders to adapt to changing economies and talent landscapes by offering a new playbook that emphasizes collective achievement over individual success. She is now pioneering scenario-based coaching to maximize development and guide leaders from dysfunction to distinction.

Presentation of WomanUP Awards for outstanding women in business:

• Outstanding Woman Nonprofit Leader, presented by TD Bank

• Woman Executive of the Year Award, presented by Realty ONE Group Pivot

• Women Entrepreneurs, Best in Business Award, presented by Gratz Park Private Wealth Asheville.

• Rising Star Young Woman Professional Award, presented by Western Carolina University

• Impact Award, presented by Kudzu Brands

• STEM Award, presented by Pratt & Whitney

• Suzanne DeFerie Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by First Bank

Registration note: If you or your company have experienced a financial loss due to Helene, please email lbriggs@ashevillechamber.org and let us know that you need a discounted ticket – to those who have already paid, THANK YOU, we will use those funds in part to be able to donate tickets to those less fortunate!

Woman Executive Award Nominees:

• Alba Telez, Green Sage Cafe
• Beth Poslusny, Biltmore
• April Brown, Bank of America
• Laura Baker-Seseika, McGuire Wood & Bissette Law Firm
• Megan Carroll, Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains
• Rebekah Schram, American IRA
• Dr. Stantelle R. Simpson, Appalachian Mountain Health
• Dr. Jennifer Reed, Buncombe County Schools
• Maggie Carnevale, LS3P
• Charlotte Stack, Chai Pani Restaurant Group
• Dr. Laurie Zone-Smith, Mission Health
• Mary Michael, Action COACH
• Amy Michaelson Kelly, Hatteras Sky

Impact Award Nominees:

• Brooke Stevenson, Full Bloom Holistic Psychotherapy
• Virginia Hamilton, Hickory Nut Gap Farm
• Theresa Faughnan, Biltmore
• Michelle Klickovich, Biltmore
• Jen Maneely, Maneely Consulting
• LeNoir White Medlock, Preferred Properties of Asheville
• Elizabeth LeShay Garland, Slay the Mic & STM Multimedia
• Ellen Steele, Atlas Precision
• Jessica Edwards, Eaton
• Megan Carroll, Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains
• Julie Moses, Givens Home First
• Christian Grunder, Givens Communities
• Rachel Dudasik, Wicked Weed Brewing

Outstanding Nonprofit Leader Award Nominees:

• Julia Costa, YMCA of WNC
• Elizabeth Williams, MountainCare and Council on Aging of Henderson County
• Rhonda Devan, Devan Consulting
• Lorie Boehm, The Arc of North Carolina
• Amy Upham, Blue Ridge Pride
• Alicia Heacock and Meagan Lyon Leimena, Babies Need Bottoms
• Christian Grunder, Givens Communities
• Tricia Chan, French Broad River Academy Girls Program
• Cheryl Wallen, Givens LifeMinistries
• Alesia Summey, YWCA
• Jacklyn Kiger, Pisgah Legal Services
• Rachel Sossoman, Mercy Urgent Care
• Jessica Hendrix, YMCA of WNC
• Zurilma Anuel, Western Women's Business Center
• Amanda Garcia, Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont
• Tia Ramsey, Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont
• Amanda Bryant, Asheville Museum of Science

Woman Entrepreneur, Best in Business Nominees:

• Brandy Emory, Essential Purpose Sober Living
• Paula Kelley, NC Guardian and Care Management
• Dr. Elisabeth Brooks, Everyday Orthodontics
• Carol Spagnuola, Carol Spags Photography
• Kristi Shrum, Insurance Service of Asheville
• Amy Michaelson Kelly, Hatteras Sky
• Maja Potocki, Carolina Outdoor Lighting
• Tanya Fletcher, Sterling Transitions - Downsizing & Auction Services
• Skip Fellers, Neon Moon Salon
• Abigail Helberg Moffit, BLOOM of WNC
• Jeanne Sommer, Hidden River Events

Rising Star Award Nominees:

• Gwendolyn Dare Hageman, Darë Vegan Cheese
• Joesy Pate, Eaton
• Claire Southerland, Eaton
• Katie Thomas, South College
• Kensley Hendrix, Christie's Lighting

STEM Award Nominees:

• Angela Deger, GE Aerospace
• Candie Sellers, Western Region Education Service Alliance
• Reilly Wilkes, KRW Packaging Machinery
• Kelli Burgin, Montreat College

Suzanne DeFerie Lifetime Achievement Award Nominees:

• Janice Brumit, Brumit Development Company
• Christine Dozier, HomeTrust Bank
• Lori Morris, White Insurance Agency
• Laura Webb, Webb Investment Services (now Gratz Park Wealth Asheville)
• Patricia Puckridge, Keller Williams

Breakast menu:

Coffee juice 

Fruit

Egg casserole (both Vegetarian and Meat options)

French Toast

Bacon

Potatoes

WomanUP is an initiative from the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce focused on women in business who wish to build a strong network of women intent on inspiring one another to achieve individual potential; supporting each other in business endeavors; and creating a legacy through mentorship.

Chamber Event Refund Policy:  The Chamber requires payment in advance for admission to all Chamber events. Chamber event fees (regardless of attendance) are refundable only if a cancellation notice is received at least two weeks prior to the event. Event Refund & Photo Policy