Two years since our last in person Conference + Expo and we can’t wait to see you! Join us for our all day schedule filled with two keynote speakers, breakout speakers and our 2022 ATHENA recipient. Also enjoy the always anticipated Expo and engage with Women2Women sponsors, women-owned businesses, and local nonprofits. Develop your leadership skills, pamper yourself, and learn more about all the community has to offer. This day meets every part of our mission – connecting women, and offering a forum for you to gain knowledge, build strategic alliances and foster your personal potential and career advancement.
Why Women Attend:
2022 ATHENA Recipient
2022 Schedule of Events
ATHENA Award Breakfast
ATHENA RECIPIENT: Christi Terefenko, Executive Director & Co-Founder – VOiCEup Berks
The ATHENA® Leadership Award is presented to a woman/man who is honored for professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills. Presented to leaders across professional sectors, the ATHENA® Leadership Award’s rich history, international scope and focus on mentorship distinguishes it as one of the most prestigious leadership awards one can receive.
SPEAKER LINEUP – KEYNOTES
PM Keynote: Molly Arbogast, Owner & Founder – POV Sports Marketing
“Getting out of Your Own Way”
Molly Arbogast will share highlights from her 30-year career in the male-dominated sports industry. From being the first woman in the room at several sports teams to starting her own sports marketing agency, it’s about being brave, having confidence in your abilities and surrounding yourself with champions.
AM Keynote: Ty Muse, President & CEO – VISIONS Federal Credit Union
“Finding Your Why”
Ty Muse, President/CEO of Visions Federal Credit Union, will help motivate you to find your “why” so you can become the best version of yourself. Through inspirational stories and relatable anecdotes, you’ll learn about his background, career path, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. He urges everyone to find that “one thing” they are passionate about to make their life, family, job, and community better.
SPEAKER LINEUP – BREAKOUT WORKSHOPS
Adrienne Himelright, Owner, Life Coach & Doctor of Physical Therapy – The Empowered PT
“Imposter Syndrome: Break the Silence”
Have you ever thought your success is a fluke? Do you constantly doubt your ability to succeed? In this presentation we will discuss and define what imposter syndrome is and why people have a difficult time identifying it and avoiding it. Break the silence on why so many people feel awful, unworthy, and like they don’t belong in a professional setting and empower people to move forward with courage and certainty. Learn how to navigate imposter syndrome and how it affects your personal and professional life and then equip you for success with simple concrete tactics. You cannot change what you aren’t aware of, so let’s speak up!
Wendy Kerschner, Go-Getter & Go-Giver
“Taking the Leap: Knowing When to Make a Change”
You’re always one decision away from a totally different life. Learn how to spot the signs when change is needed & be ready for what might hold you back. Find out how the power of a song, reminder jewelry and a health crisis can change your mindset. Discover your answer to the question: “What I really want is…” Be inspired to live your best life.
John Connell, Mentor & General Manager – The Cope Company Salt & Conestoga Log Cabins & Homes (Peak Capital)
Dennie Smith, Director of Business Development – Peak Capital
“Conquering Conflict: Engaging & Resolving Aggressive Behavior”
Conflict. It is the one thing we all wish would not sneak its way into our regular routines. But what if you had a sixth sense that could detect when a conflict was brewing before it ever erupts into something larger? What if this ability allowed you to intentionally navigate through disagreements so that all parties involved turn out better because of it? Well, guess what. You have it. This workshop will teach you how and when to activate resolution strategies and what the potential consequences for leaving conflict unaddressed are. Join us, we promise you will not leave conflicted.
2022 Expo Vendors
A Sense of Purpose
Alvernia University
ATA Martial Arts – Wyomissing
Berks County Community Foundation
Berks Encore
Breast Cancer Support Services of Berks County
Capital Blue Cross
Dotterer Educational Consulting
Everlasting Wellness LLC
Fit4Mom Reading
French Creek Aesthetics
Gage Personnel
Girls Empowerment Movement
Girls on the Run of Berks County
GRCA
Healthy Living with Nancy Perrotti
Healthy U Fitness
John Paul II Center for Special Learning
Junior League of Reading, PA Inc
Keystone Specific Chiropractic Center
Mary Kay Beauty Consultant
Moyer-Drabick and Associates, Ltd
Our Whole Living Counseling
Palo Magazine
Penn State Health St. Joseph
Penske Truck Leasing
Pretzel City Press, LLC
Reading Dermatology Assoc
RKL LLP
ROG Orthodontics
Safe Berks
Shade Tree Interiors
Skin Care by Alyce
Tastefully Simple – Independent Consultant
The Dave Mattes Team ReMax of Reading
The Salt Lounge
Thrivent
Tompkins VIST Bank
TOTAL
VA Productions, Inc.
VISIONS Federal Credit Union
Women2Women
About Our Speakers
SPEAKER LINEUP – KEYNOTES
PM Keynote: Molly Arbogast, Owner & Founder – POV Sports Marketing
“Getting out of Your Own Way”
Molly (Mullady) Arbogast is a sports marketing expert with 30 years of experience on the team/property side of the business. She has negotiated and activated more than $300M in sports and entertainment sponsorship over her career. Her agency, POV Sports Marketing, is one of the only certified women-owned, full-service sports marketing agencies in the United States. The firm’s clients include Wawa, Firstrust Bank, Rothman Orthopaedics, Stroehmann Bread, Axalta Coatings, and ASM Global venues across the country.
POV Sports Marketing specializes in working with brands and properties to structure effective, creative sponsorship strategies that will exceed objectives and deliver sales results. With her unique perspective coming from the selling side of sports/venues, she understands the nuances of industry asset values, negotiations, category rights, naming rights/entitlements, sales process, activation and marketing platform development.
Over her career, Molly has worked in corporate sponsorship development for the Philadelphia Eagles, Lincoln Financial Field, Learfield Sports, WNBA, Palace Sports & Entertainment (Detroit Pistons, Detroit Vipers, Detroit Shock, DTE Music Theatre) and International Management Group (IMG) in Latin America.
In 2019, Molly was recognized by the Sports Business Journal as one of the top women in the sports industry via their “Game Changer Awards” program.
Arbogast graduated with honors from St. Lawrence University in 1991 with a double major in Government and Spanish. In May 2020, her alma mater honored her with the prestigious Alumni Citation award for her many years of service and support of the university.
The Chicago native currently resides in Wayne, Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. She is a proud supporter of Special Olympics Pennsylvania and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Eastern Pennsylvania.
AM Keynote: Ty Muse, President & CEO – VISIONS Federal Credit Union
Ty is President and CEO of Visions Federal Credit Union, a $5.6 billion financial institution headquartered in Endwell, NY serving over 230,000 members primarily in three states (New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania).
Though Ty’s roots are southern, he was raised in Wallkill, NY. He attended Northeastern University in Boston, MA on a track scholarship where he attained his undergraduate degree, master’s in accounting, and his MBA. Ty has over 30 years in the financial services industry working at institutions such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Goldman Sachs (Controller at Archon Group – Real Estate Division), GE Asset Management, and Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union (now known as HVCU). He is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Ty serves on a number of boards both locally and across the country in an effort to support both the region in which he resides and the credit union industry as a whole. He has received numerous awards for his efforts in supporting these causes and advocates that giving of your time and resources is a responsibility we should all participate in.
All around, Ty leads and mentors his staff and others by using positivity and encouragement. He believes winning is contagious and fun which is evidenced by his overall approach to life and management style. He urges everyone to find that “one thing” they are passionate about to make their life, family, job, or community better. He promotes this approach hoping it will lead to thousands of “one things” to make our communities and world better. To get a better sense of Visions Federal Credit Union and Ty’s brand, watch the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXaNPGGrvtI
To this day, at age 51, Ty still says his greatest accomplishment is marrying his wife and raising his two daughters.
SPEAKER LINEUP – BREAKOUT WORKSHOPS
Adrienne Himelright, Owner, Life Coach & Doctor of Physical Therapy – The Empowered PT
Adrienne Himelright is a Life Coach and a doctor of physical therapy. She has been Coaching clients for the last year and has created a 5 figure business called The Empowered PT. She empowers people to change their lives through absolutely loving themselves so they can show up with confidence, love others more genuinely, set clear boundaries, and stop people pleasing. She is passionate about empowering people to live any life they want. Adrienne has been married to her hot husband, Kent, for the last 12 years and they have 2 boys together, ages 6 and 3 years old. In her free time Adrienne loves to travel, be outside, go dancing, drink coffee and wine, and enjoys laughing with friends and family.
Wendy Kerschner, Go-Getter & Go-Giver
Wendy is a Go-Getter and a Go-Giver! After 25+ years of selling in various industries…including microbrews, a short stint in real estate, promotional marketing, fitness and geriatric healthcare… Wendy decided to “retire” at age 47. She now spends her days living her best life: reading, hiking, volunteering, having fun and helping whomever she can.
Dennie Smith, Director of Business Development – Peak Capital
Dennie Smith is the Director of Business Development for Peak Capital, which includes the companies The Cope Company Salt, Summit Advisory, Conestoga Log Cabins & Homes, National Energy Control Corporation, and Peak Capital Investments. She is responsible to lead both the sales organization and client-relationships. She supports strategic projects and guides long term objectives to meet business needs while tracking new markets, emerging trends, and market share growth. She is a performance-oriented and solutions-driven leader, with a comprehensive and exceptional record of achievement. She is known as a tenacious and loyal manager with a strategic and logical but creative approach to solving problems, bringing in customers and accomplishing profit targets.
Dennie is passionate about helping others work towards greatness. She has an eye for seeing potential especially in the midst of tension because there is an opportunity for growth that may not be present elsewhere. She prides herself on being comfortable with the uncomfortable and encourages others to do the same so that neutralizing moments of conflict become centered on a more powerful goal.
Prior to working with Peak Capital, Dennie worked as a Strategic Consultant providing the full transportation solution for businesses and customers for Enterprise Holdings. She is the Chair of the Research and Development Committee for GRCA and takes pride in her commitment to women in business. She is a graduate of Waynesburg University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.
John Connell, Mentor & General Manager – The Cope Company Salt & Conestoga Log Cabins & Homes (Peak Capital)
John Connell serves as General Manager for two of Peak Capital’s companies, The Cope Company Salt and Conestoga Log Cabins & Homes. Mr. Connell has broad experience in executive management of companies ranging from retail to biologic development. His career in the human medical field started as a sales representative for McNeil Laboratory, a Johnson & Johnson Company. His successes led to his selection, among 50 handpicked colleagues, to start a new division for J&J, Critikon – a medical device company. While at Critikon he was district sales manager over 3 US states and the Caribbean – later, serving as Product Director of a $22M medical device line. Mr. Connell then joined as VP of Sales & Marketing for a Venture Capital-financed biologic research company. This provided opportunities to work with the investment firms of Lawrence, Tyrrell, Ortale & Smith (formerly Lawrence, Weispeck & Greer), Allstate Venture Capital, Faneuil Hall (which is the Kendall family), Kit Kat Ventures (which is Rothschild investments – London), and Ivory & Sim (which is a J&J pension fund manager – Scotland). During this time Mr. Connell became President of the company and co-patented a bovine treatment pharmaceutical.
Following the orchestration of the sale of the biologic research company to a French-based animal health company, he was asked to continue as the President of the US division for that company. With this experience in animal health, he later founded a new national company in which he and his spouse were co-owners. Quick success in this venture earned the interest of a larger animal health company, to which he sold, and was asked to join as a partner. During his 6 years as VP of Sales, Manufacturing, Operations, and Distribution he successfully grew the business to perform at a 7x multiple from his entry. The Company received multiple awards during that time including the Impact award for the City of Richmond, VA, Ernest Young Accounting award, the Virginia Small Business of the Year award, as well as the National Small Business of the Year award. Additionally, the manufacturing and QC/QA team received the Virginia Philpott Manufacturing Award for best operational improvement for reduced operating costs and inventory control systems.
Mr. Connell’s strengths are best focused on product, industry, and market evaluation, as well as cultivating a dynamic corporate culture and individual personnel development. These skills have contributed to his successes in product development, as well as business development through M&A activity.
Mr. Connell, who considers himself a life-long learner, has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mobile, Mobile, AL in Business Administration with majors in business management and economics and a minor in sociology. But the coursework and degrees only serve to highlight the acumen acquired through his broad career experience.
“I think it just gets better and better every year. Thanks for all the work that is put towards making this so interesting and successful!” – 2019 Attendee