This year, we have restructured the Conference timeline to give our 300+ attendees the most development and networking in addition to the most impactful topics and speakers. Attendees can expect both personal and professional development, the opportunity to connect with other women engaged in community and mentorship, and a look at female-owned businesses here in Berks County.
Attendees will enjoy hearing from a regional CEO, Betsy Hamm, as our kickoff keynote, three local leaders sharing their workshops, and empowerment and inspiration from the 2023 ATHENA Celebration to end our day. 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:
2023 ATHENA Recipient
2023 Schedule of Events
KEYNOTE
Betsy Hamm, CEO – Duck Donuts
The Circle of Success
Betsy Hamm shares her story from coasters to donuts and a half dozen leadership lessons she learned along the way.
BREAKOUT WORKSHOPS
Scott Blair, Senior Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – B. Braun Medical
Creating a Successful Game Plan with DEI
As our organization’s mobilize on our ‘new future’ after 2020, the placement and value of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives quickly emerged as an opportunity and challenge for organizations. This session will explore the value-add of DEI to your organization strategy and ways to create sustained commitment and buy-in for all to meet the needs of our diverse communities, customers and employees.
Jenna Armato, Owner – Jenna Armato Growth & Success Coach
Bridging the Multigenerational Gap
This is a rare time in history that we have 5 generations across the workforce.
It’s also a time when communication and behavioral misunderstandings are creating silos and driving conflict resolution requests to an all-time high. Learning about the perspectives and drivers of each generation and applying that understanding in the workplace can positively impact communication, collaboration, and productivity. In this discussion, we’ll explore each generation and learn how you can take steps toward creating a generational synergy.
Total Experience Learning® Team led by Adelle Schade, Founder
Learning is Ageless: Becoming a Better Leader & Learner
At its core, Total Experience Learning® is a framework for integrating research-based learning in all disciplines. Total Experience Learning serves as an educational philosophy rather than strictly a physical program. Currently, more than 80 organizations are partnering with Total Experience Learning — spanning businesses, scientific industry groups, higher education, professional organizations and foundations. Join the TEL Team to learn how you can learn a new way, and teach others in that way, to become a better leader.
Afternoon ATHENA Celebration
ATHENA RECIPIENT: Adelle Schade, Dean of Pre-College and Summer Programming – Albright College
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.
2023 Expo Vendors
4G Nutrition
Adalyn Rose Foundation
Alvernia University Graduate & Adult Education
Assured Assistance
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty – Julia Curry
Breast Cancer Support Services of Berks County
CASA of Berks County
Club Pilates Wyomissing
Community First Fund
Cornerstone Financial Strategies, LLC
EthoSource
Everlasting Wellness
FirstEnergy
FIT4MOM Reading
Girl Scouts of Eastern PA
Girls on the Run of Berks County
John Paul II Center for Special Learning
Legacy Cigar Lounge
LightHouse Women and Children’s Center at Home Rescue Mission
LMG Marketing Solutions
Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant
Melaleuca
Moyer-Drabick & Associates, Ltd.
OCOA
Penn State Berks & Berks LaunchBox
Penn State Health St. Joseph
Pretzel City Press
Reading Dermatology Associates
Reading Hospital Tower Health
Reading Truck Body
Relay for Life of Berks
RKL LLP
Safe Berks
The Children’s Home of Reading
The Dave Mattes Team ReMax of Reading
The Salt Lounge
TK’S Toy Box, LLC
Tompkins Community Bank
Urban Charm / Kim R Lewis Design
WCR Center for the Arts
About Our Speakers
KEYNOTE
Betsy Hamm, CEO – Duck Donuts
Betsy Hamm, MBA, oversees the overall direction of the organization and leads the development of the company’s long- and short-term goals and strategic initiatives. She is committed to building and protecting the 100+ unit growing franchise brand by generating awareness and driving revenue. She works alongside her team to identify and provide the necessary tools and resources to ensure franchisees achieve ultimate profitability and success. In her previous role as chief operating officer, she oversaw operations, marketing and business development, focusing on product development and daily operations. Prior to being named chief operation officer, she served as the marketing director.
Betsy joined Duck Donuts with 15 years’ experience as the marketing director for Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, a world-class entertainment and hospitality company that owns and operates many of the sweet attractions, resorts, and entertainment venues across Hershey, Pennsylvania
Betsy serves on the Board of Harrisburg’s Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC) and Central Penn College. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Master of Business Administration from Shippensburg University.
BREAKOUT WORKSHOPS
Scott Blair, Senior Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – B. Braun Medical
Creating a Successful Game Plan with DEI
Scott is an accomplished educator, mentor/coach and diversity, equity and inclusion thought leader and practitioner. Scott joined B. Braun in April 2022 as its inaugural DEI leader in the role of Senior Director for DE&I.
Blair is responsible for building upon and implementing strategies that will encourage and build an inclusive and diverse workforce throughout the Company. He also has the privilege of leading B. Braun’s dynamic Employee Resource Group community and supporting the Company’s health equity, sustainability, and supplier diversity work.
Scott brings close to 20 years of experience in Higher Education, most recently serving as the Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at DeSales University. Blair was their inaugural leader for university-wide efforts in advancing DEI while delivering related professional developments to the DeSales faculty and staff and engaging the student population to assess and support enhancements to the campus climate around DEI and community engagement efforts.
Blair currently is a member of the National Association of Diversity Officer’s in Higher Education
(NADOHE) and numerous regional efforts in the Lehigh Valley (PA) community to advance DEI and
serves as a member of the Inclusion & Diversity Roundtable community with AdvaMed.
Scott holds an Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration and a Bachelor of Science in
Education/Secondary Education-English from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. He also holds an Executive Leadership Certificate from the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education – Race and Equity Center.
Jenna Armato, Owner – Jenna Armato Growth & Success Coach
Bridging the Multigenerational Gap
Jenna is a John Maxwell certified Coach, Speaker and Trainer, a DISC certified Trainer, an EQ certified provider, a Faculty Member for the Empowered Living Teaching Team, and is one of 4 Executive coaches selected by Paul Martinelli co-founder of the John Maxwell Team, and founder of the Empowered Living Community to serve his global network of clients.
Prior to launching her coaching and training practice, Jenna spent 20 years working in corporate marketing and advertising developing strategies in customer experience, relationship development, commerce, and both online and offline engagement.
Jenna serves as the Executive Director of the Philadelphia American Marketing Association, serves on the Board of TriCounty Community Network. The Board of the Pottstown Hospital, and The Pottstown Rotary Foundation Board.
Jenna also serves as the Director of the Leadership TriCounty program for the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce.
Total Experience Learning® Team led by Adelle Schade
Learning is Ageless: Becoming a Better Leader & Learner
Adelle Schade became an instructor at Conrad Weiser High School in 1996. She earned a Bachelor of Science from West Chester University in health and physical education. In 2006, she earned a Master of Education degree from Kutztown University in biology education, and in 2015, she earned a Master of Science degree in microbiology from the Jefferson Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Philadelphia.
Currently, Schade is a doctoral candidate in cell and molecular biology at the University of the Sciences, Philadelphia. Recently, she was named an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine and an adjunct faculty member at the University of the Sciences.
“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
