Belle S. Wheelan, a prominent figure in higher education in Virginia and throughout the South, will speak about women as leaders during the 14th annual Leadership Colloquium for Professional Women on Thursday, November 1 at the University of Mary Washington’s Stafford campus.
The Colloquium, sponsored by UMW, GEICO and The Virginia Foundation for Women, will include seminars about leadership, negotiation strategies, financial literacy, disengaged employees, time management and business protocol. The program will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the College of Graduate and Professional Studies on U.S. 17 in Stafford County.
The registration deadline is Wednesday, October 24. Visit www.umw.edu/lcpw, send an e-mail to cgps@umw.edu, or call (540) 286-8000 or toll-free (888) 692-4968 or to learn more. The fee of $99 includes continental breakfast, buffet luncheon, afternoon tea, all seminars, sessions and materials.
Wheelan, the first African American and the first woman to serve as President of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, will give a keynote address titled “I Am Woman, Watch Me Lead.” beginning at 9:15 a.m.
Wheelan was Virginia Secretary of Education under then-Gov. Mark Warner from 2002 to 2005.
She previously was president of Northern Virginia Community College and of Central Virginia Community College, and provost of Tidewater Community College’s Portsmouth Campus.
Other highlights of the Colloquium are six leadership seminars. Participants choose to attend any two of the following sessions:
- “Business Protocol: Make Your Statement with Ease and Grace” is a seminar that will show how to become more polished in the conference room, communicate effectively using technology, creatively stay in touch with clients and dress appropriately. The presenter will be Lisa Taylor Richey, founder of The American Academy of Etiquette and an authority on protocol.
- A seminar, titled “Disengagement: A Management Challenge," will help managers to avoid rewarding the disengaged person and how to implement a “Personal Accountability List." The session will be presented by Emily Castillo-Schroeder, coaching and performance manager of GEICO’s Claims Report Center in the company’s Macon, Ga., regional office.
- “Financial Literacy on the Job: The Balancing Act” will cover how to navigate and better understand commonly used financial reports, such as the balance sheet, the income statement, and other reports vital to sound business decisions.The presenter will be Amanda M. Pittman, CPA and owner of A. Pittman Financial Strategies, LLC.
- A session, titled“Finding Flexibility: Time Management for Frantic Professionals,” will explore ways to balance competing priorities and reduce stress and gain control of your life. The session will be presented by Ellen L. Gray, president of Unlimited Horizons Business Services, Inc. and an expert on time management techniques and behavioral science in the workplace.
- “Negotiating: An Essential Tool for Workplace Success” will cover how to negotiate so that everyone wins. Participants will learn to identify their personal style and harness strengths to negotiate successfully in professional and personal lives. The presenter will be Janet Holt, an associate broker with Keller Williams Realty who has worked as a lawyer for commercial real estate clients and as a teacher in a real estate education firm.
- A seminar, titled “Transition: Leading in Times of Change,” will explore the dynamics of change and transition, and cover key strategies for embracing and promoting change. The session will be presented by Twana Miller, who works as training and development specialist with The Free Lance‑Star Publishing Co. and has an extensive background in coaching and in leadership and professional skills seminars.
In addition, the Colloquium will begin with a networking opportunity, titled “Get Connected,” facilitated by Janel S. Donohue, director of resource development for the Rappahannock United Way. Another highlight, scheduled after lunch, is “Get Energized,” to be presented by Rosemary Burke, a registered nurse and MediCorp Health System’s Director of MHS Health and Wellness.
The Colloquium will include a presentation of this year’s Patricia Lacey Metzger Distinguished Achievement Award. The nomination deadline is Monday, Oct. 1. A printable nomination form is available at www.umw.edu/lcpw/metzger_award. Named in memory of a Colloquium founder and UMW professor of business administration, the award is given annually to recognize a past Colloquium participant for attaining a major career goal while upholding exemplary personal and professional standards.
Local organizations have donated an array of door prizes. Visit www.umw.edu/lcpw for more details about the prizes.
The 2007 Colloquium’s theme – “Honor yesterday. Embrace today. Imagine tomorrow.” – was chosen to recognize the University’s Centennial celebration during the 2007-08 academic year. Visit www.umw.edu/centennial to learn about activities and projects planned to explore UMW history and traditions.
The Colloquium prepares women for leadership positions. The program attracts managers, administrators, educators, business owners and leaders of public, private and nonprofit organizations.
The College of Graduate and Professional Studies is located on U.S. 17 in Stafford three miles north of Interstate 95 exit 133.The Colloquium will be held in University Hall in the new North Building at the Stafford campus.