PUTNAM COUNTY, NY (March 25, 2014) – The Putnam County Women’s Leadership Alliance (PCWLA), a network of professional women, forged through the Putnam County Chambers of Commerce (PCCC) and the Professional Women of Putnam (PWP), officially hosted the group’s debut on Friday, March 21st with a coalition of 100 enterprising women at the Putnam County Golf Course.The Women’s Leadership Alliance is a network of professional women who help support the leadership and professional and economic growth of their peers throughout Putnam County. Its members do this through education via the Alliance’s periodic seminars and networking opportunities.
Included among the attendees of the inaugural event were some of the county’s government leaders: Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell, Legislator Ginny Nacerino, County Attorney Jennifer Bumgarner, Director of Tourism Libby Pataki, Consumer Affairs Director Jean Marie Noel, Director of the Office of the Aging Patricia Sheehy, Chief of Staff Patricia Simone, Economic Development Council’s Executive Director Megan Taylor and former Congresswoman Nan Hayworth.
“A women’s leadership organization has been a long time coming to our county,” said Odell. “We have so many strong and talented women living in Putnam County who do all that they can to make a difference.”
Odell added, “The Putnam County Chambers of Commerce and the Professional Women of Putnam, with their respective leaders, Jennifer Maher and Jamie Imperati, are the perfect team to set the course for the Putnam County Women’s Leadership Alliance. I look forward to seeing the results of this blossoming Putnam County resource for women seeking business and leadership growth.”
Adding to the evening’s excitement, Allison Pataki, author of New York Timesbestseller, “The Traitor’s Wife,” was on hand to talk about unsung historical heroines. Attendees were also given a signed copy of Ms. Pataki’s book, and participated in a 50/50 raffle, which benefitted the Putnam & N. Westchester Women’s Resource Center.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with the large and enthusiastic turnout of women at the launch of the new Putnam County Women’s Leadership Alliance,” said Jamie Imperati, chairwoman, PCWLA and president of Professional Women of Putnam. “Jennifer Maher and I look forward to expanding education and mentoring, as well as fulfilling on our mission to support leadership, professional and economic growth for women throughout Putnam County.”
“This powerful alliance makes the PCCC and PWP a stronger and united force for the betterment of women in business,” said Jennifer Maher, chairwoman, Putnam County Chambers of Commerce. “Small local businesses are still the biggest economic engine in our county and women-owned businesses need our support. An American Express OPEN study of the State of Women in Business, 2013, showed that job creation from small, privately held companies over the past six years came from women-owned businesses – 175,000 of them – compared to net declines in job creation among men-owned and equally owned firms,” adds Maher.
For more information about the Putnam County Women’s Leadership Alliance please visit the website and share your email to receive regular updates on events and other information: http://pcwomensleadershipalliance.com/.
Photo caption: Jamie Imperati Chairwoman of the Putnam County Women’s Leadership Alliance, NY Times Best Selling Author Allison Pataki, Jennifer Maher Chairwoman of the Putnam County Chambers of Commerce, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell and former Congresswoman Nan Hayworth