Women's Summit Draws 500
Published Wednesday, September 24, 2003
By Rachel Pleasant
The Ledger

TAMPA -- Those who attended the Women's Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century Summit left with lots of information and sore hands.

The event at the Tampa Convention Center Tuesday featured guest speakers including Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and the administrator of the Small Business Administration, Hector Barreto. About 500 people -some of whom own their own businesses and some who'd like to -- listened to the speakers and gave standing ovation after standing ovation.

"Nothing is off limits to the limitless talents of the women in Florida," said Chao during her


CHRIS O'MEARA/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao addresses the members of the Women's Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century Summit in Tampa on Tuesday. About 500 people attended the event.
luncheon speech.

Chao's speech was tinged with political messages, discussing the economic decline the country was experiencing when President Bush took office, the administration's tax cuts and other efforts to support small businesses.

"This administration won't be satisfied until every worker who wants a job can find one," Chao said.

Barreto, whose parents came to the U.S. from Mexico, shared stories of his childhood with the audience.

"My father started several small businesses but my mother ran all those businesses," Barreto said.

"I have a strong appreciation for the women gathered here today. You're in the habit of making the average day look like two."

Barreto went on to say that women make good bosses and managers and that female entrepreneurs have become "an economic pillar."

Florida Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio also gave brief addresses at the summit. Tami Longaberger, president and CEO of The Longaberger Co., a million-dollar maker of baskets, also spoke.

"We have opportunities that generations of women before us never had," Longaberger said.

Lisa Kaiser Hickey, president and CEO of Lakeland-based Douglass Screen Printers Inc., was a guest speaker at a workshop called "Upping the WOW Factor: Tips for Marketing Your Business More Effectively."

About 120 people listened as Hickey, a graduate of Lakeland High School and Florida Southern College, discussed being strategic in choosing which organizations to join. Hickey also advised that entrepreneurs put pictures of their products on their business cards -- making their services instantly recognizable when someone comes across their card days or weeks later.

"And get a domain name for your e-mail," Hickey said. "It's not expensive and I know I don't open mail from Hotmail or Yahoo because most of it's junk anyway."

Other workshops offered at the summit discussed methods for winning government contracts, tips for gaining capital in the early stages of business and capital options for mature firms.

The free summit was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence. The Tampa event was one in a series of such summits being conducted across the country. The first was in March 2002 when President Bush addressed a group in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Labor, in a prepared statement, describes women-owned businesses as an engine for job growth. Such businesses are growing at more than twice the rate of all privately held U.S. firms and increasing their employment at more than three times the rate of such firms.

Tammie Boyette, advertising manager of Vintage Motorsport in Lakeland who attended, said that she has a brand new item on the top of her to-do list.

"I'm going to redo my business cards," said Boyette, remembering a tip Hickey mentioned. "If you have a 20-second infomercial you can put it on the back and people won't have to remember what you do because it's all there."

Before closing her speech, Chao emphasized the importance the entrepreneurial spirit and persistence that so many women possess.

"You create the hope and opportunity and jobs for so many," Chao said.

Rachel Pleasant can be reached at rachel.pleasant@theledger.com or 863-802-7592.