Women in Business Conference Keynote Asks “What’s Next for Rural America?” Oct. 14th
Women in Business Conference Keynote Asks “What’s Next for Rural America?” Oct. 14th
Women in Business Conference Keynote Asks “What’s Next for Rural America?”
The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with presenting sponsor Citizens Bank and event sponsors Edward Jones Investments, Vital Link, White River Services and Solutions, and Ozark Mountain Poultry will host the 2nd annual Women in Business leadership conference featuring Diane Smith, CEO and Founder of American Rural. The conference, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 14 at Independence Hall on the UACCB campus, will feature Smith as the keynote speaker. Diane Smith is an entrepreneur, investor, attorney, author, and advocate with extensive background in start-up companies and new industries. She is also the founder and CEO of American Rural, a non-profit dedicated to ensuring robust opportunities for rural and small town Americans. In 2004, Diane became the co-founder and CEO of a ground-breaking technology company in Northwest Montana that successfully raised millions in start-up capital. Prior to that, Diane was a senior executive with Sprint and Alltel during their most tumultuous and high-growth years. Throughout her career, Diane has been privileged to work with rockstar technologists, PR specialists, marketing experts, and government relations professionals.
Diane serves on numerous for profit and not-for-profit boards, including Mobile Future, the University of Montana’s Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs, and George Mason University’s Capitol Connection. She has written for the Huffington Post, the Daily Yonder, numerous tech publications, and the American Rural newsletter, Ruralistically. She is a frequent guest lecturer on entrepreneurship and technology at universities, hosts webinars on entrepreneurship and technology, and has spoken on topics in the U.S. and internationally regarding Women in Technology, Success in Unlikely Places, and What is Rural?
Diane is a graduate of George Mason University and George Mason University School of Law and is a member of the state bars of Virginia and Montana. She and her husband David live in Columbia Falls, MT. In addition to Diane Smith’s keynote, the Women in Business Conference will feature breakfast and lunch, round table discussions, a panel discussion on failure and resilience, and a series of practical workshops for attendees. Attendees can choose from topics on career advancement, strategies for saving money for retirement, attracting and retaining millennials, civic involvement and activism, telling your story for impact, and many more. There will also be specific roundtables for education and health/well being. Early Registration is $79 and includes breakfast, lunch, and all conference materials. The deadline to register early is Oct. 1. For more information or to register, contact Chief Operating Officer, Jamie Rayford at jamie.rayford@mybatesville.org or (870) 793-2378.
