The Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce hosted its 8th Annual Women’s Work-Life Symposium on Friday May 26. It was presented by Emerald Coast Hospice, and took place at Florida State University Panama City’s Holley Academic Center. The event was scheduled from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM with a cocktail hour to follow. We have been receiving many accolades and positive feedback on this year’s event.
At this leading women’s event on the Emerald Coast, over 300 women were given the opportunity to come together for a full day of networking, professional development, and personal growth opportunities. The day featured powerful speakers addressing topics beneficial to help women maintain a healthy work-life balance. Attendees heard three inspiring keynote speakers and attended two breakout workshops of their choice.
The first keynote speaker and Author of Work-Life Reset Fawn Germer kicked off the day with her powerful message, “Work-Life Reset: Forget Balance, It’s All About Choices.” She helped attendees conquer stress, redefine their work and personal lives, and do a total reboot from a life of pressure and disappointment to one of happiness and fulfillment.
The lunch keynote speaker Amber Rae empowered attendees to get out of their comfort zones, tame their inner critic, and step into their creative power. Amber is devoted to unleashing the potential that exists within everyone, and encouraging them to choose wonder over worry.
The final keynote speaker and Boston Marathon Bombing Survivor Rebekah Gregory shared her powerful story of strength and resilience. Rebekah’s story of faith, determination, and surviving the Boston Marathon Bombing was inspirational. Her delivery with her quick wit and contagious optimism left everyone feeling inspired and ready to make their own life changes.
The Symposium featured a variety of beneficial breakout workshops with an abundance of different takeaway tools for personal, professional, and home life. Each woman attended two workshops. Registered Dietician and Southern Living Cookbook Author Carolyn O’Neil shared her philosophy on food in her workshop, “The More You Know, The More You Can Eat.” With self-defense and protection being an important priority for women, Carlos Cummings provided effective and trusted self-defense education in his workshop, “Protecting My Pretty.” Erica Averion presented “Never Miss a Monday,” encouraging attendees how to successfully turn their “Want To’s” into “Will Do’s.” Laura Bento and Shelly Brown with Good Grit Magazine discussed what it means to be a “Girl with Grit,” and how an indomitable spirit will get you far. The final breakout workshop was a paint party hosted by Painting with a Twist.
Attendees enjoyed a delicious networking breakfast as well as a luncheon. An exhibitor showcase where women had the opportunity to shop at a variety of unique booths was featured during the event breaks and continued throughout the event. The day-long event concluded with an unwinding social hour on the water-front terrace with cocktails, cupcakes, wine, and spirits.
Each woman received the much anticipated Women’s Symposium “swag bag”, a Symposium Journal with information on all of the speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors, and a bracelet provided by Reeds Jewelers. Door prizes and giveaways were given throughout the day. Attendees left feeling empowered, encouraged, and ready to take on the world!