Interactive Conference Brings Female Professionals from Across the Region to the University of Arkansas

Photo courtesy of Rockfish Interactive Corp.

About 200 people from across the region participated in the Women in the Workforce Conference on the University of Arkansas campus in May.

About 200 people from across the region participated in the first Women in the Workforce Conference hosted by the University of Arkansas Global Campus in May.

The conference will be offered annually, according to Heather Sprandel, conference organizer and adjunct instructor for the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

Women from as far away as Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee participated in this one-day, interactive conference that was developed to provide female professionals with an opportunity to enhance relevant workplace skills. It was designed to help attendees thrive as working professionals.

"What a great experience to meet and listen to other women of the workforce that have shared similar life stories, experiences within the workforce and struggles that go along with balancing work, life and family daily, or just being the single bread-winner for your family, said Lorrie Savage, senior systems engineer at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. "It helps to know we are not alone in our career path choices."  

Conference participants engaged in discussions and activities that benefit professionals working in the ever-changing global workforce, said Sprandel, who is also affiliated with the Global Campus.

"We developed this conference to provide female professionals with an opportunity to enhance their workplace skills and help them thrive as working professionals," Sprandel said. "I'm very pleased with the success of the first Women in the Workforce conference, and I'm looking forward to the 2016 conference."

Conference participants heard from and interacted with business and industry professionals representing the following companies and organizations: Rockfish Interactive Corp., Wal-mart Stores Inc., Procter & Gamble Co., Cintas Corporation, Sherwin-Williams and the Center for Retailing Excellence.

The Women in the Workforce conference was sponsored by Rockfish, the Arkansas Alumni Association, Sherwin-Williams Co., Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, Chartwells at the University of Arkansas, CatMan in Motion L.L.C., Talk Business & Politics and The Job Guide.

For information about next year's event, contact Sprandel at HSprandel@walton.uark.edu. For information about professional development or computer training courses offered by the Global Campus, visit http://training.uark.edu.