Tester announces new keynote speaker for upcoming Women’s Small Business Opportunity Workshop

CEO of organization dedicated to helping women succeed in business to speak in Missoula

(U.S. SENATE) — Senator Jon Tester today announced Sharon Vosmek, who heads an organization dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs succeed, will serve as the keynote speaker for his upcoming Small Business Opportunity Workshop in Missoula on Tuesday, February 21.
 
Vosmek is the CEO of Astia, a nonprofit organization dedicated to women-led, high-growth businesses. Prior to joining Astia, Vosmek founded a management firm that consulted major U.S. corporations and universities.
 
Vosmek replaces Karen Mills, Administrator of the Small Business Administration, who had to cancel.
 
Tester’s upcoming workshop will feature an impressive line-up of entrepreneurs eagerto share their ‘Made-in-Montana’ success stories, as well as a panel of financing experts who will provide tips on securing capital to start or grow small businesses.
 
This Small Business Opportunity Workshop is Tester’s tenth workshop since 2009. Previous workshops in Bozeman, Billings, Butte, Great Falls, and Kalispell drew more than 2,000 participants and focused on topics ranging from contracting to agriculture to veterans.
 
The agenda for Tester’s workshop is below. 
 
8:00am        Welcoming Remarks
Royce Engstrom, President, The University of Montana
John Engen, Mayor, City of Missoula
Jon Tester, United States Senator
 
8:15am        The Essentials Behind Successful Marketing Strategies – Jakki J. Mohr, Ph.D, The University of Montana
 
9:00am        Panel 1 – Made in Montana Success Stories
Aimee McQuilkin, Owner, Betty’s Divine—Missoula
Christine Littig, Owner, Bernice’s Bakery—Missoula
Margaret Burns Vap, Owner, Big Sky Yoga Retreat—Bozeman
Nicole Hagerman Miller, Owner, House Design Studio and Managing Director, Montana World Trade Center—Missoula
 
10:00am      Networking Break and Booth Visits
 
10:15am      Panel 2 – Access to Capital
Amanda Schultz and Julie Foster, Directors, Montana Women’s Business Centers
Dave Glaser, President, Montana Community Development Corporation
John Guthmiller, Business & Cooperative Program Director, USDA Rural Development
Joe McClure, Montana District Director, United States Small Business Administration
Leslie Jenson, Vice President of Commercial Banking, First Interstate Bank
Liz Marchi, Fund Coordinator, Frontier Angel Fund
 
11:15am     Keynote Address: Sharon Vosmek, CEO, Astia— Where Women Innovators Succeed
Keynote Introduction by Small Business Administration Regional Administrator Dan Hannaher
 
12:00pm      Closing Remarks: Jon Tester, United States Senator

Tester’s workshop is free and open to the public. Montanans are encouraged to register at tester.senate.gov/workshop.

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