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Second annual Women’s Networking Event scheduled for Sept. 23


Last updated September 11, 2019

By News administrator

New panelists and a more student-friendly location highlight the second annual Furman University Women’s Networking Event (WNE), but the goal to inspire and connect women in the Greenville community with each other and Furman students remains unchanged.

“Everyone that attends will either learn something new from the panel or meet at least one person that they can follow up with as a connection,” said organizer Betsy Rice ’20.

Slated for Monday, Sept. 23, in the Watkins Room of the Trone Student Center, the WNE begins at 5:30 p.m. and will feature a panel headlined once again by Furman President Elizabeth Davis. Also on the panel are former Furman Board of Trustees member Francie Heller, Sheryl Higgins, Shelby Dodson and Dr. Betsy Bloodworth ’92.

Heller, director of Arabesque Asset Management, is the daughter of Max and Trude Heller, the namesakes of Furman’s Heller Service Corps. Higgins is the first female captain in Furman’s police department, while Bloodworth is a pediatrician in Greenville and Dodson is first vice president of Greenville commercial real estate company CBRE.

Joanie Martin ’90, Michelin North America’s Chief Administrative Officer, will serve as moderator.

Rice, an urban studies major who hopes to work in the male-dominated field of commercial real estate, was inspired by her relationship with Dodson to bring the first Women’s Networking Event to Furman in September of 2018. Rice worked as an intern in Dodson’s office and considers her to be a mentor.

“She’s doing what I want to do, and seeing someone do that is really empowering,” Rice said last year.

Approximately 250 people attended the inaugural WNE, which was held in the Younts Conference Center. Rice is expecting more than 300 this time, in part because Trone is a more convenient location for students. Gold sponsors include the Malone Center for Career Engagement, The Riley Institute, CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Upstate, and the Furman economics, business and accounting, and computer science departments.

There is no cost to attend, but registration is requested by Sept. 19. Visit https://alumni.furman.edu/womens-networking-event to register.

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